It was also projected to generate between 12,000 and 15,000 permanent jobs and drive billions of dollars in associated revenue to the cities and counties where the casinos would be located.īut for Ledbetter and a growing number of lawmakers, the revenue and job growth are almost secondary to cleaning up a growing illegal gambling industry that is producing billions in under-the-table revenue.

That figure did not factor in the cost of licenses. That bill was projected to be paired with a lottery expansion bill, and all combined was expected to generate nearly a billion dollars annually in tax revenue. Additionally, limited gaming (likely only electronic bingo) would be allowed at two locations in Dothan and Lowndes County for a limited number of years. Kay Ivey to enter into compact negotiations with the Poarch Creek Band of Creek Indians, eventually bringing full casino gaming to their current three locations in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery. That bill would have legalized full casino gaming at five locations around the state – the four dog tracks in Shorter, Greene County, Birmingham and Mobile and a new location in northeast Alabama.

Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, in the 2022 session. Ledbetter and others familiar with the process said the gambling that is likely to be filed in the House will look a lot like a comprehensive gaming bill sponsored by Sen.

If we pass this legislation and put in place serious enforcement and regulations, we’ll go from more than a thousand gambling outfits to just around 10 – 10 that are well regulated and licensed.” People want to push back against this as saying we’re expanding gambling, but that’s absolutely not the case. “We just can’t let this go on any longer. We have some serious criminal activity around them. People are selling drugs around some of these places. They’re all over the state, in every county, everywhere you go.

“We don’t have hundreds of illegal gambling operations. “I’ll be honest with you and say that I simply had no idea just how widespread of a problem we have,” Ledbetter said. In Ledbetter’s case, however, he views his support of the legislation as far less about the advancement of gambling in Alabama and far more about curbing the illegal activity that’s currently rampant in the state. (Case in point: in the mid-2000s, an electronic bingo bill that had widespread support – and that would have ended the gambling fight over those games before they really started – died in the House when a representative “forgot” to show up for the vote.)

Alabama casinos