Senator Jim McClendon proposes legalisation of lottery in Alabama

Alabama Senator Jim McClendon has filed a legislation to make lottery legal in the state. He confirmed that the bills have been assigned to the tourism committee and should have hearings sometime after the spring break.

“We’ve got new members – about 25 per cent – and some of the people they replaced were adamantly opposed to anything that reeked of anything like gambling,” said McClendon via a phone interview with WKRG.

McClendon said that his intention is not to solve budget problems. The net revenue from lottery would be allocated to the Education Trust Fund and the General Fund. As the local constitution currently prohibits lotteries, the proposal would have to receive the green light in a constitutional amendment.

The bill sets an Alabama Lottery Commission, and the governor would appoint one member. The lieutenant governor, president pro tem of the Senate and Speaker of the House would name the other member. Furthermore, the commission would set which lottery games are played, but casino games would not be allowed.