A New Lottery and Casino Bill Comes to the Alabama Legislature

Del Marsh, Alabama’s acting Senate President, proposed a Bill legalizing lottery and class III gaming in the existing gambling establishments. The bill’s approval should contribute the state’s economy growth by creating nearly 11,000 new jobs, generating approximately $400 million of annual revenue and $1.3 billion general economy impact. It should also save Alabama residents from a tax hike by creating new income sources.

Main Goals

The gaming bill has three aims: to develop and implement a state lottery, to expand the gambling available in venues that currently exist, and to sign an agreement with the Creek Poarch Band. The last will open up tribal lands to casino gambling as the Creek is the only federally acknowledged tribe in the state.

Currently, Alabama residents spend millions on gambling in the neighboring states every year. Thus, instead of direct those money to support Alabama programs, they fund the programs in those states. According to William Bell, Birmingham’s mayor, the proposal’s acceptance should fix it, and assist to the state’s “economic vitality”.

The proposal will be considered by a House committee this week. For the passing, the Bill should get the approval of 60% of Alabama’s legislators and a simple majority of voters in a statewide vote.