Along with Nevada, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii, Alabama is just one of five states without a state lottery−and it’s likely to remain that way. Facing an April 7 deadline and issues that have blocked gambling legislation for years−conservative opposition, disagreements on how to use proceeds and turf wars over lucrative electronic gambling machines−state Rep. Chip Brown said his lottery bill will have to wait until next year. “I would say more than likely, just given the time constraints, that we won’t be moving forward to put it on the floor,” Brown said.
Brown’s bill would direct lottery proceeds to college tuition, college debt relief and bonuses for retired employees.
In the Senate, state Senator Greg Albritton’s gambling bill also is unlikely to come to the floor for a vote. It would establish a lottery, five casinos, two satellite casinos and sports betting, with the proceeds going toward college education.
Both the House and Senate measures would be constitutional amendments, requiring two-thirds of each chamber and approval of a majority of voters.
Brown said he thought he was “right there” regarding having enough House votes to pass his bill, but he didn’t believe it would get through the Senate. Still, he defended his measure. “There’s a lot of people that would prefer just a lottery, and people who prefer casino gaming and sports betting. So I’d like to see us address those as all separate packages, rather than one overall package,” he said.
State Rep. Reed Ingram said he’d vote against Brown’s bill and was generally pessimistic about its chances of passing. He said Republicans would filibuster the bill if it came to the floor. “If they do try to push it, I think it divides our caucus, and that’s one thing we don’t need. We’re looking at the speaker, we’re looking at the people in leadership we’re electing the next quadrennium. In my opinion, it’s in our best interest to set it aside,” Ingram said.
Last year, a comprehensive gambling bill passed the Senate after months of negotiations. But it crumbled in May after lengthy negotiations in the House and an unsuccessful attempt by House Republicans to turn it into an exclusively lottery bill.
Alabama Republican voters, however, appear to support a state lottery. A recent survey of Alabama Republican primary voters, commissioned by Alabama Daily News and Gray Television, indicated 43.5 percent agreed the state should legalize and tax a lottery, sports betting and casinos; 20.5 percent said they supported only legalizing a lottery; and 25.7 percent said they opposed any gambling expansion.
