Representatives from mental health organizations voiced tentative support for proposed Alabama bills that could pave the way for widespread online sports betting, retail sports betting, casinos, and lotteries across the state.

Alabama Mental Health Advocates Call for Increased Funding Amid Gambling Expansion Debate

During a hearing before the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee, Holly McCorkle of the Alabama Council for Behavioral Health and John Kilpatrick of Alabama Veterans Recovery Resources refrained from outright opposition to the bills. Instead, they emphasized the need for increased funding for mental health services in the state.

McCorkle emphasized the necessity of a new revenue stream for mental health, stating that they supported the proposal because mental health desperately needed it. 

Kilpatrick echoed her sentiments, highlighting the plight of veterans and emphasizing the importance of ensuring that a significant portion of the generated funds is allocated to mental health and veterans’ services.

The proposed bills, HB 151 and 152, mark a significant potential expansion of gambling in Alabama, a state currently without a lottery but home to Indian gaming operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians at three casinos.

If passed, the legislation would permit up to 10 brick-and-mortar casinos, including existing tribal locations, along with additional tribal and non-tribal gaming facilities. 

Advocates Highlight Consumer Protections, Critics Raise Societal Concerns

However, concerns have been raised regarding the current wording of the bills, particularly by Robbie McGhee, representing the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. McGhee expressed reservations about certain aspects of the legislation but affirmed the tribe’s overall support for expanding gaming.

FanDuel president Christian Genetski, an Alabama native, testified in favor of the proposals, highlighting the demand for legal wagering among Alabamians. Genetski emphasized the importance of consumer protections provided by the legal market, including robust responsible gambling measures.

Despite some vocal support, opposition to the bills also emerged during the hearing. Individuals with a history of compulsive gambling, as well as organizations such as the Public Policy Institute and the Alabama Farmers Federation (AFF), raised concerns about the potential societal impacts of expanded gambling.

Tim Richie, a former compulsive gambler, cautioned against the negative consequences of gambling addiction, while Preston Roberts of the AFF argued that the bills would primarily benefit gambling operators and weaken communities.

Previously, Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama addressed the 2024 legislative session, particularly supporting the current proposal for gambling expansion in the state. With the hearing concluded, the Economic Development and Tourism Committee is now poised to vote on the bills. The committee is scheduled to reconvene on February 14 to further deliberate on the issue.

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Since 2018 when the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA, sports betting expanded rapidly across the country. By now, 38 US states along with DC offer some form of legal wagering, leaving a handful of states that are currently trying to legalize the activity and a several that do not have any active legislation.

Currently, Nebraska offers only retail sports betting options. The state borders Iowa, Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming, all of which offer mobile sports betting. While nearby Missouri is anticipating legalizing wagering, South Dakota, another bordering state, is offering only retail sports betting.

With some Nebraskans choosing to visit a nearby state and place sports bets online, efforts toward the legalization of mobile betting in the state continue. Besides a bill proposing the legalization of online sports betting, industry stakeholders are also exploring options to push for the legalization of the activity.

Once such effort is led by a coalition with the participation of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s economic development arm, Ho-Chunk Inc., in collaboration with leading sports betting operators, a new report reveals. As announced by the Journal Star, the coalition that supports the legalization of online sports wagering includes Ho-Chunk, along with industry giants, FanDuel and DraftKings, Caesars and BetMGM.

Support of the Public Is Important

The efforts of the coalition seek in Nebraska to evaluate the likelihood of the residents of the state to support the addition of mobile betting. This can be achieved either via efforts by lawmakers or by adding a poll to the upcoming ballot in November.

To determine the support of Nebraskans, the coalition launched a public opinion poll on the topic. The poll launched on Monday this week and will conclude at the week’s end with the results expecting to shed light on the residents’ views about mobile wagering.

Lance Morgan, Ho-Chunk’s CEO, revealed that the coalition has “big plans” that can only be achieved with support from the public. “We don’t want to do anything until we see what happens,” he explained, joking that mobile betting is “something people want.”

Moreover, Morgan spoke about a growing number of requests from bettors for online sports wagering at WarHorse’s retail betting outlet. He explained that many people would rather use their smartphone to place a wager instead of driving miles to visit a retail sportsbook or go across the border to a nearby state.

According to Morgan, a petition drive to put the issue up for a vote in November would require significant expenses. Yet, he expressed hope that if the public opinion supports the expansion of gambling with the addition of mobile betting, lawmakers will take the initiative and add the matter to the upcoming ballot.

Provided that supporters try to legalize mobile betting through a petition drive, they would need to collect approximately 122,000 signatures from residents in the state. The deadline for the collection of the valid signatures is July 2024.

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