The Alabama Senate has approved legislation to allow the people to vote on whether or not to have a lottery and casinos in the state.

The main bill, which passed by a vote of 23 to 9, came just five weeks after the Senate rejected a similar plan.  The legislation now goes to the House.  If it passes the House it’ll go on the ballot for the November 2022 General Election.

The new version of the bill includes six casinos, with four being located at the state’s greyhound tracks in Birmingham, Mobile, Greene County and Macon County – while one would be in Houston County, at the Crossing at Big Creek bingo hall, and the sixth would be in either DeKalb or Jackson County in northeast Alabama.

That bill would create an Alabama Gaming Commission that would issue licenses for the casinos through a competitive bidding process – BUT those current operators in Birmingham, Mobile, Greene County, Macon County and Houston County would have the right to make a final bid exceeding the highest bidder.

For the casino in DeKalb or Jackson County, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians would have the right to make the final bid.

The bill would require the governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. That could allow the Poarch Creeks to offer the full range of casino games at their resorts in Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka, which now offer only electronic bingo.

The bill would also authorize sports betting.

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.

(AL.COM/www.al.com)