SB43 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

SB43 would amend Alabama's Constitution to legalize electronic bingo for charitable or educational purposes in White Hall and Lowndes County, using machines approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission and operated by Native American tribes.

What This Bill Does

If passed, it would allow nonprofit groups in White Hall and Lowndes County to run electronic bingo for prizes, under local regulation. Devices must be authorized by the National Indian Gaming Commission and operated by Native American tribes in Alabama. It creates age restrictions, licensing rules, premises requirements, contracting limits, prize caps, and penalties for violations.

Who It Affects

• Nonprofit organizations in White Hall and Lowndes County that would operate or license electronic bingo; they must meet licensing, premises, and contracting rules and ensure compliance.
• Native American tribes in Alabama that would provide and operate the electronic bingo devices in White Hall and Lowndes County; their machines would be NIGC-authorized and governed by IGRA regulations.

Key Provisions

• Authorize electronic bingo and other bingo games for charitable, educational, or lawful purposes in the Town of White Hall and Lowndes County, with regulation by the town council.
• Allow devices authorized by the National Indian Gaming Commission under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to be used and operated by Native American tribes in Alabama.
• Ban players under 18 from playing and ban anyone under 19 from conducting or assisting in bingo operations.
• Require nonprofits to have existed for at least two years before receiving a bingo license; limit license issuance to qualified nonprofits.
• Limit bingo to on-premises owned or leased by the nonprofit; require lease terms not to base rent on a percentage of proceeds unless allowed by rules.
• Permit nonprofits to contract with operators but prohibit payment of consulting fees related to bingo operations.
• Prevent nonprofits from lending their name or identity to others for bingo not directly operated by them.
• Limit prizes to cash amounts or gifts of equivalent value as set by regulations.
• authorize the town council to implement these provisions by ordinance or resolution.
• Establish penalties: first violation is a Class C misdemeanor; subsequent violations are Class A misdemeanors.
• Require an election to approve the constitutional amendment with on-ballot language describing the proposal.

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