In a 19-13 vote, the Alabama Senate fell two short of the 21 votes needed to pass a proposed constitutional amendment allowing a state lottery, seven casinos and a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for casino games at their three electronic bingo locations. All 13 no votes were cast by Republicans.
Sponsor state Senator Del Marsh said, “I’m not convinced this issue is a dead issue. I think it’s one we’ll have to address sooner or later. It was the people who were going to make this decision. I’m just really a bit surprised that we didn’t let them do it. I’m asking this body, keep this bill alive. Keep this possibility alive to finally solve this problem for the state of Alabama. It’s not just me. It’s the people asking you to do this.”
A supporter of Marsh’s legislation, Governor Kay Ivey stated, “Today’s vote by the Alabama Senate confirms more work must be done, because this issue is too important to not get it right. No doubt gambling is complex and challenging, but I remain committed to giving the people of Alabama the final say.”
House Speaker Mac McCutcheon had been noncommittal about the package.
Over the past two decades, gambling legislation in Alabama has failed due to conservative and religious opposition to gambling and turf wars over who could offer electronic gambling machines or casino games.
Leading up to the vote, Marsh was confident he had the required 21 votes for his bill to pass. However, he said he saw support slipping away as the day of the vote neared. For example, he stated one senator faced intense “peer pressure” from voters to oppose gambling as a revenue source.
Marsh said he had “six more votes” three weeks ago. “The next week, I was asked if I would wait a few days for the enabling legislation. They’d be with me. And that happened, and they didn’t vote with me today.” Marsh added, “What you have in this business is your word. And there again, if something had changed I’d like to know why, but I feel like I held my end of the bargain up. I made a rookie mistake.”
Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield, who voted against Marsh’s bill, said, “I’m receiving a tremendous amount of emails and phone calls opposed to casinos.”
Marsh’s original bill proposed establishing a state lottery and casinos at four existing dog racetracks plus a fifth site in north Alabama that would be operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. It also authorized a compact with the Poarch Band for casino games at their three existing electronic bingo venues in Wetumpka, Atmore and Montgomery. Just before the vote, lawmakers added two additional casino sites, in Lowndes and Houston counties.
Regarding a lottery, state Senator Jim McClendon introduced a lottery measure right after Marsh’s bill was defeated. Alabama is one of five states without a state lottery. McClendon said, “People in my district want a dadgum lottery.” Scofield said, “Lottery, lottery. I hear that a lot. I hear a lot that people want to vote on a lottery yesterday.”
The Legislative Services Agency estimated the lottery would generate $194 million to $279 million annually, which Marsh proposed using for college scholarships and public education. The agency estimated the 20 percent tax on casino revenue would produce $260 million to $393 million annually, to be used to help expand broadband access and fund rural health services.
The legislation also includes three other bills that would create a regulatory framework for a possible lottery, casino gambling and sports betting.
