The Alabama legislative session will begin February 4 in Montgomery, and will adjourn on May 18. One item up for bid as usual will be an Alabama Lottery bill.
Every year we have to review the fact that the legislature alone cannot pass a bill that allows a state lottery. In order for Alabama to implement a lottery voters would have to vote to change Alabama gaming laws to allow for Class III gaming as compared to the current Class II gaming.
Class II gaming allows for Bingo style games of chance only, which is why if you go to a Wind Creek or Victoryland or Southern Star Casino – all located in Alabama – you will notice a small bingo card in the corner of the slot machine screen that changes with every spin. Class III gaming would allow for the full spectrum of gambling options including table games like blackjack, roulette, and traditional poker.
For years, it was the moral argument that kept Alabama from having a lottery. People did not think the state would be blessed if it had a lottery. But then people got to looking around and realized Alabama is one of only five states that do not have a lottery, not to mention we are still one of the poorest states and damn near the dumbest. But there are still holdouts. Last year Rep. Rich Wingo said to a camera, “People can do what they want, but I just don’t think it’s right.” He doesn’t think it is morally right so it’s a safe bet to assume legislators who share his mindset are probably not going to let voters decide for themselves what they want to do. It has been just over 20 years since Alabama last voted.
In those 20 years, we now know without doubt that a lottery creates revenue. We have watched the state of Georgia tear down better schools that some Alabama currently operates to make way for newer, more technologically advanced school buildings. We have witnessed the number of cars with Alabama tags that travel to every state line around us to buy tickets. Even Mississippi folded. They decided to opt in for there fair share of the profit and they have reason to be optimistic. There were $2.5 million in the first day of scratch-off sales.
The problem for legislators in 2018 was that they couldn’t decide what to do with the money a lottery would generate. Last year, there was some progress. They narrowed it down to proceeds going into two accounts – the general fund and education. But the problem then became which account got what percentage…and again the bill died.
Maybe there is a representative who has been diligently working on a lottery bill for the 2020 session, because the Poarch Creek Band of Indians have thought it through. They have clearly stated their aim in a gaming compact. They will make a one-time $225 million payment in exchange for the state’s exclusive gaming rights, and – as they say – make way for a lottery.
The Poarch Creek Band of Indians know how to turn a dollar. What started out as a small gaming facility in Atmore to help out the poor community of Poarch has turned into Wind Creek Wetumpka, Wind Creek Montgomery, Wind Creek Bethlehem (formerly Sands Casino and Resort in Pennsylvania), Wa She Shu Casino in Nevada, Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino, Renaissance Curacao Resort Casino, as well as racetracks in Alabama and Florida.
They are good at math and they aren’t going to make a bad bet for themselves. Alabama does not have to give the Poarch Creek Indians a monopoly in order to have a lottery. Voters may be wise to vote for a lottery, and still hold on the state’s exclusive gaming rights.
https://www.al.com/opinion/2020/01/it-is-lottery-season-once-again-in-alabama.html