It's that time of year where the possibility of an Alabama lottery is brought up again! It's a debate that continues among lawmakers.
Last year, a plan that included a lottery, casinos, and sports betting fell just one vote short of making it to the ballot.
Wednesday, WAAY 31 spoke with the lawmaker now pushing for new legislation.Â
There’s no bill filed, but State Senator Greg Albritton says he’s working to get a new plan together—but he says he doesn’t have the votes yet.
“Alabama has a moral obligation to take control of this industry. we're already suffering the heels of it,Ìý its already growing leaps and bounds. We need to control itâ€, said Albritton.
Senator Albritton says his push for new legislation is no different than any time before.
Albritton said,Ìý "we've seen it all before we done this so many times that all we have to do is cut and paste, the problem is what is it that will pass.â€
He believes it’s not because the people of Alabama don’t want it—but because many lawmakers don’t want to deal with the issue at all.
“I don't know how to address that, and in my discussion with my senators, many of them will not tell me what they will vote for or vote against; they will not discuss it,†said Albritton.
He says he could file a bill at any time, but without 21 votes, it won’t go anywhere. and without those needed votes, he says it would be just another failed attempt—​
"I would like the people to understand that if they want an opportunity to vote on this, they've got to get to their senator and tell their senator to support a gambling bill so they can vote for itâ€, added Albritton.
So far, no bills for a lottery or legal gambling have made it into this legislative session. But lawmakers are in Montgomery until May.
