In Alabama, the legislature is considering two gambling proposals. The Senate plan is a constitutional amendment to permit a state lottery, sports betting, eight full casinos with slots and table games and two smaller venues; electronic bingo halls currently operating in some counties would be closed. The House plan, recently approved by the Tourism and Economic Development Committee, only would allow a lottery. The bill now moves to the full House. Alabama is one of five states without a state lottery; the others are Nevada, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii.
In recent polling, 43.5 percent of respondents said the state should legalize and tax a lottery, sports betting and casinos; 20.5 percent said the state only should allow a lottery; and 25.7 percent said they oppose any gambling expansion. These numbers are similar to an August poll that asked the same questions.
Under the Senate’s bill, gambling revenue would go toward education, health care and broadband internet. Under the House bill, lottery proceeds would provide scholarships to help families pay a portion of tuition at 2-year and 4-year colleges. The Legislative Services Agency estimated a lottery would generate $198 million to $285 million annually, after paying prizes and expenses.
State Rep. Chip Brown, the House bill’s sponsor, said a state lottery is the Number One issue among his constituents. He noted many Alabamians now drive across state lines to buy tickets. “The people of Alabama have been playing the lottery for years. We’ve just been playing it in other states. So it’s time we kept that money in-state and helped out the children of the state of Alabama,” Brown said. He added he hoped the House would vote on the bill in the final week of March after lawmakers return from spring break.
If the legislation is approved by three-fifths of lawmakers, the lottery proposal would go before voters in November.
