On May 15, the Governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, signed SF 2289 into law, effectively reforming state gambling rules and introducing restrictions against sweepstakes casinos.
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Alabama gambling legalization bill stalls in 2026 session
With the 2026 Alabama legislative session beginning on January 13, 2026, gambling issues were left out of the agenda for the first time in years, as they lacked support to be brought up.
Alabama is one of the five states that don’t have a lottery, and any legislation looking to authorize it requires a constitutional amendment approved by two-thirds of both chambers.
Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger revealed he is unsure what the legislators have in mind for the subject of gambling.
Gudger stated:
“As of right now, if I had to give you my gut feeling, I would say it would not be coming up this year.”
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter also shared:
“We certainly don’t have anything. It’d have to come out of the Senate, first of all. And I’ve talked with Gudger a number of times, and it’s never been mentioned.”
Ledbetter had proposed a gambling package in 2024, which included a lottery, casinos, sports betting, and a gambling compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The proposal passed the House but was one vote short in the Senate.
Meanwhile, gubernatorial elections are coming in November 2026, and with a guaranteed new governor in 2027, candidates have begun speaking out on gambling, possibly restarting proposals for authorizing gambling in Alabama.
After more than 6 months in a waitlist period, Polymarket launched an official iOS app for U.S. users on May 12, 2026.Polymarket first launched in the United States in...
