SB407 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Bingo, White Hall and Lowndes Co., legalizing certain operations of electronic bingo for prizes or money for charitable or educational purposes, const, amend.

Summary

A constitutional amendment to legalize electronic bingo for prizes or money in White Hall and Lowndes County, with regulation, taxes, and revenue sharing.

What This Bill Does

It would allow the Town of White Hall to operate and license electronic bingo games using devices approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission and operated by Native American tribes in Alabama. It would impose a 5% state gross receipts tax and a 10% local gross receipts tax on gaming revenue, plus a 5% local bingo vendor tax, with the proceeds distributed to the state, Lowndes County, education, municipalities, nonprofits, and county services. It would require age limits (no players under 18; no operators under 19), place regulatory authority with the White Hall Town Council, and set licensing and operational rules for organizations, along with penalties for violations.

Who It Affects

• Lowndes County residents and taxpayers, who would be affected by the new taxes and the way tax revenues are distributed to state and local entities and services.
• Bingo-related organizations, bingo vendors, and local government in White Hall and Lowndes County, who would be subject to licensing, regulation, taxes, and distribution rules.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes electronic bingo for prizes or money in White Hall and Lowndes County using machines approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission and operated by Native American tribes in Alabama.
• Imposes a 5% state gross receipts tax and a 10% local gross receipts tax on gaming gross revenue, with payments due monthly to the State General Fund and Lowndes County.
• Imposes a 5% local bingo vendor tax on gross revenues from leases or revenue-sharing with bingo facilities, with revenue allocated to law enforcement in Lowndes County.
• Distributes local tax receipts: 1.5% to White Hall for licensing/regulatory costs, 3% to the Lowndes County Board of Education, 2% to county municipalities by population, 1% to nonprofit entities, and 2.5% retained by Lowndes County for county services.
• Establishes age limits: no one under 18 may play; no one under 19 may operate or assist in operating a bingo game.
• Requires organizations to have existed for at least two years, restricts where bingo can be played (on premises owned or leased by the organization), and governs leasing terms and prohibition of certain consulting fees and name-sharing related to bingo operations, with prizes limited by regulation.
• Penalties for violations: first violation is a Class C misdemeanor; subsequent violations are Class A misdemeanors, with local administration by the White Hall Town Council.
• The amendment would be voted on by election and implemented by White Hall ordinances or resolutions, complementing existing bingo authorization.

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