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Alabama Senate committee approves lottery bill

In this 2016 staff file photo, customer chooses his numbers on a Powerball entry form. A South Pittsburg, Tennessee, player won more than $2 million in Friday's "Tennessee Cash," drawing, according to the Tennessee Lottery Corp.
In this 2016 staff file photo, customer chooses his numbers on a Powerball entry form. A South Pittsburg, Tennessee, player won more than $2 million in Friday's "Tennessee Cash," drawing, according to the Tennessee Lottery Corp. In this 2016 staff file photo, customer chooses his numbers on a Powerball entry form. A South Pittsburg, Tennessee, player won more than $2 million in Friday's "Tennessee Cash," drawing, according to the Tennessee Lottery Corp.

By Associated Press 3 min read

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Alabama could join multistate lotteries such as Powerball and Mega Millions under a proposal that cleared its first legislative hurdle on Wednesday.

The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee approved the proposed constitutional amendment by a 3-2 vote. However, the lottery bill is considered a long shot to pass in the final weeks of the legislative session

Alabama is one of six states – along with Mississippi, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada – without a state lottery. Republican Sen. Paul Sanford’s proposal would change the Alabama Constitution so Alabama could join multistate lotteries. Because it involves a change to the Alabama Constitution to legalize gambling, voters would have to approve the idea.

“This lottery bill is dealing with just the multistate lotteries,” Sanford, a Republican from Huntsville, said. “It’s the one that catch all the attention – the Powerball, the Mega Millions that generate the buzz. It’s not the scratch-offs.”

Sanford said Alabamians should decide if they want a lottery. The legislative fiscal office estimates it would raise $45 million annually after operational costs and payouts to winners.