New bill proposes legal online and land-based sports betting in Alabama
Introduced by Representative John Rogers, House Bill 161 would permit betting on professional and collegiate sports events in Alabama, with consumers able to bet in person at licensed venues or with approved online and mobile operators.
The bill would create the Alabama Sports Wagering Commission to regulate the market and take control of the licensing process.
The Commission would be able to issue up to seven licences for sports betting, with each permit to cost $100,000. Licences would run for a period of five years, after which the holder would be required to pay a $100,000 renewal fee.
Licensees would also be subject to a 10% tax rate on adjusted gross sports betting receipts in the state. This tax would be payable to the Commission in weekly instalments.
The bill would also make available supplier licences, whereby the holder could lease sports betting equipment or services to another, licensed entity. These licenses would cost an initial $1,000, plus an annual renewal fee of $1,000.
Meanwhile, a management licences would cost $1,000 to apply for, then $1,000 each year to renew, and would allow the holder to provide management services to a gaming facility licensed to operate sports wagering.