Alabama Lottery Bill Advances, Casino Issue Still Alive

An Alabama Senate committee has advanced a lottery bill as lawmakers try to get the issue of gambling before state voters for the first time since 1999.

The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee on Wednesday approved a lottery proposal sponsored by Republican Sen. Jim McClendon. However, Tourism Committee Chairman Del Marsh described the bill as a vehicle for negotiations and said lawmakers might revive the issue of casinos along with the lottery debate.

McClendon’s bill would authorize a lottery where tickets could be sold at stores, kiosks and through a phone app.

Alabama voters rejected then-Gov. Don Siegelman’s proposed state lottery in 1999.

(Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)