New Alabama Governor Open To Legalized Sports Betting
David Genge Published 09/11/2026
Alabama Governor-elect Tommy Tuberville has suggested that he is open to the concept of legalizing sports betting in the state. The former Auburn Tigers college football coach expressed these sentiments during his campaign for office. Alabama is also completely free of any forms of gambling. There is no state lottery, and the only legalized, regulated gambling available in the state is offered through tribal casinos.
During his run for Governor, the former U.S. Senator received significant campaign contributions from sports betting operators, casino owners, and even a sweepstakes casino company. Tuberville believes that Alabama's Governor should take a more active role in developing gambling legislation.
Alabama Governor-elect is leaning toward legalizing sports betting
Alabama Governor-elect Tuberville outlined his views on legalized gambling in the state during an interview with Alabama Public Television's Capitol Journal. It's his opinion that the state government should be very hands-on in the process every step of the way.
"I think the Governor's office should be on top of everything in terms of how it's all put together," Tuberville said. "If you're going to do it.
"If you're going to put it out in front of the people that's going to vote for it on a referendum, from the Governor's office to the Legislature, you sit down and say, 'Okay, let's put it all together. Let's do it right. Let's don't have to go back and change this or that.' Put it all together."
As a college football coach at Auburn, Tuberville earned the reputation of a riverboat gambler. He says nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to betting on sports.
"I'm not a gambler, and so either way for me would be fine," Tuberville said of legalizing sports betting. "But I want to do what the people of Alabama want to do. I'm not going to stand in the way of it, but I'm not going to go out there and promote it unless we get a complete overlook of how we want to do it from Day 1.
"Not just roll the dice and do it piece by piece. Let's put it out there and see if the people want to vote for it. And if they pass it, we know we're going to do it the right way."
In the process of putting it all together in a lead-up to a potential referendum, Tuberville believes that a patient approach will be Alabama's best bet.
"It's going to take a year or so to get that done," Tuberville said.
Plenty of support for Tuberville came from the gambling industry
The sports betting industry was a significant contributor to Tuberville's campaign. The Virginia-based Sports Betting Alliance donated $200,000 to the Southeastern Conservative Foundation. That non-profit was closely connected to the Tuberville campaign.
The Sports Betting Alliance is a pro-sports betting lobby group representing DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Bet365, and Fanatics.
The Tuberville campaign also received $30,000 from the online gambling company, VGW Luckyland Inc. A subsidiary of a huge Australian gambling company, VGW operates the sweepstakes casinos Luckyland Casino and Chumba Casino, as well as Global Poker.
All Alabama sports betting legislation has failed
While much of the USA has embraced sports betting, Alabama has not.
The State House approved a comprehensive gambling proposal in 2024. It included legalizing sports betting, casinos, and a state lottery. The measure failed to pass in the Senate by one vote.
Further proposals in 2025 and 2026 never gained traction and died on the floor of the legislature.
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