SB40 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

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

This bill would amend the Alabama Constitution to legalize and regulate electronic bingo in White Hall and Lowndes County, with taxes, administration, and revenue distributions to state, county, and local entities.

What This Bill Does

If passed, electronic bingo could be played in White Hall and Lowndes County using devices authorized by the National Indian Gaming Commission. It creates a 5% state gross receipts tax and a 10% local gross receipts tax on gaming revenue, plus a 5% local vendor tax to fund law enforcement. Tax proceeds would be distributed to White Hall for administration, to Lowndes County for education and services, to county municipalities, to nonprofit groups, and retained by the county for county services, with additional rules on licensing, age limits, device eligibility, and prize limits.

Who It Affects

• Residents of White Hall and Lowndes County who may participate in electronic bingo and benefit from a portion of tax revenue for education and local services.
• Local governments, school authorities, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, bingo vendors, and Native American tribes operating eligible devices, who would administer, regulate, and receive tax revenue from electronic bingo.

Key Provisions

• Legalizes electronic bingo in White Hall and Lowndes County, on devices authorized by the National Indian Gaming Commission and operated by a Native American tribe in Alabama.
• Imposes a 5% state gross receipts tax and a 10% local gross receipts tax on gaming gross revenue; taxes are calculated after prizes and free play but before operating expenses.
• Local tax distributions: 1.5% to White Hall for licensing/regulation needs; 3% to Lowndes County Board of Education for education; 2% to municipalities in the county based on population; 1% to nonprofit entities serving Lowndes County residents; 2.5% retained by the county for county services.
• Imposes a 5% local bingo vendor tax on gross revenues from leases or revenue-sharing with bingo facilities, dedicated to law enforcement in Lowndes County.
• No one under 18 may play; no one under 19 may operate or assist in operating a bingo game.
• White Hall Town Council would license and regulate bingo, implementing rules and ensuring compliance; premises and licensing rules governed by council.
• Organizations must have existed at least two years before licensing; bingo must occur on premises owned or leased by the organization, with lease terms not tied to a percentage of receipts unless allowed by rules.
• Organizations may contract to operate bingo via third parties but cannot pay consulting fees for bingo-related services.
• Licensed bingo organizations cannot lend their name or allow others to operate or advertise bingo games they do not directly control.
• Prizes cannot exceed regulatory limits set by the amendments or regulations.
• Violations would be Class C misdemeanors for first offenses and Class A misdemeanors for subsequent ones.
• This amendment would complement existing White Hall bingo authorization ( Amendment 674) and require local implementation by ordinance or resolution.

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