Two House Democrats push for gambling, lottery bills as session nears halfway point

Two Alabama House Democrats said Wednesday that they have filed or plan to file file lottery and gambling bills, though passage may be difficult as the 2026 legislative session approaches the halfway mark.

Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, is pushing for a bill he’s calling the “Clean Lottery Act.” Ensler said the bill, a constitutional amendment, would establish a lottery in the state, though he did not discuss details. The bill had not been filed as of Wednesday afternoon. Ensler, who is running for Alabama lieutenant governor, said the proposal would fund public education, increase funding for rural health care and allow rebate checks to be sent to Alabamians.

“This bill would allow the state to recoup the millions of dollars that are being spent outside of Alabama, by people from Alabama who are purchasing lottery tickets from surrounding states,” Ensler said Wednesday.

HB 262, sponsored by Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, D-Montgomery, would allow pari-mutuel betting to take place in six counties in the state.

“This bill will ensure that these sites are regulated and appropriately taxed in order to provide a much needed revenue source for our state, as well as our local communities,” Lawrence said.

Currently, there are facilities in Jefferson, Greene, Macon and Mobile counties that already hold pari-mutuel licenses. Lawrence’s bill would also extend the licenses to Houston County, which holds a Class C Bingo Permit and Lowndes County, which had a bingo hall that closed in 2023.

“For too long, Alabama has lagged behind other states in terms of finding new and stable sources of revenue, and it’s time for that to end,” Ensler said.

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Under Lawrence’s bill, the six counties would be allowed to host “historical racing,” a form of horse or greyhound racing on computerized machines.

“As much as we love our neighbors in Tennessee, Florida and Mississippi, there’s no good reason that all of our tax dollars should be going there instead of staying here in Alabama,” Lawrence said.

The Alabama Constitution bans gambling and lotteries, and Alabama is the last state east of the Mississippi without a lottery Currently, all legal gambling in the state is done in facilities held in trust by the federal government or authorized by local constitutional amendments for the Poarch Creek Band of Indians, a tribe who owns casinos in Montgomery, Atmore and Wetumpka.

The last time the state voted on a lottery was in 1999. Subsequent attempts to get the issue before voters have collapsed in disputes over the scope of gambling allowed and the distribution of revenues from it. A 2024 package fell apart amid a dispute between the House and Senate over distribution of proceeds.

Gambling bills generally need early support from legislative leadership to advance. When asked if he was given any indication from leadership in either chamber about this bill having a better chance of passing this year, Ensler said he hasn’t heard anything.

“Now that the legislation will be filed, that will spark conversations,” he said.

This story is from alabamareflector.com.