Leadership in the Alabama Senate says there's less than a coin flip's chance a lottery bill passes the upper chamber this year.
Polls show the people of Alabama want to vote on whether to create a lottery. But, many senators say they want to make sure the right proposal goes before the people and they haven't seen it yet.
Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh was asked if any of the current lottery proposals stand a chance this year.
"I'd give them about a 40 percent chance," said Marsh. "I just don't think there's a lot of momentum there. Everything could change, however, after the general fund budget is passed."
"This is sort of a controversial topic for Alabama so it takes a while for some folks to come around," said Senator Jim McClendon (R-Springville).
McClendon is still pushing for his bill to allow the people to vote on a lottery. The bill does not designate where the revenue would go and leaves most details to be worked out later. He expects it to generate $285 million each year.
"I'm opposed to it," Senator Jabo Waggoner (R- Vestavia Hills) said. "There are no details."
Waggoner believes McClendon's bill is dead for the year.
Asked if there is anything the sponsor can do to the bill in order to gain the support necessary to pass this year, Waggoner was not optimistic. "I don't think this session," he said.
McClendon said he is willing to accept amendments adding more detail. He says the bill is alive and well and he is not giving up.
Now, a new lottery proposal is introduced by Senator Trip Pittman (R- Montrose) and Senator Gerald Dial (R- Lineville.) It allows for multi-state lottery games only, like the Powerball. It assigns all the revenue to the general fund.
"If we move through this budgeting process and we see how drastically short the general fund is, there may be some opportunity to look at other revenue from other sources and that may be one of them," Dial said.
Dial adds that he believes the bill needs to be amended to also include a statewide lottery, like McClendon's bill allows for.
Senator Phil Williams (R- Rainbow City) says he is "iffy" on both bills.
"There is such a great deal of questioning in the way they are structured," Williams said. "We understand a vote of the people is where it needs to head. We know that. But you have to give the folks something to vote on that the people have already said they want and right now I don't see anything that has that."
In the House, Rep. Alan Harper (R- Northport) passed a bill similar to McClendon's through committee. House Minority Leader Craig Ford (D- Gadsden) also has his own lottery proposal in the lower chamber.
The people of Alabama will vote NO, to a lottery were the money only goes to the General Fund. , The people will vote no, to a lottery that just offers games that are just mult state games. The people will vote no to a state Lottery that not offered state wide.
lottery not allowed in UNITED STATES OF NATIVE AMERICA
Good grief!!!! Let the people at least have the multi-state games.
What the people need to do is just vote Yes to a lottery and not worry where the $$ goes or what games are offered. You have snake handing religious freaks running your State who will always think gambling is wrong. Get the bill on the table and let the money make their decision.
Was afraid this would happen once the big Powerball jackpot was won. The wind is going out of the sails quickly in that backwoods state.
residents down there go to neighboring states to pay the lottery anyway!!
Alabama should look to the UK lottery as a model, not other US state lotteries. The UK Conservative Government of Prime Minister John Major, set up the British National Lottery. Hats off to them, it is the most successful and trusted lottery in the world.
Making sure as much money as possible goes towards life-changing projects is incredibly important to us. In fact, it’s what we’re here for. For every ticket sold, a hefty slice of the money received goes to a huge variety of projects, both big and small – from repairing Scout huts to making Olympic champions.
So, every time you play, the UK wins.
Less than 1% of our total revenue is kept as profit after tax and just 4% goes on operating costs. It’s how we’re able to raise, on average, over £34 million a week for National Lottery projects. So far, that’s amounted to a whopping £33 billion spread across 450,000 projects – averaging 144 for every UK postcode district.
As has always been the case, the total amount delivered to these projects depends on a number of variable factors. These include the mix of games sold, whether they’re bought in a shop or online, and the level of unclaimed prizes.
Alabamians can still play a state lottery, just not an Alabama state lottery. The Massachusetts lottery has a subscription service, which is available across the country by phone. You don't have to reside in Massachusetts to participate. Playing other state lotteries puts pressure on state politicians, as much-needed is leaving the state.
Wouldn't it be interesting if Mississippi got a lottery? Still in disbelief they even have casinos. Went to two casinos in Alabama last time we were there. Can't remember the name of the Indian southernmost one, but they kept playing a tape that another jackpot winner. That seemed fake to me, nobody running around, etc like normal when I myself won jackpots @ Caesars properties (X4-5).
Anyway I seriously doubt Alabama will have a lottery anytime soon.
The people who want to play and can travel to other states will continue to play. The people who can't travel will be the ones affected by this paternalism. The legislators wanting to put the proceeds in the general fund is proof they need the money a lottery would generate. Their phony religious hypocritical ways won't let them put it to a vote.
In the meantime voters need to vote out as many lottery opponents as they can when they come up for re-election. Good luck to them.
To the BIG Wigs in Alabama:
Let your people play
(Almost like Moses saying to Egypt: "Let my people go")
You, the politicians and religious people in Alabamy who don't want a lotto, because you all are too good for a doggone basic lotto, like the rest of the country enjoys, only see yourselves through peoples' eyes. What about how everyone looks through God's eyes? You, me and your neighbor's cousin's grandma are ALL SINNERS.
We, as a people cannot get away from that, regardless of what we do. We do have to approach God through prayer, for one thing. And then, maybe, on his day of anger, you might get by. Otherwise, you can count on God commanding Jesus (yes, he still lives, in Heaven, waiting for his father's day of anger. Even Jesus does not know what the day is.) to execute all evil upon this earth.
I am personally scared when I think about that, and what I've done in my past.
OK, But, in the meantime, all of us humans, who are sinners, after having prayed to God, through his son Jesus have to abstain from all bad things. Yes, I mean lotto too. BUT, YES, I Groppo also play lotto. I have played for 20 or more years. I do want to win so much, I can't explain it.
So, there's that.
But, I don't know what's so doggone special about Alabamy. I've been there, when I used to drive the big truck.
And, one time, when driving through a rural area, I stopped with my trainer for a barbeque sandwich, which my trainer said had the best barbeque, in town. So, I ordered a sandwich too. But, before my turn came, the gentleman in front of me who had just ordered, asked the girl this: "Can I get some ass".
My jawbone nearly hit the floor.
He was asking for "ICE" for his drink, not "AZZ". I just thought I'd share that funny misunderstanding on my part. I couldn't share it with my trainer, as he would've thought I was crazy. You see, I'm considered one of them dang yankees, being from the mid-Atlantic area. My trainer was from the south.