Search

Republican lawmakers to sponsor Alabama lottery billNews Story
The Powerball jackpot has climbed to $700 million and many Alabamians are crossing the state line for a chance to win the prize. Powerball is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin lslands, but it is not allowed in Alabama. As people cross the state line to buy tickets, some Alabama lawmakers are working on legislation to change that. Republican Senator Jim McClendon from Springville plans to sponsor a bill during the legislative session that beg
Jan 8, 2016, 9:24 am - Lottery News

Federal officials work to extradite Jamaican lottery scammersNews Story
Jamaican lottery scammer Sanjay Williams got off a plane in Charlotte, North Carolina, in June 2013, on his way to meet with the people who moved money for him. He was promptly arrested by U.S. law enforcement authorities, convicted in May and sentenced to 20 years in a U.S. prison. While the arrest on American soil spared authorities from extraditing Williams, rounding up his associate in the wide-ranging operation and 13 other suspects still believed to be in Jamaica is proving to be more o
Dec 26, 2015, 1:27 pm - Lottery News

Last try for Alabama lottery dies in Senate committeeNews Story
Legislation that would have authorized a public vote to establish an Alabama Powerball like lottery died this afternoon in a state Senate committee. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Paul Sanford, R-Huntsville, was effectively killed when a majority of senators in the Tourism and Marketing Committee voted against it. That included both Republicans and Democrats. Democrats said Sanford's power ball lottery which would see the state team with other states to offer a lottery would not generate as m
Sep 14, 2015, 8:54 am - Lottery News

Alabama lottery talk renews in upcoming special sessionNews Story
Governor Bentley told lawmakers that for this special session they could consider any measures that would provide revenue to Alabama's general fund budget. However some, like state representative John Rogers, think there's not enough time for serious debate along the lines of casino gaming or a state lottery. It's something that we've got to have but, I don't think we have enough time to really make it a proper issue, said Rogers. Senator Paul Sanford of Huntsville confirmed Monday he
Sep 8, 2015, 7:16 am - Lottery News

Alabama lottery proposal dead for nowNews Story
Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, recently announced he will not push his bill to allow a statewide vote on a lottery and casinos during the second special session. Sen. Paul Sanford, R- Huntsville, said he will introduce his own lottery proposal for the first time, according to a report from the Associated Press. Marsh's legislation introduced during the regular session and first special session was a proposed constitutional amendment to allow gambling operations at
Aug 26, 2015, 11:00 am - Lottery News

Alabama Gov. compares lottery to leisure suitsNews Story
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley took his campaign for tax increases and budget reform to the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce today, where he was asked about whether he's concerned that Alabamians buy lottery tickets in other states. Bentley indicated an Alabama lottery would not be the budget booster that some people think. Now listen folks, the lottery is like leisure suits, the governor said. We're about 30 years behind. Three neighboring states, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee, already hav
Aug 2, 2015, 11:37 am - Lottery News

Private management could be Alabama lottery optionNews Story
If Alabama gets a lottery, private management may at least be an option. But the Republican leader of the Senate said Wednesday he did not want to commit to any particular proposal, being wary of some of the negative experiences of other states with private managers. Having no experience in the lottery field, we're just going to have to look at what other states have done and what's worked best for them, he said. Marsh is sponsoring legislation that would establish a lottery and gambli
May 22, 2015, 7:17 pm - Lottery News

Alabama lottery plan approved by Senate committeeNews Story
By a vote of 5-3, the Alabama Senate Tourism Committee on Thursday approved Sen. Del Marsh's (R-Anniston) lottery and gambling expansion plan. It now proceeds to the full Senate for consideration. If passed into law, Alabama voters would have the opportunity to approve a constitutional amendment legalizing a state-sponsored lottery and casino gaming. That vote would likely take place September 15, two weeks before the end of the current fiscal year. The bill would tax casino earnings at 13 pe
May 15, 2015, 8:09 am - Lottery News

Alabama lottery proposal set for Senate debate TuesdayNews Story
If Alabama approves a state-sponsored lottery, it will be heading down a well-worn path one trod by 44 states so far. But one element of the lottery proposal by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, remains unusual: the Legislature would be able to spend the cash at its own discretion, rather than marking the money for a specific purpose, such as college scholarships. It is uncommon for states not to earmark the money, Thomas Garrett, a University of Mississippi economist who studies state lotterie
May 10, 2015, 11:36 am - Lottery News

GOP proposal would open door to lottery, casinos in AlabamaNews Story
A constitutional amendment that would legalize gambling in Alabama authorizes a lottery, casino gambling and expanded Indian gaming. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, a Republican from Birmingham, Ala., gave other state senators an initial draft of the legislation Thursday. It calls for a Sept. 15 election so voters can decide the amendment's fate in wake of a projected $250 million shortfall in state's revenues this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. I could come in on Tuesday and my co
May 5, 2015, 8:22 am - Lottery News