Alabama bill seeks to declare electronic bingo machines illegal
It would also increase fines and charges for those in violation of gambling laws.
One Alabama legislator has proposed a bill that could ban games of chance that include slots, horseracing machines and electronic bingo entirely, according to a local news report from WVUA.
The bill would work to eliminate gray areas in the current law and establish a clear definition of what machines would be considered illegal.
Should Alabama Representative Matthew Hammett’s proposal pass, the charge for operating illegal gambling could be changed from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony.
House Bill 41 would apply to those charged with “possession of electronic gambling machines and other offenses.”
In addition to the higher charge, violators could face an increase in fines that would more than double what the penalty in Alabama is now.
Under the terms of HB 41, fines could increase from up to $6,000 to up to $15,000. A second offense could bring with it a Class B felony and prison time ranging from two to 20 years, along with a $30,000 fine.
Alabama currently has no legal gambling markets in place. However, the topic of welcoming legal gambling statewide is not off the table.
State legislation recently ended its latest session without voting on expanded gambling. The Senate was to consider a bill that would legalize a state lottery, slot machines and video poker.
Lawmakers reached a stalemate on the most recent legal gambling bill after a push to advance the bill fell short by one vote in an earlier session.
A passing vote would have allowed Alabama players access to in-person sports betting, as well as to online sports wagering platforms. The bill would have also set up a state lottery and would authorize up to 10 casino locations with slot machines and table games.
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