Alabama casino and lottery bill defeated in Senate

The bill to amend the state’s constitution was narrowly defeated.

US.- The Alabama Senate has narrowly rejected a constitutional amendment to allow a state lottery and up to 10 casinos.

The bill, proposal by the Republican senator Del Marsh, was rejected 19-13 in the Senate. It needed just two more votes to meet the 21 minimum to push through the legislation.

Marsh said in a statement: “Honestly, I’m disappointed, because I think it was the first attempt for the first time in a long time to have meaningful reform in gaming.

“A very comprehensive bill that I thought treated the state very fairly and was going to do some good things for the state. But it is what it is.”

Despite various attempts to push through gambling legislation in Alabama over the past two decades, it has always failed due to conservative opposition to gambling and disagreements over which venues could host video gaming terminals or casino games.

All 13 votes against the gambling expansion were from Republicans.

Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement: “Today’s vote by the Alabama Senate confirms more work must be done, because this issue is too important to not get it right.

“No doubt gambling is complex and challenging, but I remain committed to giving the people of Alabama the final say.”