HB154 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Marcel Black

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Bingo, non-Indian operators, equivalent to Indian gaming

Summary

HB154 would create a general law to recognize Indian-equivalent bingo and relieve certain non-Indian bingo operators of legal burdens by aligning them with Indian tribes under IGRA, while defining terms and setting limits.

What This Bill Does

It recognizes that Indian tribes may conduct bingo with electronic equipment under IGRA and relieves non-Indian bingo operators from certain legal burdens that do not apply to tribes by creating the concept of Indian equivalent bingo. It defines 'qualified person' and provides that such persons may be treated similarly to tribes for purposes of the act, including tax relief on bingo revenues and protections from criminal prosecution and forfeiture related to Indian equivalent bingo. It also states that state and local sales taxes will not apply to the gross receipts or revenues from Indian equivalent bingo for qualified persons, prohibits patrons from recovering gambling losses, allows certain bingo equipment to be transported across state lines under federal law, and clarifies the act's scope and effective date.

Who It Affects

• Qualified persons engaged in Indian equivalent bingo in Alabama (as defined by the bill) would receive legal protections, tax relief on bingo revenues, and immunity from criminal prosecutions and forfeitures related to their Indian equivalent bingo activities.
• Patrons who gamble in Indian equivalent bingo would be affected because they would not have a right to sue or recover gambling losses from qualified persons.

Key Provisions

• Defines terms such as Bingo Equipment, Class II Gaming, Indian Equivalent Bingo, Qualified Person, and Engage/Engagement to establish the framework of the act.
• Recognizes that Indian tribes may conduct bingo with electronic equipment under IGRA and relieves non-Indian bingo operators from certain burdens, creating the concept of Indian equivalent bingo and qualified persons.
• Specifies that qualified persons (those who engaged in Indian equivalent bingo in Alabama by December 1, 2009) may be treated similarly to tribes for purposes of the act, including certain protections and rights.
• Provides that state and local sales or privilege taxes on the gross receipts or revenues from Indian equivalent bingo for qualified persons will not apply, with retroactive and prospective effect; previously collected taxes are not refunded.
• States that no criminal prosecution or forfeiture of property shall occur against qualified persons for engaging in Indian equivalent bingo, and that bingo equipment used will not be considered a gambling device.
• Allows the transportation of certain gambling devices across state lines for qualified persons, exempting such transportation from federal law violations under specified circumstances.
• Declares the act severable, effective immediately upon passage, and clarifies that the act does not expand Class II gaming, authorize lotteries, or override local constitutional amendments unrelated to the act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Bingo