Alabama Senate's debate on lottery and casino proposal delayed

Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, introduced his plan to allow a lottery and casinos in Alabama on Feb. 11. The Senate debated it briefly that day, and Marsh said then he expected the debate to resume today, possibly with a vote.

But those plans changed, and Marsh said early this afternoon he did not know if the legislation would come up this week.

Del Marsh said he wants to do more work on the enabling bill before the Senate debates the amendment. The purpose of the enabling bill is to spell out more details about how the expansion of gambling in Alabama would work if voters approve the constitutional amendment, AL.com reports.

Marsh’s legislation, if approved by lawmakers and by voters, would establish the Alabama Education Lottery. The net revenue, after paying prizes and expenses, would be used for college scholarships, with an emphasis on community college programs that match the demands for jobs in the state. The lottery would include multi-state games like Powerball and Mega Millions, as well as instant tickets.

The bill would also authorize five new casinos offering the full range of gambling, including slot machines and table games. Four would be at the state’s four greyhound tracks – the Birmingham Race Course, VictoryLand in Macon County, Greenetrack in Greene County, and the Mobile greyhound track. The fifth would be in Jackson County or DeKalb County in northeast Alabama and would be operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

The state would receive license fees, plus a 20% tax on the gambling revenue.

 That revenue would be used to expand broadband internet access in Alabama and for health care, mental health care, and other programs, including the state General Fund.

The bill encourages Gov. Kay Ivey to enter a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to allow full-scale casinos at the tribe’s resorts in Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka. So, the state would have a total of eight casinos.

The bill would also authorize sports betting at the casinos and online. It would set up a seven-member Alabama Gaming Commission to oversee all gambling in the state.

Constitutional amendments require approval by three-fifths of senators and representatives to go on the ballot for voters. That means 21 of the 34 senators would have to vote yes to send Marsh’s bill to the House.

The Legislative Services Agency estimated the lottery and casinos could raise net revenue for the state of $450 million to $670 million. Read the fiscal note, which describes how the money would be used.