Alabama Leaders Are Open To Betting, So Why Is Nothing Happening?

We probably don’t have to remind you that Alabama is one of the most anti-legal betting states around. There’s no sports betting in Alabama (one of 11 states without it) and hell, there’s no lottery. At all.

But… here’s the most crazy thing, some of the state’s most important leaders are NOT anti-betting. The opposite actually, as they’ve expressed interest in monetizing the fledgling industry. Let’s catch you up on some of their beliefs, and more importantly, why that hasn’t led to legal betting inside the red-blooded state.

The Governor Is Lukewarm On The Idea Of Betting

Meet Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. She’s been in the post since 2017 when her predecessor resigned. However, she’s won reelection in 2018 and 2022, making her the longest-serving female governor in the country.

All of 80 years old, and born and bred in Alabama — a hugely conservative state — you’d think she’d cite the Bible and oppose legalized betting. But you’d be wrong. While she’s not an advocate, the Governor seems to be neutral on the issue. Or so we thought. Recent comments signal she’s somewhat open to the industry:

“My position on gambling remains the same as it has for years. And y’all know what that is. I just want the people to have a vote,” she said.

Believe it or not, this is actually one of the more progressive positions in the state. And coming from the governor’s office, it carries real weight. If a solid, cleanly written bill ever made it through the legislature and landed on her desk, all signs suggest she’d let it move forward — not veto it, like some governors have straight up said (we’re looking at you, Oklahoma).

Ivey is the strongest voice in Alabama politics. However, even other top officials are on the same boat as her in regards to legalized betting, as we’ll get into that in the next section.

Senate Leader Is More Open To Betting

And then there’s Sen. Garlan Gudger. Just this February, at the start of the new legislative session, he was elected president pro tem by other Senators. Not as tenured as Ivey, but he’s the “new blood” leading the big wigs in politics.

He’s a little more forthright than Ivet on the topic of betting. Here’s what he had to say:

“I think we’re leaving a lot of money on the table where it’s going to other states,” Gudger said. “That’s my personal opinion. How we handle that, as a Senate body, I’ll be doing what the majority of this body wants….So I’m going to have to look at that bill whenever it does get filed, or if it gets filed. And then from that, we’ll take it apart piece by piece and make sure it’s the right thing to do for Alabama.”

In other words, Gudger wants legal betting and he wants the tax money that comes from it. He’s no dummy, he sees other states making hand over first from top mobile betting apps like BetMGM or FanDuel. So naturally, you want your fair shake.

After all, he knows Alabama bettors are still getting their gambling fix. Either bettors are crossing state lines to gamble — neighboring Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee all have it — or they’re just using offshore betting sites, which don’t pay taxes anywhere in the United States.

In Grudger’s eyes, Alabama is losing on both ends. Not only are they not stopping gambling, but they’re losing money to other states and entities. It’s the ultimate lose-lose scenario.

So Why Is Alabama Still Resisting Betting?

The governor is on board sort of. The Senate leader is definitely on the train. So why has nothing passed in regards to legalized betting?

Honestly, it’s head-scratching. But part of it is an about-face from Gudger. His tune on the issue changed fast once the actual 2025 bill hit the floor. He publicly admitted there just wasn’t time or support to push it through. With only a dozen days left in session and budgets still unresolved, gambling got pushed to the back burner — again. He called it “too little, too late,” and that was that. No vote, no deal, no future for betting in Alabama this year.

Senator Greg Albritton, one of the few long-standing champions for legal gambling in the state, went as far as to say passing any bill is 20 years away. That’s part hyperbole, but he’s just fed up more than anything else. The senator has been pushing for a full package — lottery, casinos, and betting all in one — for years. All those attempts have been beaten down, and after a while, that takes a toll.

The bottom line is this: it doesn’t matter that voters likely support it or that other states are making millions. Betting isn’t going anywhere in Alabama because the majority lawmakers — not just the top ones — can’t agree on what an industry should look like.

Should it be sports only? A lottery? Everything and the kitchen sink? No one can agree — and there lies the problem.