Lottery bill advances in Alabama
The state Legislature advanced a bill that would legalise lottery in the state.
US.- The Senate Tourism Committee approved a bill this week that would establish a lottery in Alabama. The legislative piece was sent to the full Senate and could receive a vote today or early next week.
The bill would allow people to decide whether they want a lottery in the state or not. They haven’t had the chance to do so since the former Governor Don Siegelman rejected the possibility to bring a lottery back in 1999.
Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed said that he expects the bill to be debated on the Senate floor this week. It is estimated that the lottery would bring US$167 million a year after prizes and expenses are paid.
The money collected from lottery operations would be destined to repay the Alabama Trust Fund US$184 million that was transferred to the General Fund to balance the state budgets in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
