How Much Is Alabama Missing Out On Without A Lottery?

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The right combination of numbers could net you more money than most will ever see in their entire lives.

But states are also collecting with the print out of each ticket.

The state of Georgia made almost 300 million dollars from the lottery in 2015.

Some people in Alabama would like to see that kind of money stay here.

“Yeah, I do. I think they’re missing out on a lot. They say the state of Alabama is broke. We need the money, you know what I mean?” said Willie Mack Edwards.

“Yes yes, we’re missing out. We’re funneling all our money to like, Georgia, Tennessee, wherever the lottery is. We could definitely reap the benefits of that money leaving the state,” said Reshard Gamble.

The first hurdle the lottery has to pass is the state legislature.

Lawmakers let the state vote on the lottery back in 1999, but it hasn’t made it that far since then.

Political analyst Steve Flowers says that hasn’t stopped people in Alabama from playing.

“People in Alabama are playing the lottery. They’re gambling, they’re just having to drive to Tennessee, Georgia to do it. And that’s about 200 million dollars the state is losing which is about what they need to have in the general fund,” said Flowers.

This year’s legislative session is less than one month away.

Is there a chance the lottery could be on the ballot before the year is up?

“It’s hard to understand why a legislator would stand in the way of letting people vote on the lottery. If it gets to the people, it’ll pass. Overwhelmingly, not sure what percentage, but it’ll pass,” said Flowers.

There’s already one prefiled bill to bring the lottery to the state.

It’s sponsored by two Republicans from North Alabama.

While the lottery could bring millions to Alabama, the state’s two budgets total about 8 billion dollars.