by
No one ever said politics is clean. It’s not. In fact, playing dirty is the name of the game for the highest positions, from US President to state Congress.
That’s why you see almost every big-name politician have their name and reputation dragged through the mud eventually. A past scandal is seemingly always uncovered, or support of a controversial issue is resurfaced.
Have we crossed the chasm with sports betting? As in, supporting it is now grounds to be attacked for? It has in Alabama, a state without legal sports betting at the moment. If successful here, it could blow the doors off for attacking the issue in other states. Keep on reading and we’ll tell you what’s going on down south!
Sports Betting Views Come Under Attack In Political Race
It’s an election year and we’re about six months away from that decisive, final vote. So now is the time when the knives come out, as seen in the Republican race to be Alabama’s House District 85 (HD85) nominee. Voters will cast their ballots on May 19. The winner will head to the November ballot.
The top two Republican candidates are State Rep. Rick Rehm and Henry County Commission chairman David Money. If offshore sportsbooks are to be believed, Rehm is the odds-on favorite to win. Back in 2022, Rehm toppled 12-year Democratic incumbent (Dexter Grimsley) so he’s shown an ability to win in big moments.
Perhaps that’s why Money is going on the offensive against Rehm. Money has essentially called Rehm a puppet for the American Conservative Fund (ACF) PAC. The PAC is getting money from different groups, but one of the bigger donors? Top sports betting app, DraftKings.
Money dispersed flyers calling Rehm a RINO up and down the state. One flyer we saw online says Rehm is soft on crime, wants higher taxes, and supports legalized gambling — all three issues were side-by-side in checkmarks. Somehow, someway betting is just as bad as lack of law and order (critical to the Republican agenda).
“I’ve had several campaigns before, and I’ve never gone what might be considered as negative,” Money told 1819 News. “This was just making the voters aware of the people who are very likely to fund several campaigns.”
Rehm Denies ACF Connection
To get Rehm’s side of the story, he denies any involvement from ACF or gambling companies. He says Money’s ads are a pure desperation play to bring him down using libel.
“I have never communicated with them. I don’t have a relationship with them. I don’t know who they are,” Rehm told 1819 News. “I have nothing to do with them. I wish they would stop sending mailers, by the way. Because I’m running my campaign.”
Rehm also said he’s turned down not one, but two donation checks from gaming entities. A politician saying no to money? You don’t say!
Perhaps some of the ties date back to Rehm’s past votes on betting bills. In 2024, two different bills to legalize betting ended up earning a vote in the Alabama Legislature. Rehm actually voted “yes” on both those bills, which ended up stalling out in Congress. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, that’s what Money seems to be signaling about his opponent.
Look, we don’t know who’s telling the truth and who’s not. We’re only writing this up to show how much of a pipe dream Alabama sports betting feels like right now. When the very issue becomes a point of contention between the two candidates, you know you’re dealing with a polarizing topic.
And it is in Alabama. Gambling is very much still a morality issue in the deeply conservative, religion-rooted South, and that’s apparent in Alabama. Heck, the state doesn’t even have a state lottery. Only four other states can lay claim to that. But that too is becoming a flashpoint between the two candidates.
Rehm, Money Clash Over State Lottery
Approving a state lottery has actually had more traction stateside than sports betting or Las Vegas-esque casinos. And both candidates actually seemed to be aligned on the lottery front.
Money has openly said he favors approving a statewide referendum on a lottery. That would give voters the right to decide on the issue at the ballot. Quick to point out, Money says he’s not necessarily for legalization, only allowing Alabama voters to decide.
“If it is properly regulated and the financial gain to the state can be used for education, infrastructure, law enforcement, those kinds of things, then I would solidly take the position [that] we need to allow the public to vote on this,” Money said.
Rehm has said the same thing as Money — he wants voters to decide for themselves. But in another game of “he said, no, he said”, Rehm says that behind closed doors, Money has been pro-legalizing lotteries. Again, we can’t fact-check that, but Rehm has put those words in Money’s mouth.
This Rehm vs. Money spat still has a few weeks to go before the initial May election, and it might involve more controversy over betting. But it just goes to show you how far from reality betting in Alabama feels like…
Online betting sites 