The leader of the Alabama Senate said Thursday he does not think a lottery, electronic gambling and sports betting proposal unveiled by a senator earlier in the day has a chance to pass.

Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, released a statement saying the plan by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, is short on support and short on time.

“With 12 meeting days remaining in the session, both budgets still awaiting approval, and other important bills and measures demanding focus and attention, the comprehensive gaming bill released today is simply too little, too late, and has too few votes to pass,” Gudger said.

Lawmakers have used 18 of their 30 meeting days in the session, which can last until May 19.

Albritton has said for several weeks he was trying to round up votes for his plan but was coming up short.

It takes 21 votes in the 34-member Senate (there is one vacancy) to approve a constitutional amendment, which is needed for a gambling bill.

Albritton had kept the plan under wraps until today, when he made copies available. He said he was still short of votes, though.

The demise of Albritton’s bill extends a losing streak for lottery and gambling proposals in the Legislature.

Alabama voters have not had their say on whether to establish a lottery since 1999, when they voted down Gov. Don Siegelman’s education lottery proposal.

The four states bordering Alabama all help fund education and state services with lotteries.

Last year, a lottery, casinos, and sports betting plan passed by the House was scaled back by the Senate. A compromise version eventually failed by a single vote in the Senate.

Since before the 2025 session started, Gudger said he considered gambling legislation to be on the back-burner while senators dealt with other issues. He said he did not want another near-miss.

In Gudger’s statement today, he said much work remains done to reach an agreement.

“I believe that passing a comprehensive gaming bill in the Senate will require engaging in long-term and intense negotiations among members and securing the needed votes and commitments well before a legislative session even begins,” Gudger said.