Legislators face decisions on lottery, casinos after Alabama gambling report
Updated Jan 02, 2021;
Posted Jan 02, 2021
VictoryLand casino in Macon County, shown in 2016, offers electronic bingo under a constitutional amendment approved by the county s voters. The Supreme Court has ruled the games don t fit the definition of bingo and are illegal. The state s lack of uniform enforcement of gambling is one of the issues covered in the report by Gov. Kay Ivey s Study Group on Gambling Policy. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)
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The COVID-19 pandemic stopped any chance for legislation to propose a lottery in Alabama in 2020, but decisions about that and other forms of gambling await lawmakers in the new year.
71% in poll favor creating lottery in Alabama
Updated Dec 28, 2020;
A poll conducted for Gov. Kay Ivey’s Study Group on Gambling Policy showed strong support for a lottery in the state, a perennial issue likely to come up in the Legislature again in early 2021.
McLaughlin & Associates conducted the poll Nov. 17-19, with responses from 500 people who said they planned to vote in the 2022 general election.
Generally speaking, do you favor or oppose creating a statewide lottery in Alabama?
Favor: 70.8%; strongly favor, 60.6%, somewhat favor: 10.2%.
Oppose: 25%; strongly oppose, 19.2%, somewhat oppose, 5.8%.
Don’t know or refuse to answer answer, 4.2%.
The 12-member Study Group on Gambling Policy released its report Dec. 18.
By Staff | December 19, 2020 | Filed under: News
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Friday, December 18 issued the following statement:
“Earlier this year, I established the Study Group on Gambling Policy to thoroughly review and gather all the facts surrounding the seemingly endless debate on gambling in Alabama. They were tasked with providing detailed information to allow public officials and the people of our state to make the most informed decision possible, should we decide to pursue legislation to deal with this issue.
“I offer my sincerest thanks to Mayor Todd Strange and the members of the Study Group for their diligent work, especially for adapting when COVID-19 interrupted in-person meetings.
Ivey’s study group says Alabama could raise up to $700 million with lottery, casinos
Updated Dec 18, 2020;
Posted Dec 18, 2020
Former Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange speaks at a news conference at the Alabama Capitol about the report from Gov. Kay Ivey s Study Group on Gambling Policy. Elizabeth Huntley, left, and Young Boozer, were among other study group members on hand. Boozer holds the 800-page report.
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Gov. Kay Ivey’s Study Group on Gambling Policy estimated that Alabama could raise $510 million to $710 million from a lottery, casinos, and sports betting if voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding gambling in the state.
âGambling will workâ in Alabama, Iveyâs study group leader says
800-page report lays out findings of Study Group on Gambling Policy Ivey created in February By WSFA Staff | December 18, 2020 at 12:47 PM CST - Updated December 18 at 6:52 PM
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The governorâs Study Group on Gambling Policy has finalized its work and has issued an 800-page report on the matter for Gov. Kay Ivey to review.
Ivey created the group by executive order in February with the goal of looking at gamblingâs impact on Alabama. She said Friday morning her team is pouring over the findings, and she encouraged state legislators and all Alabamians to do the same.