Gov. Kay Ivey has released a report claiming that Alabama could generate up to $700 million from a lottery. The governor formed a study group in February, with former Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange chairing the 12-member group.
The 876-page detailed report estimated that the state could draw somewhere between $510 million to $710 million from casinos and sports betting if voters agreed to a constitutional amendment expanding gambling in the state. The same report claimed a state lottery could generate around $300 million in tax dollars, casinos could draw up to $400 million, and regulated sports betting could generate up to $10 million in tax revenue.
The lawmakers and voters have five options from which to choose:
- Maintain the status quo, however, it will offer a few benefits for the state
- Prohibit gambling altogether, providing uniform enforcement
- Ban all forms of gambling except a lottery
- Allow expanded gambling on a limited basis, and also limited by geographic locations
- Allow a complete expansion of gambling, including a lottery and casinos
All options that the report concluded, except maintain the status quo, require the legislative nod of a constitutional amendment approved by Alabama voters.
The report did not directly recommend whether the state should move forward with legalizing the industry. However, the options it provided clearly supported the regulation of the industry.
Gambling will work in Alabama, and advantages outweigh the disadvantages in the endeavor. Advantages are purely economic as they would be the new revenue sources and creation of jobs. Disadvantages would include the costs caused by problem gambling. However, the report suggested the state could apply a fraction of the revenue to help address those problems such as addiction and mental health.
Alabama is among the few remaining US jurisdictions without a state lottery. The Yellowhammer State has a few tribal casinos, and horse racing and daily fantasy sports contests are currently legal in the state. But the voters rejected the addition of a lottery in 1999.
The governor said it was essential to gather facts so that lawmakers and voters can make informed decisions about whether to form a lottery or other form of legal gambling. As many as forty-five other states have lotteries, including the four bordering Alabama.
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