SB59 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve LivingstonSenator

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2015

Title

Gaming, regulation of Class II games in Greene, Houston, and Macon Counties; regulation of Class III games at certain sites; Alabama Education Lottery and Education Lottery Corporation estab.; Alabama Education Lottery and Gaming Commission established to license and regulate gaming; negotiation of gaming compact with Poarch Creek Indians required; const. amend.

Summary

A constitutional amendment would create an Alabama Education Lottery and Gaming Commission, authorize regulated Class II and III gaming at specific sites, require large license fees and investments, and push for a gaming compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to fund education and scholarships.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Alabama Education Lottery Corporation and the Alabama Education Lottery and Gaming Commission to run the lottery and regulate the designated gaming. Authorizes Class II gaming at Greenetrack (Greene County), the Alabama Center Stage Bingo Facility (Houston County), and VictoryLand (Macon County) with a $25,000,000 license fee for 25 years and a 25% tax on profits; authorizes Class III gaming at a Birmingham downtown site by RFP and at a Poarch Band of Creek Indians site in DeKalb, Jackson, or Marshall County with a $250,000,000 minimum license fee, $250,000,000 minimum capital investment, and a 25% tax on profits. Requires the Governor to negotiate a gaming compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and repeals two existing constitutional amendments allowing charitable bingo.

Who It Affects

• Alabama residents and students, as proceeds from the gaming and lottery would fund the Education Trust Fund and postsecondary scholarships, influencing education funding and local economies.
• Gaming operators, local governments, and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who would pay license fees, make capital investments, and share tax revenues with state and local governments.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Education Lottery Corporation to administer the lottery and the Alabama Education Lottery and Gaming Commission to regulate all gaming activities.
• Authorizes Class II gaming at Greenetrack (Greene County), the Alabama Center Stage Bingo Facility (Houston County), and VictoryLand (Macon County) with a $25,000,000 license fee for 25 years and a 25% tax on gaming profits.
• Authorizes Class III gaming at the Birmingham downtown location (via RFP) and at a Poarch Band site in DeKalb, Jackson, or Marshall County with a minimum $250,000,000 license fee and a minimum $250,000,000 capital investment for a destination resort, plus 25% of gaming profits tax.
• License fees and taxes would be distributed with 8% kept by the commission, 40% to the Education Trust Fund, 40% to the General Fund, and 12% to the county where the operator is licensed.
• One-time license payments for Birmingham and Northeast county locations go to the General Fund; all payments must be made within 60 days of license grant.
• Birmingham and Northeast county operators must invest at least $250,000,000 in capital improvements within three years of licensing.
• Requires the Governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians; outlines federal approval processes and dispute resolution in federal court.
• Repeals Amendments 743 and 744, which authorized charitable bingo in Greene and Macon Counties.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments