Alabama

Alabama lawmakers fail to approve state’s controversial gaming legislation

Published

2 years ago

May 10, 2024

Alabama lawmakers fail to approve state’s controversial gaming legislation

Alabama lawmakers failed to approve controversial gaming legislation on Thursday, the final day of the state’s legislative session.

The proposed measures would have legalized a state education lottery, electronic games of chance, traditional raffles, and paper bingo but continued to prohibit tables, cards, dice, and dealers. The bill would not authorize sports betting.

The state House approved the conference reports on the gaming bills, sending the legislation to the Senate for consideration. The measure, which required 21 votes to move forward, failed by a single vote after State Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Baldwin, voted against it.

“I want to publicly thank this body … it’s amazing when you work together as a team when things don’t have Rs or Ds by their names,” said the bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Russell Blackshear, when the legislation passed in the House hours before the Senate failed to do the same.

The gambling legislation would also have authorized the Alabama educational lottery to be paper only, while allowing electronic games of chance at seven locations throughout the state. No other locations would have been granted without new legislation being passed in both bodies and voted on by the citizens of the state.

More: Back to the drawing board: Alabama House doesn’t concur with Senate gambling bill

The lottery was set to be solely for education, with all other forms of gaming going to general funds. Alabamians would also have been able to participate in national lotteries, including the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries.

The Alabama Gaming Commission would have regulated the approved forms of gambling and worked to stop cases of illegal gambling in the state. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey would also have been required to enter negotiations for a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to limit in-person activities on land.

Gaming of any kind was last on a ballot in Alabama in 1999, and it was defeated in a statewide vote.

Ivey said she would not call a special session to address the gaming bills.

Victor Hagan is the Alabama Election Reporting Fellow for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at vhagan@gannett.com or on X @TheVictorHagan. To support his work, subscribe to the Advertiser.

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Alabama

Prediction, odds for Alabama vs. Vanderbilt in Top 15 SEC showdown

Published

10 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Prediction, odds for Alabama vs. Vanderbilt in Top 15 SEC showdown

After an impressive home win over Kentucky this past Saturday afternoon, the SEC road opener has now arrived for the Alabama Crimson Tide, which is a trip to Nashville to face the unbeaten Vanderbilt Commodores on Wednesday night.

Two teams ranked in the Top 15 nationally in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, Alabama and Vanderbilt have emerged as two of the SEC’s top teams this season, and are also both currently among the top scoring teams in all of college basketball.

Both of Alabama and Vanderbilt are also loaded with talent as well, headlined by a talented group of guards such as Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway for the Crimson Tide, as well as the Commodores duo of Duke Miles and Tyler Tanner.

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One of college basketball’s top matchups of the week, following are the latest odds for the SEC showdown between Alabama and Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Jan. 6:

Money Line: Alabama (plus-145), Vanderbilt (minus-180)
Spread: Vanderbilt by 4 1/2
Over/Under: 178 1/2

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Vanderbilt Commodores prediction, pick:

Memorial Gymnasium can be a difficult place to play for a road team at times, and it will likely be challenging for the Crimson Tide on Wednesday night, especially with the undefeated Commodores on the opposite end of the floor. A matchup in which Alabama has won four-straight dating back to 2023, as well as the last five in Nashville, I’ll go with Alabama to hand Vanderbilt their first loss Wednesday night in a high-scoring contest. Prediction: Alabama 88, Vanderbilt 82

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Vanderbilt Commodores channel, start time, streaming:

A Top 25 showdown, Alabama and Vanderbilt are set to meet Wednesday, Jan. 7, from inside Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET live on ESPN2.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

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Alabama

Alabama offensive lineman transferring to Georgia Tech

Published

22 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Georgia Tech

Joseph Ionata, who spent two years with the Tide, will be joining former teammate Jaylen Mbakwe.

Georgia Tech fans celebrate during the second half against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)

A second former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is transferring to Georgia Tech.

Offensive lineman Joseph Ionata intends to play for the Yellow Jackets, according to On3. Ionata spent two years with the Tide and would be joining former Alabama defensive back and wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe.

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Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Alabama

Alabama Farmers Federation endorses Kristin Nelson for House District 38

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Alabama Farmers Federation endorses Kristin Nelson for House District 38

The Alabama Farmers Federation has endorsed Kristin Nelson in the upcoming special election for Alabama House District 38, a seat left vacant following the resignation of Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley). The district includes portions of Chambers and Lee counties.

Nelson recently secured the Republican nomination after winning a runoff election. The special general election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3.

“Kristin Nelson is a well-respected community leader in Chambers County, and we are proud to endorse her,” said Jason McKay, president of the Chambers County Farmers Federation. “We know she will represent us well in Montgomery and ensure District 38 gets the attention it needs in the business and agricultural arenas.”

Support for Nelson’s candidacy also came from farmers in neighboring Lee County. “Kristin Nelson is a strong conservative with incredible knowledge of House District 38,” said Robert Walters, president of the Lee County Farmers Federation. “There is no doubt she will work hard and represent the people of Lee and Chambers counties well in the Legislature.”

Nelson grew up along the Chambers-Lee county line and brings experience from both the public and private sectors. Her background includes seven years in city administration with the City of Valley and three years as a third-grade teacher with Lanett City Schools.

She has also been active in homeschooling through Classical Conversations, where she has served as both a tutor and a local representative supporting other families.

In addition to returning to part-time work with Harris Gray LLC, Nelson serves as worship leader at Fairfax Methodist Church, secretary of the Junior Variety Club and president of the EAMC Lanier Auxiliary Board.

She also founded the Chambers County Young Republicans and currently serves as the chair of the Chambers County Republican Party.

“The farmers of this district and I share the same strong work ethic and conservative values,” said Nelson. “It is an honor to have their support and to be able to represent them and all the people of this district in Montgomery.”

Nelson and her husband, Jeff, live in the Huguley community with their two teenage sons.

The Alabama Farmers Federation is the state’s largest farm organization, representing more than 360,000 member families. The organization uses a grassroots endorsement process that relies on decisions made by county Farmers Federation boards of directors in local elections.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].

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