Lottery Jackpots Draw Attention to Stalled Alabama Gambling Legislation
Due to the combined $1.9 billion Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, many in Alabama are traveling across state borders in hopes of finding winning tickets. That's because gaming and lotteries are prohibited by Alabama's constitution.
The future of the present legislation in the Alabama Statehouse to establish a lottery, commercial and tribal casinos, and sports betting is dubious. There's not much time for lawmakers to patch things up when they return to Montgomery on April 2 because they are so profoundly split. There are only thirty legislative days in a session, and this one finishes in May with just twelve days left for lawmakers to adopt legislation.
The House and Senate are still at war over how much gambling each chamber will allow as the clock runs out.
State representative for Alabama, Sam Jones (D-Mobile), cited Senate amendments to HB 151/152 that would legalize sports betting, multiple casinos, and lotteries in the state.
The Senate excluded casino and sports betting from its bills.
“It is very frustrating to see what has happened,” said Rep. Jones, during an interview on the Alabama Politics This Week podcast. “We worked for 13 months to craft a very good bill and it was undermined in less that six days by the Senate. I honestly, at this point, don’t know where things go. I don’t think anyone does.”
A conference committee is one possible way to try to mend the divisions between the two organizations, according to Casino.org. Appointed legislators from each chamber convene in conference committees to resolve conflicts and reach accords.
What's in the Bills for Gambling?
A state constitutional amendment known as House Bill 151 would have authorized an official state lottery, limited sports betting, traditional raffles, traditional paper bingo, and casino-style activities that could only be played in person at up to seven locally approved regulated gaming enterprises.
March 15 saw the passage of HB 151. In the event that gaming was authorized, the governor would create a state gaming commission and lottery corporation to oversee the suggested legal forms of gaming, according to a companion bill, HB 152, which was also passed.
The bills were approved by the Senate with modifications that outlawed all gambling except lotteries and authorized very little horse racing at specific casinos.
Additionally, the Senate divides state lottery proceeds into three accounts: the general budget, the Department of Transportation, and the education fund. On April 2, the modifications were returned to the House, where they are awaiting consideration by legislators.
Give Me the Cash
Alabama loses more than $1.2 billion a year, according to proponents of the gaming legislation, as a result of the absence of comprehensive gambling regulations.
According to officials from Florida and Tennessee, the areas where lottery sales generate the most income are near the border with Alabama. According to Georgia officials, for the past 20 years, money won by lottery players in that state has regularly funded college education for Georgian children. Furthermore, Mississippi's casinos are the ones who appreciate the money that is carried across the state line.
Any measure pertaining to gambling in Alabama would require the approval of a majority of voters as well as three-fifths of lawmakers.
Voting on gambling has not taken place in Alabama since a lottery proposal was turned down in 1999.
