HB151 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris BlackshearRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Proposed constitutional amendment; Alabama Gaming Commission, established to regulate, license, and tax certain limited forms of gaming activity and stop unlawful gaming activity; compact with PCI, authorized; local bingo provisions, repealed

Summary

HB151 would amend the Alabama Constitution to create a state-regulated, limited gaming framework with a new Alabama Gaming Commission, authorize a state lottery, casino-style games at up to seven locations, limited sports wagering, raffles, and paper bingo, and allow a tribal compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes five forms of gaming (state lottery, in-person casino-style games at up to seven licensed establishments, limited sports wagering, traditional raffles, and traditional paper bingo) and establishes a new Alabama Gaming Commission to regulate, license, and tax these activities. It phases out local bingo provisions over two years and sets up a law enforcement division within the commission to stop unlawful gaming. It authorizes the Governor to negotiate a tribal-state compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for Class III games on tribal lands and may license casino-style gaming at an additional site outside those lands, with federal review and immunity waivers as needed. It also allows the Legislature to adjust tax rates on gaming by general law with Commission input and requires statewide, not local, regulation of these activities.

Who It Affects

• General public in Alabama: gains a state-regulated framework for limited gaming, potential state revenues from the new activities, and consumer protections via the Commission.
• Potential gaming operators: may seek licenses to operate up to seven casino-style gaming establishments and must comply with Commission rules and local approval processes.
• Poarch Band of Creek Indians: potential for a Tribal-State compact to regulate Class III games on tribal lands and possibly operate an additional casino-style site outside those lands.
• State and local government: creation of a public lottery under state supervision and redirected or new tax revenues from regulated gaming; local bingo provisions are being repealed and replaced with statewide rules.
• Bingo-related businesses and local communities: wind-down of current local bingo provisions over two years with transitional requirements.

Key Provisions

• Five authorized gaming activities: official state lottery, casino-style games at up to seven licensed establishments, limited sports wagering, traditional raffles, and traditional paper bingo.
• Alabama Gaming Commission created to regulate, license, tax, and police gaming activities; includes a law enforcement division to eradicate unlawful gaming.
• Official state lottery authorized and regulated by a public corporation; net lottery proceeds go to the State Treasury and are separately appropriated; operating expenses and prizes funded from lottery revenue.
• Governor authorized to negotiate and execute a Tribal-State compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for Class III games on tribal lands; may license casino-style games at an additional site outside tribal lands; federal review and Waiver of state immunity for disputes under the compact are included.
• Section 65.03 prohibits future local constitutional amendments about gaming from taking effect if they apply to only part of the state, ensuring statewide applicability.
• Section 65.04 provides for licensing of casino-style games outside tribal lands via the compact; outlines the process for filing and federal review.
• Section 65.05 allows the Legislature to grant original jurisdiction to Alabama courts to hear gaming matters involving the commission or lottery.
• Licenses for casino-style gaming establishments capped at seven, with procedures and local approvals established by general law.
• Two-year phase-out of local bingo provisions, requiring operators to disclose owners, provide regulatory willingness, pay taxes, and describe gaming activities; operations may continue until January 1, 2027 if conditions are met.
• Repeal of listed local bingo provisions and related constitutional sections, shifting to statewide regulation.

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

Subjects

Gaming