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Alabama lottery vote on shaky ground in SenateNews Story
The Alabama Senate started debate Wednesday on whether to allow residents to vote on a constitutional amendment to establish a lottery, but adjourned for the day without a vote on the proposal. The outlook for both plans from Gov. Robert Bentley and State Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, remains bleak. We're still putting the pieces together, McClendon said after Wednesday's sessions adjourned. I'm not ready to bury it yet. He gave his bill, which differs from Bentley's in that it would
Aug 18, 2016, 9:22 am - Lottery News

Alabama lottery debate: Senators try to reach compromise on 2 proposalsNews Story
Alabama senators on Wednesday remained divided on lottery proposals as they tried to strike compromise on gambling that has so far been elusive. Senators began debate on dueling lottery proposals. One bill is a proposal backed by Gov. Robert Bentley to establish a state lottery. The other would authorize a lottery and also allow electronic lottery terminals which can be similar to slot machines or video poker at four state dog tracks. I think there is a chance that we will get something t
Aug 17, 2016, 10:12 pm - Lottery News

Alabama lawmakers weigh in on lotteryNews Story
Several Montgomery-area lawmakers say they could support letting Alabamians decide whether the state has a lottery, and whether Powerball and Mega Millions tickets are sold locally. But they say they're unlikely to support any effort to allow electronic games at several sites around the state. The Legislature returns to the Statehouse on Monday to debate lottery legislation and likely other possible revenue fixes for the state. More money for the state Medicaid Agency in 2017 is a priority
Aug 14, 2016, 9:03 am - Lottery News

Alabama lottery plan could face uphill battleNews Story
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, who said a year ago that lotteries were as old-fashioned as leisure suits, now says they are the best remaining option to boost funding for important state programs, especially Medicaid. State lawmakers return to Montgomery on Monday for a special session to consider the governor's proposal for a lottery to raise money for the state budget. Previously, Bentley has said he did not oppose a lottery proposal going on the ballot for voters, but was not a proponent
Aug 13, 2016, 9:17 am - Lottery News

Alabama senator introduces competing lottery proposalNews Story
Alabama Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, laid out a competing proposal Tuesday to Gov. Robert Bentley's plan to institute a statewide lottery as a means to addressing Alabama's budget shortfall. McClendon is still working on the details of the bill so he did not have a copy available. His plan expands on Bentley's by allowing for electronic lottery terminals devices similar to slot machines to be installed in Birmingham, Mobile, and Greene and Macon Counties. The terminals would raise $127
Aug 9, 2016, 4:14 pm - Lottery News

Alabama Gov. releases legislation for lotteryNews Story
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has released the legislation for his proposed lottery to support the state budget. The three-page bill, a proposed constitutional amendment, says lottery proceeds would go to the state General Fund. A copy of the bill is linked in the Related Links section below. It also calls for the establishment of a lottery commission to run the lottery. The commission would have seven members. They would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The
Aug 8, 2016, 8:15 am - Lottery News

Alabama governor calls special session for state lotteryNews Story
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley believes a statewide lottery is the permanent solution to fixing Alabama's funding woes, and Wednesday, he called for a special session to discuss the proposal. In a video released on the Office of the Governor website Wednesday morning, Bentley said the goal is to get the proposal passed by the Legislature and hold a statewide vote on amending the state's constitution to allow for a lottery. The time has come for us to find a permanent solution. This solution
Jul 27, 2016, 8:02 pm - Lottery News

Mass. Lottery may offer online gamesNews Story
In response to declining sales among digitally savvy young adults, the Massachusetts State Lottery is calling on lawmakers to open a new gambling frontier lottery games offered around the clock on mobile devices and computers. The only way to reach the younger market is via online lottery games, said state Treasurer Deb Goldberg, who oversees the Lottery Commission. It's the future and we need to face it. Goldberg said the state lottery has studied online games and is now seeking legisla
Jul 12, 2016, 9:33 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery winners again might not get paidNews Story
People who've waited more than a year for Illinois leaders to finish a state budget might start to feel like the prospects of a compromise are similar to the odds of winning the lottery. Now, Illinois Lottery winners might again face the prospects of not being paid their jackpots in a timely manner if no spending deal is struck by the end of the month. Last year, lottery winners sued the state to get their payouts and eventually did after Gov. Bruce Rauner and lawmakers agreed on a patchwo
Jun 17, 2016, 12:03 pm - Lottery News

Wyoming Lottery expansion faces hurdles despite state money woesNews Story
As Wyoming loses millions of dollars in revenue from its declining minerals extraction industry, the state lottery has started paying off by distributing some of its profits to cash-strapped cities and towns. A member of the board that oversees the Wyoming Lottery says the state might want to look at an expansion to tap even more revenue. But that would require expanding the type of games allowed a prospect that faces long odds in a Legislature wary of encouraging compulsive gambling. WyoL
May 30, 2016, 2:07 pm - Lottery News