Alabama Gambling Talks Heat Up as Newcomer Waters Stands Firmly Against It

Alabama’s Senate battle is heating up, with the theme of discussion this time being the legalization of gambling in the state. Alabama Senate District 22 candidate and political newcomer Terry Waters is taking a firm stance against any proposals to expand legal gaming in the state if he wins the election. State Senator Greg Albritton, who has spent nearly a decade as the Alabama Senate’s lead author of comprehensive gaming legislation, is Waters’ main opponent on the matter.

First-Time Candidate Terry Waters Stands Firm Against Gambling

Waters said that he plans to take a firm stance on gambling, calling it an issue he feels strongly enough about to stand by at all costs. He also made clear that he would not support a statewide vote on the matter. 

Waters, who serves on the board of the Baldwin County chapter of the Alabama Farmers Federation and has been endorsed by the organization’s chapters in Baldwin, Mobile, Washington, and Escambia counties, said he initially entered the race undecided and open to what he described as a “clean lottery bill.”

He later concluded that such a proposal does not exist, stating that all forms of gambling are interconnected. He also argued that legalizing gambling in the state would lack sufficient oversight and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.

Alabama Has a Difficult Relationship with Gambling

Senator Greg Albritton has been a strong proponent of introducing gambling in the state. He sponsored a wide-ranging 2024 proposal that would have allowed a state lottery, up to seven casinos, electronic gaming machines, and a compact with the Poarch Creek Indians. 

In 2025, he introduced follow-up legislation estimating about $750 million in annual revenue from a lottery, Class II electronic gaming at existing racetracks, sports betting, and a tribal agreement. He has argued that comprehensive legislation isn’t about endorsing gambling, but rather about regulating the limited forms of gambling that already exist in Alabama. 

Currently, there are four casinos in the state, three of which are operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Several spots in Alabama also operate “electronic bingo” parlors, which, according to state law, refer to casino-like machines that are legally justified as bingo games under local constitutional amendments.

Albritton isn’t the only Alabama representative who has been pushing for more gambling in the state. In February, Alabama State Senator Merika Coleman introduced a bill that aims to allow Alabama voters to decide whether they want gambling in the state or not. 

Speaking of voting on the issue, Albritton said the issue ultimately comes down to allowing the people of Alabama to make the decision. He stated that he would permit Alabama voters to decide whether to establish a lottery to fund college scholarships and other essential services, while claiming that Waters strongly opposes giving voters that choice.

Whatever happens next, it’s clear that debates surrounding the legality and expansion of gambling in the state will continue. The gubernatorial candidates themselves have been involved in the discussions, as recent financial disclosures have shown that candidate Tommy Tuberville received significant contributions linked to the gaming industry.