South Birmingham Times

Members of the Alabama legislature are entering their second week of the 2025 session, with gambling expansion as a potential topic for discussion. However, a conservative think tank has expressed opposition to such measures.

The Alabama Policy Institute (API) recently released a study arguing that any expansion of gambling would be detrimental to the state. The report, titled "Gambling is the wrong way for Alabama," claims that while there may be an initial economic boost, the long-term societal impacts could include increased poverty and drug use.

"We are pro-free market, pro-family and pro-limited government. And expanding gambling actually is against every single one of those three tenets," said Stephanie Smith, President and CEO of the Alabama Policy Institute. "We believe that gambling revenue is regressive and actually is predatory and looks for places and people who are vulnerable."

Some lawmakers have countered these arguments by suggesting that Alabama is losing potential revenue to neighboring states. They argue that inaction on this issue would be irresponsible.

"We have gaming in Alabama it is alive and well in Alabama, the state has a moral obligation to grab control of this industry," stated Alabama State Senator Greg Albritton. "We’re missing out on protecting the public from this industry. Those who are young, those who are troubled, those that get caught up in it, we have no means to assist, help, or control that."

Albritton also noted that legislators were placing bets on the Super Bowl during last week's session. He emphasized the need for legislative action to regulate an industry already present in the state. Historically, gaming legislation tends to be delayed until the final weeks of sessions and often does not pass.