Two bills that would authorize statewide lotteries, casinos and sports betting, and a proposed regulatory structure to oversee them, passed the Alabama House of Representatives Thursday. No such proposal has yet been agreed upon by both chambers of the Alabama Legislature well into the 21st century.

The first bill, just nine pages in total, is a constitutional amendment that would authorize a statewide educational lottery, traditional lotteries and bingo, casino-style gaming, and sports betting. It also provides for the structure of the nine-member Alabama Gaming Commission and allows the governor to negotiate agreements with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Any such amendment would require approval by Alabama voters on the November 2024 general election ballot.

The second bill is a longer, more detailed proposal that would address how gaming in Alabama would operate, how illegal operations would be enforced, and how the estimated $500 million in annual revenue It serves as an implementation framework for where it will be distributed.

Both bills were approved by House members on Thursday.

“This bill is a product of this legislative body, and I'm more proud of it than anything we've done in the past,” said state Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City). “We wrote this bill from the ground up. Nobody gave us anything from the outside to begin with. That's one of the things I'm most proud of. .”

Blackshear is the sponsor of both bills and is leading an effort to allow Alabama voters to decide in 2024 whether they want legal gaming in the state, but the bills were last introduced in 1999. When it was submitted, it was rejected.

Related: Ivey supports legal gambling and voting on state lottery: 'It's time for Alabama voters to have a different voice'

“Before we begin, I would like to highlight three very important facts. The first is that gambling is happening in Alabama today. The second is that there are illegal sportsbooks, “There are gambling parlors, casinos, etc. that are not wiretapped, controlled, or taxed in any way,” said Congressman Blackshear.

Above all, Blackshear insisted, “people want to vote.” He cited a recent poll showing that 91% of Alabama voters support the Legislature allowing a vote on the issue.

“So whatever your personal opinion on this issue, voters want to vote,” Blackshear told lawmakers before Thursday's deliberation.

Two hours later, House members approved the constitutional amendment by a vote of 70-32.

While some lawmakers opposed to the bill expressed fundamental concerns about legalizing gambling in Alabama, others expressed concerns specific to the details.

“It feels like we've been here before, guys. This has happened dozens of times over the last 20 years,” said Rep. Jim Carnes (R-Vestavia Hills). speaks from his experience as a member of the House of Representatives since 1990.

“We know, and it's already been established, that gambling causes social problems in Alabama. Gambling is taking money away from commerce in Alabama,” he said. “We are opening the door to things we could not have imagined 15 years from now.”

After approving the constitutional amendment portion of the bill, lawmakers also passed an implementing bill detailing the establishment, licensing requirements, and revenue-sharing mechanisms for the Alabama Gaming Commission, its executive branch, and the Alabama Lottery Corporation.

Related: Opponents of Alabama gambling bill deliver sharp criticism at press conference

It also identifies up to seven specific locations for future casinos in the state, including Mobile, Houston, Lowndes, Macon, Greene, and Jefferson counties, as well as the Porch Band of Creeks. One location in northeastern Alabama set aside exclusively for the possibility of entering into treaties with Indians has also been identified. PCI).

PCI opposes the bill in its current form and is “hopeful” that lawmakers will be able to address its concerns during the legislative process.

The latest official statement reads: “While we look forward to legislators passing legislation that maximizes the power of gaming for the benefit of all of Alabama, we cannot support this bill in its current form. It says “I can't do it.”

“We have been able to operate a successful gaming business for decades, which has allowed us to invest more than $1 billion in capital in our state, employ thousands of Alabamians, and These efforts can help support education, health care, and other critical local and state services. Unfortunately, current legislation is based on proven business models. and hinder our ability to operate a competitive gaming company.”

“We respect Governor Ivey and the leaders of both the House and Senate who are working on a plan that will give Alabamians the right to vote on this issue. We need to present the best solution for the state of Alabama to consider.”

Related: Does Alabama feel lucky about the 2024 game?

A key component of the package details the creation of a statewide lottery to benefit education.

As currently written, all lottery revenue allocations will go toward school safety enhancements, last-dollar scholarship programs for two-year community colleges and technical colleges, and education, including dual education. It will be invested in a lottery fund for future education which will be allocated for additional annual expenditures for the purpose. Admission programs, non-recurring capital expenditures in the education sector.

The proposed Commission's enforcement arm would include investigators, auditors, compliance officers, administrative staff, and officers with arrest powers tasked with adhering to gaming regulations and combating illegal activities. .

Some lawmakers argue that the executive branch is too concentrated within the new committee. Alabama's top law enforcement official, Attorney General Steve Marshall, expressed “grave concern” in a statement.

“I think it's unconscionable to reward people who have flagrantly defied our nation's criminal and civil laws, and even the rulings handed down against them by our state's highest courts. This bill clearly supports a small number of special interests. “It is difficult for me to see how this bill is a solution to our state's most pressing problems,” Marshall said.

The Alabama House of Representatives' success Thursday in advancing the plan marks a major milestone in a decades-long effort to create a legal form of gambling in Alabama while also capturing revenue-generating benefits. In the latest attempt to pass a comprehensive framework in the 2022 legislative session, the Senate has given its stamp of approval to a proposal by state Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), but negotiations in the House have stalled. did.

At a press conference last week announcing the policy, which is now in the hands of the Alabama Senate, Albritton was joined by Reps. Chris Blackshear, Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) and Sam Jones (D). Lawmakers said they have strong policies in place. Propose in front of them.

“As a people, we are wondering why we haven't been able to accomplish this,” said Sen. Albritton. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now closer than ever to ending this problem.”

Grayson Everett is the state and politics editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270