HB200 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

John W. Rogers

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Alabama Gaming Control and Revenue Act, casino gambling authorized in certain cities, licensure and regulation, Alabama Gaming Control Board and State Casino Gaming Fund established

Summary

HB200 would legalize casino gambling in Alabama in large cities, create a state regulatory board to license and oversee casinos and suppliers, and set up funding and taxes to distribute revenue to cities and education.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes casino gaming in cities with more than 100,000 residents and creates the Alabama Gaming Control Board to license operators, suppliers, and occupational workers and to regulate all casino activities. It establishes the State Casino Gaming Fund and a special Education Trust Fund account to distribute gambling proceeds, and allows cities to impose service fees or local taxes; it also requires audits, background checks, and annual reporting, and provides for conservatorship and a disassociated persons list to manage governance and public safety concerns. The bill ties the act to a constitutional amendment repealing Alabama’s lottery prohibition, making the act effective only after ratification, and prioritizes development agreements and voter-approved casino proposals in cities when awarding licenses.

Who It Affects

• Casino operators and suppliers: must obtain casino, supplier, or occupational licenses, undergo extensive background checks, pay application and license fees, post bonds, conduct audits, follow board rules, and potentially face conservatorship or license revocation for violations.
• Cities, residents, and local government: would receive a share of gambling revenues through the state and city allocations, may impose local development payments or fees, and are involved in development agreements and regulatory oversight for casino projects.

Key Provisions

• Creation of the Alabama Gaming Control Board with five members, including appointment rules, term lengths, ethics and conflict-of-interest requirements, and an executive director subject to Senate approval.
• Authorization of casino gaming in cities with populations over 100,000, with licenses limited to no more than three per city and with development agreements between cities and developers guiding location, financing, and local benefits.
• Three types of licenses—casino license, supplier license, and occupational license—each requiring background checks, fingerprints, financial disclosures, and ongoing compliance; licenses are issued for 10 years (casino) or two years (occupational) and are renewable.
• Wagering tax and fund structure: a state wagering tax of 15% (8.1% if a city opts for local payments) of adjusted gross receipts, with 55% of the state share to the city for local programs and 45% to the Education Trust Fund; cities may also levy a 6.9% local payment or tax under development agreements or ordinances.
• Financial reporting and audits: casino licensees must conduct quarterly audits, transmit audits to the board and city, and the board and auditors oversee compliance; mandatory annual reports and financial disclosures are required for board members and key staff.
• Public safety and social protections: required compulsive gambling programs, minors study, a toll-free helpline, and a list of disassociated persons to restrict certain patrons from casinos.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Gambling