Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has signed an executive order, paving the way for the creation of an advisory council dedicated to the review of gambling in the state. 
Executive Order 24, signed last Monday, creates the Alabama Advisory Council on Gaming, which is tasked to examine state and local laws on gambling and the taxes generated, as well as review other states’ “best practices on gambling.” The council has until Jan. 31, 2017 to present its findings and recommendations to the governor, Senate President Pro Tem and House Speaker. The board will include seven appointments by the governor, two members of the Alabama House of Representatives, two appointments from the Alabama Senate, a member from the Alabama Sheriffs Association and one from the Alabama District Attorneys Association and additional appointments “as the governor deems necessary,” according to information from the governor’s official website. Appointments from the House of Representatives and Senate will be named by the House Speaker and the Senate President, respectively. Alabama’s Legislature has seen several gambling related bills making headway in the past months, but only a few gained traction during the recent legislative session, which was described by state media outlets as “marred in controversy over ill-fated budgets and sexually explicit recordings.” “Gaming in Alabama has been a long-term subject of dispute and controversy,” Bentley said in a statement. “This council will work to provide a fresh perspective on past efforts and a clear path forward as it pertains to gaming in the State of Alabama.” Fantasy sports companies scramble to register in Missouri Meanwhile in Missouri, at least five companies have reportedly made it to the October 1 deadline to register. The state has a new law for fantasy gambling, which, among other things, require companies to register in order to keep operating while authorities conduct background investigations, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Among those who were able to register were DraftKings and FanDuel, as well as season-long fantasy sports provider SportsHub Technologies.
Guv forms panel to review gambling in Alabamaj
