The effort to push through a legal gaming bill in Alabama for 2024 fizzled out quietly at the end of the legislative session, as it failed to garner any votes in the Alabama Senate.

This attempt essentially wrapped up the discussions surrounding a law filed by State Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) for 2025, which also saw little support in the Senate.

When asked whether he initiated this call based on the limited session time and the legislative workload, Gudger stated, “I said that’s exactly what APTV’s ‘Capitol Journal’ was.” He then added, “But I believe it was the right decision.”

“I think it was too late if the votes were too few. By doing that, the law came out where people finally saw it after talking for a while, and we got votes in the caucus and on the floor.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Gudger expressed optimism, particularly with an election year approaching.

As lawmakers prepare to return to Montgomery for the upcoming regular session, it also signals the end of the current limb of this legislative year, coinciding with the 2026 primary election season.

“To answer that question, I don’t want it to happen. Personally, I think there are people who want it to come out, but during the election, I think it’s already confusing,” Gudger remarked.

“So, I think the best thing for my Alabama Senate colleagues is that I don’t want to cultivate gambling next year, and if I do, I’ll take all the oxygen out of the room. I’ll keep that in mind, but my focus is on my colleagues.”

Gudger acknowledged that he hasn’t anticipated a gaming bill since the 2026 election in Alabama, noting that it “will come back at some point.”

He cautioned that the issue could derail discussions on more pressing congressional priorities, emphasizing that the current session couldn’t be overshadowed by gaming. “It wasn’t enough yet of the expectations of some lawmakers,” he added.

“Well, and you’re closing this session because you didn’t want it to eat all the oxygen in the room, because there’s a lot more to do, and I think that’s part of your role.”

“And my personal opinion is that if you’re not ready and you’re voting 21 votes on the Senate floor for the constitutional amendment vote, you don’t need to introduce them. What’s important to me is that we’ll have to be here for seven years. The first session was where our intentions were clearly laid out, and everyone in my Senate knew this was enough.”

A law should focus on all these aspects to ensure there are enough votes, rather than getting bogged down with concerns.