State Sen. Sam Givhan skeptical a gaming bill can pass

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January 26, 2024

The Alabama Legislature is expected to debate some kind of gaming bill during the 2024 session, but it’s still far from certain that they will be able to get it across the finish line.

Rep. Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) has promised to cosponsor a bill that will reform the current gambling system in the Yellowhammer State.

Despite the continuing discussions on the issue, some lawmakers still don’t believe there are enough votes to pass a comprehensive gaming law.

State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) discussed the chances Thursday on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show.”

“I don’t see it,” Givhan said. “I mean a sports betting and lottery, if the casinos would ever back off, then I think maybe, but I just don’t think enough Republicans would vote for that and override the Democrats.”

The senator said there’s nothing he’s seen that would change his mind and make him support some kind of casino gambling bill.

“I’m a hard no on casino gambling,” he said. “The difference of me filibustering and just me voting no would be whether it’s going to impact Madison County or how it’s going to impact Madison County, but as I understand it right now it would not be Madison County.”

He also said there isn’t really the demand to bring a lot of new casinos to the state.

“You’re not going to have MGM or Harrah’s here,” he said. “What’s the appeal? And what I was told yesterday was those types of businesses said Alabama is not in play for this. And I’m sure they’ve done the numbers on it and thinking, ‘No we’re not interested.’ And the north Alabama one is going to be a Poarch Indiana site if it’s allowed … I just don’t see people saying they’re going to spend the weekend in Greene County.”

Givhan also reiterated the votes just aren’t there to get it passed.

“We’re ignoring the fact that there’s not enough senators to vote for it,” he said, “and best I can tell 4 out of the 5 Madison County senators are ‘no’ votes.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

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