Alabama Senate Committee passes lottery bill

Alabama could soon have an opportunity to vote on gambling for the first time since 1999, as its state Senate Committee advanced a lottery bill on Wednesday.
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The people of Alabama could soon have an opportunity to vote on gambling for the first time since 1999, as its state Senate Committee advanced a lottery bill on Wednesday.

According to The Fresno Bee, the Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee approved a lottery proposal sponsored by Republican Senator Jim McClendon.

However, Tourism Committee Chairman Del Marsh described the bill as a vehicle for negotiations and said lawmakers might revive the issue of casinos along with the lottery debate. The committee also approved other legislation that would set up a gaming commission to regulate casinos.

Marsh stated: “You have members who want to see a more comprehensive gaming package and those who do prefer a simple lottery. All we did today was keep both alive.”

The committee action comes a week after Marsh’s proposal to authorise a state lottery and up to 10 casinos in the Yellowhammer State failed by two votes in the Senate.

McClendon’s bill would approve a lottery where tickets could be sold at stores, kiosks and through a phone app.

McClendon said: “My goal is to allow Alabamians to play whatever games they are travelling out of state to play. The people will have the opportunity to vote on and see if they would like a plain and simple lottery. It doesn’t address slot machines. It doesn’t address church bingo.”

Meanwhile, the Tourism Committee delayed action on a bill by Republican Senator Garlan Gudger that would authorise a lottery, but instant games would be limited to paper lottery tickets and could not be sold electronically.

Alabama is one of five states in the US without a state lottery. In the past, lottery bills have become entangled with the larger issue of gambling due to concerns over what the required changes to state law would mean for operators of electronic bingo machines, which can resemble slot machines.

Any gambling proposal needs to be approved by three-fifths of lawmakers and a majority of state voters. Marsh’s proposal fell two votes short of the 21 needed to get the proposed constitutional amendment through the 35-member Alabama Senate.

Marsh believes there is a mandate from voters to address the issue of gambling. He commented: “The people of Alabama want to vote on something dealing with gaming, whether it is a straight lottery, whether it’s a comprehensive package.”

Alabama lawmakers will take a weeklong spring break next week, which Marsh says will give them time to study the proposals and talk with constituents.