Alabama’s Poarch Band of Creek Indians Lobbies for Sports Betting in Tribal Compact Renewals

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI), Alabama’s only federally recognized tribe, has launched an aggressive campaign to include sports betting in upcoming tribal compact negotiations.

Following strategic acquisitions, new lobbying partnerships, and recent legislative developments, the tribe is positioning itself at the center of Alabama’s gambling expansion debate – potentially transforming the state’s gaming market after decades of restrictive policies.

Key Takeaways:

• The Poarch Creek Indians have hired influential lobbying firm Fine Geddie ahead of crucial 2025 compact negotiations
• PCI recently acquired the Birmingham Racecourse, strengthening their position in Alabama’s largest metro area
• A Senate committee approved gambling expansion legislation in March 2025, including provisions for sports betting
• The tribe operates three Alabama casinos restricted to Class II gaming (electronic bingo) but wants Class III games including sports betting
• PCI previously proposed a $225 million payment to Alabama for exclusive gaming rights statewide
• Legislation needs both legislative approval and successful tribal-state negotiations to move forward
• Alabama remains one of the most restrictive gambling states in the nation

Building Political Momentum Through Strategic Partnerships

The tribe significantly bolstered its political leverage in late 2024 by engaging Fine Geddie, widely considered Montgomery’s most powerful lobbying firm. This partnership, finalized just months before the 2025 legislative session began on February 4, signaled the tribe’s intention to play a decisive role in shaping gambling legislation.

“The timing of this lobbying agreement is no coincidence,” explained David Wilson, former Alabama Gaming Commission consultant. “It comes after several near-misses with gambling legislation and positions the tribe to be at the table for any serious discussions about sports betting or casino expansion.”

This lobbying enhancement follows the tribe’s opposition to previous gambling legislation during the 2024 session. According to multiple sources, PCI objected to specific provisions regarding casino locations, preferring a Birmingham-area site rather than the northeastern Alabama location included in earlier proposals.

“The tribe has been very strategic about when to support and when to oppose gambling legislation,” said Sarah Thompson, gaming policy analyst at the Alabama Public Policy Institute. “They’re not interested in just any gambling expansion – they want specifics that align with their long-term business strategy.”

The Birmingham Acquisition: Securing Territory in Alabama’s Largest Market

In perhaps their most significant tactical move, PCI-owned Wind Creek Hospitality completed the acquisition of the Birmingham Racecourse from the McGregor family in early 2025. This facility, which opened as the Birmingham Turf Club in 1987, has evolved through various iterations from horse racing to greyhound racing (which ended in 2020), and now primarily offers historical horse racing (HHR) machines and simulcasts.

Upon finalizing the acquisition, Wind Creek Hospitality announced plans to transform the track “into a premier entertainment destination in the Southeast” while continuing to offer parimutuel and historical horse racing games.

“This acquisition is about more than just adding another property to their portfolio,” explained Marcus Johnson, casino industry analyst with Southern Gaming Review. “It gives them physical presence in Alabama’s largest metropolitan area and a ready-made facility that could quickly incorporate sports betting if legislation permits.”

The Birmingham location significantly enhances the tribe’s negotiating position by demonstrating their serious investment in the state’s gambling future. Industry observers note that the timing of the acquisition – coming just as legislative discussions intensify – appears deliberately calculated.

“By purchasing the Birmingham Racecourse, PCI has effectively claimed territory in what would be Alabama’s most lucrative potential sports betting market,” said Johnson. “They’re not just lobbying for theoretical rights – they’re putting money behind their strategy.”

Recent Legislative Progress: A Path Forward Emerges

The tribe’s renewed push gained momentum on March 4, 2025, when the Senate Tourism Committee approved two complementary pieces of legislation that would significantly expand gaming options in Alabama.

Senate Bill 293, a constitutional amendment, would “create the Alabama Education Lottery, allow the state to enter into compact negotiations with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and allow for two satellite casinos and legalize sports betting.”

Its companion legislation, Senate Bill 294, establishes the implementation framework by creating “a state gaming commission to award a casino license at Greenetrack in Green County, Birmingham Race Course, VictoryLand in Macon County, the Mobile County Greyhound Racing Facility, and a casino in either DeKalb or Jackson county operated by the Poarch Band.”

Critically for the tribe’s ambitions, the legislation would impose “a 20 percent tax on net gaming revenues for casinos and sports betting.”

Senator Greg Albritton, the bills’ sponsor, framed the legislation as “about the state taking control of an industry that is already in Alabama,” positioning it as a regulatory measure rather than expansion.

The current legislative effort follows a narrowly failed attempt in 2024 when a comprehensive gambling package passed the Alabama House of Representatives but fell short by just one vote in the Senate during the final days of the session.

During that process, PCI advocated for an amendment that “would have replaced the section approving the Northeast compact with one approving a compact within ‘the portion of the City of Birmingham that is within Jefferson County'” – foreshadowing their subsequent acquisition of the Birmingham Racecourse.

The Technical Hurdles: Class II vs. Class III Gaming

Understanding PCI’s push requires recognizing the significant regulatory distinctions in tribal gaming. The tribe currently operates three Wind Creek Casino facilities in Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka under Class II gaming restrictions, which limit them to electronic bingo-style machines rather than traditional slot machines, table games, or sports betting found in Las Vegas-style casinos (Class III gaming).

“The distinction between Class II and Class III gaming is incredibly important in the tribal context,” explained Jennifer Williams, attorney specializing in tribal gaming law. “Class II games are regulated primarily by tribes and the National Indian Gaming Commission, while Class III requires formal tribal-state compacts under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.”

These compacts establish the legal framework for gaming operations and revenue sharing with states. For tribes like PCI, sports betting represents not just a new revenue stream but an opportunity to negotiate modern compacts that reflect contemporary gaming realities.

“Tribes across the country are using compact renewals to incorporate sports betting,” said Williams. “It’s a natural evolution of tribal gaming that acknowledges how the industry has changed since many of these agreements were first negotiated in the 1990s.”

The Economic Vision: A Billion-Dollar Proposal

The tribe’s current push builds upon their “Winning for Alabama” campaign launched in November 2019, which outlined a comprehensive gaming expansion plan with significant economic benefits for the state.

That proposal suggested PCI would:

• Pay Alabama $225 million for an exclusive compact for all casino gaming in the state
• Build two new resort casinos
• Operate Class III table games (blackjack, craps, and roulette) and sports betting
• Provide licensing fees and revenue sharing from all new casino properties

PCI Tribal Chair and CEO Stephanie Bryan stated during the campaign launch: “We believe that it is important everyone in the state has access to honest information and constructive ideas so they can make the best decisions about an issue that is critically important to Alabama’s economic well-being and quality of life.”

Industry analysts estimate that legal sports betting alone could generate between $30-45 million annually in tax revenue for Alabama, based on population size and sports betting performance in comparable Southern states.

Combined with expanded casino operations, the total economic impact could exceed $500 million annually when considering direct and indirect benefits.

Competing Visions for Alabama’s Gambling Future

The debate over gambling expansion in Alabama features competing perspectives from various stakeholders. While PCI seeks rights through tribal compacts, other proposals would establish a more open commercial market.

Commercial casino operators and out-of-state gaming companies have expressed interest in entering Alabama if legislation permits. These entities argue that an open bidding process would maximize state revenue and create more robust competition.

Opposition groups maintain that any legislation constitutes harmful gambling expansion. Ken Johnson, representing the Alabama Policy Institute, recently argued that “with the expansion comes accessibility,” comparing increased gambling availability to food being “everywhere” during holidays, making it “very easy to put on weight.”

Religious organizations have historically formed the backbone of anti-gambling sentiment in Alabama, with the Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) and certain church groups consistently opposing expansion efforts.

“Alabama has one of the most complex gambling debates in the country,” observed Michael Taylor, professor of political science at the University of Alabama. “You have religious opposition, constitutional barriers, competing commercial interests, tribal rights, and state revenue needs all intersecting in this discussion.”

The Broader Context: Tribal Gaming Compact Renewals Nationally

The Poarch Creek Indians’ push comes amid a wave of tribal compact renewals happening across the United States. According to industry reports, “Roughly half of about 60 tribes that agreed to compacts in 1999 are in negotiations to have the agreements renewed. Sports betting will [be part of these discussions].”

These negotiations represent a pivotal moment for tribal gaming nationwide, as they establish the terms that will govern operations for potentially decades to come.

“We’re seeing tribes across the country approaching compact negotiations with sports betting as a top priority,” said Robert Martinez, executive director of the National Tribal Gaming Association. “It’s recognized as not just an additional revenue stream but a necessary competitive element as commercial operators increasingly offer sports betting in states where it’s legal.”

For PCI specifically, securing sports betting rights would bring their Alabama operations in line with the tribe’s gaming facilities in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Nevada, where they already offer full-scale casino gaming including sports betting through their Wind Creek Hospitality brand.

Challenges and Path Forward

Despite the recent legislative progress, significant hurdles remain before Alabamians could legally place sports bets through tribal facilities. The constitutional amendment (SB293) would require not only legislative approval but also a statewide vote – historically difficult to achieve for gambling measures in Alabama.

Even with voter approval, the tribe and state must successfully negotiate compact terms, a process that could take months or years. The Department of Interior would then review these compacts to ensure compliance with federal law.

“There are multiple points where this effort could stall,” cautioned Williams. “Alabama has come close to gambling expansion several times in recent years only to see it fall short at various stages of the process.”

The tribe’s substantial investments in lobbying and strategic acquisitions indicate they’re prepared for a prolonged campaign. Industry observers suggest that even if the current legislation fails, PCI is positioning itself for eventual success through incremental advances.

“The acquisition of the Birmingham Racecourse alone shows they’re thinking long-term,” said Johnson. “They’re creating facts on the ground that make them central to any future gambling discussions in Alabama, regardless of what happens with the current legislation.”

Conclusion: Transformative Potential for Alabama

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ intensified push for sports betting through tribal compacts represents a potential watershed moment for Alabama, one of the most gambling-restrictive states in the nation. Through strategic acquisitions, political partnerships, and public campaigns, the tribe has positioned itself as a central figure in discussions about the state’s gaming future.

With legislation currently advancing through the Alabama Senate in March 2025, legal sports betting through tribal compacts appears more viable than in previous years. If successful, this effort would not only transform Alabama’s gambling industry but also reshape the relationship between the state and its only federally recognized tribe.

As Senator Albritton noted when introducing the legislation, “This is about controlling what’s already happening.” For both the tribe and state, the outcome of the current push could determine how – and whether – that control materializes in the years ahead.

Sources

NIGC Official Act

Poarch Band of Creek Indians requests casino compact in Florida