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A 30 Year Struggle:
A 30 Year Struggle:
For more than 30 years, Alabama has been locked in a debate surrounding the adoption of an education lottery. A proposal that is supported by more than 80% of Alabamians. Even higher (89%) are the number of Alabamians who believe it is important that our citizens have a chance to vote on whether to have a lottery or legalize gambling. An incredible 74% of voters in Alabama support legalized gambling to include casinos and sports betting.
Still No Progress:
Still No Progress:
The latest version of a gambling bill to go before the Alabama legislature was proposed by by Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), but was never introduced when Republican lawmakers made it clear that the proposal didn't have the votes to pass. After this latest failure, Senator Albritton declared the issue "dead for the next 20 years." This comes on the heels of the last legislative session where a gambling bill failed to pass the Alabama Senate by one vote.
Opponents Say:
Opponents Say:
Critics of the education lottery argue that legalized gambling "is predatory, doesn't produce any product, and takes money out of the economy that would have been spent on actual goods and services in the community." However, these criticisms ignore the reality that Alabamians are already spending mass amounts of money on gambling. They're just doing so in other states. Indeed, nearly 70% of registered voters in Alabama responded that they had traveled to other states to visit a casino, play the lottery, or bet on sports. Failing to act ensures that these activities benefit other states, not Alabama.
By the Numbers:
By the Numbers:
Alabama is one of only 5 states that don't have an education lottery. The lottery has overwhelming support from Alabama voters and for good reason. A 2020 report by the Public Affairs Research Counsel of Alabama (PARCA) indicated that failing to enact a lotter costs the State between $270 and $386 million per year in lost revenue. Past projections by the Alabama Department of Revenue put those numbers even higher.
A Far Reaching Impact:
A Far Reaching Impact:
The benefits of an Education Lottery would extend far beyond the revenue windfalls to Alabama. Programs like Georgia's hope scholarship have saved college students billions of dollars in student loans and borrowing costs over the life of the program. A similar program in Alabama would allow our children to enter the work force and build a life for themselves without the crushing burden of student loan debt.
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