The special session of the legislature is scheduled to begin on August 15.
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Jim Zeigler says he’s anxious supporters of Governor Robert Bentley could profit from lottery.
McClendon said during his news conference he wanted to “dispel a persistent myth: creating a lottery will not open the door to casino gaming”. The governor would appoint seven people to a commission that would run the lottery. The vast majority of responders, 81%, said they would vote in favor while only 19% said they’d vote against an education lottery.
Electronic lottery terminals are a type of touchscreen gambling machine that can be made to resemble slot machines or other electronic gambling devices.
The bill, in addition to authorizing a state lottery, would allow the video terminals at dog tracks in Birmingham, Mobile, Macon County and Greene County. It would also authorize the governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
The senator estimates that his plan will bring in would bring in $427 million annually, which is more than the $225 estimated for the governor’s plan.
Last week, Bentley on Friday released his proposed Constitutional Amendment (CA) that would institute a state-sponsored lottery, with the revenue flowing into the General Fund, rather than the Education Budget, to fund Medicaid, prisons and other agencies.
The goal, McClendon said, is to fund Medicaid and care for the state’s poorest children.
“What we’ve got to do in Alabama right now is to let the people decide if they want to help individuals like this, those are less fortunate and those who have difficulties by voting for the lottery”, the governor went on to say.
Alabama is one of six states – along with Mississippi, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada – without a state lottery.
Gov. Bentley’s lottery proposal would send the proceeds to the General Fund.
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Alabama voters would have to approve any gambling proposal.
