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Alabama has historically tight gambling laws with limited options for citizens. However, this could be set to change following the passing of two House bills that will allow state-regulated gambling and lottery betting.

Previously, the only types of betting available in Alabama were charitable, tribal, and pari-mutuel. The relaxation of regulations could help to set the frameworks that allow other forms of gambling in the future.

HB151 initially proposed the legalization of both online and retail sports betting but was amended to remove this before being accepted. The bill also proposed casino betting in areas that allow bingo-type games, this has also been removed with just the state lottery proposal moving forward.

HB152 focused on the state lottery and a regulatory commission that would oversee betting in Alabama.

The bills would give the governor additional power to negotiate compacts with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in regard to gaming on tribal lands. They also include tax recommendations of between 24% and 32% for pari-mutuel betting.

The bills will now move to the House of Representatives, with the public voting on the issue should it advance.

One of the overriding factors in the potential success of these bills will be the financial benefits the state of Alabama sees. Projected revenues of $305.6m for an Alabama state lottery and the potential to earn billions through other betting markets could help the case for betting laws to be relaxed even further.

The success of other states has been used by those pushing for legislation. Pennsylvani’s online casino industry got the go-ahead in 2017 and now has 16 live platforms. 

Betting expert Sergio Zammit explains the benefits to bettors of each new PA casino 2024 has to offer. As well as offering state-of-the-art gaming opportunities for customers, they also provide a great selection of bonuses and promos.

Another significant benefit that consumers can enjoy is that the Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board ensures online casinos are safe and fair before issuing licenses. This regulated betting industry has seen Pennsylvania post a record-breaking $5.7 billion in revenue for 2023. This was a 9.3% increase on 2022’s figures and covered a selection of markets including iGaming, sports betting, casino games, and more.

Since states were given the autonomy to create their own laws on sports betting in 2018, many have taken up the option and introduced regulatory frameworks that also cover online betting.

States that don’t offer legal online betting options often see citizens exploiting loopholes to bet through offshore operators that are licensed in different jurisdictions. This sees states miss out on millions of dollars of revenue every year, and many are keen to gain more control over the betting opportunities available to consumers.