Alabama Moves Closer To Gambling Expansion

Alabama State Senate approves gambling expansion

Alabama moved closer to allowing for a state lottery and casino gambling yesterday when state senators passed the constitutional amendment 23-9.

The bill will now move to the House of Representatives for a vote and should this be approved it will then go to the public for a referendum on whether to allow the expansion of gambling in the state.

Should this be approved by the public vote it would be a 10 year long haul by lawmakers to get an expansion of gambling in the state that currently only has a casino operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

The gambling bill SB319, would produce up to $710 million a year in revenues for state taxes if approved by voters according to a report by the Governor’s Study Group on Gambling.

If the bill gets the green light the plan is to set up a simple lottery that customers to buy tickets in person or online along with this six casino licenses would be available for tender. A gambling commission would also be set up to deal with the logistics, regulation and administering of regulations and laws to ensure all licensees follow the law.