Alabama Lottery Bill Update as of August 26, 2016

The Alabama Senate today voted 23-7 against concurring with the House version of the lottery bill. The Senator who sponsored SB 3 declared the bill dead. Both the House and Senate have adjourned until September 6th, giving the legislature 3 more special session days, but the possibility of a lottery question being on the November 8th general election ballot is gone. The only two options for a ballot measure are a special election which would cost about $5 million, or the 2018 general election ballot. With Alabama’s budget problems the $5 million cost of a special election makes this option highly remote, most likely pushing the issue off for two years. During Senate debate it was said that if the lottery bill was killed it would push the Governor to sign a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Rumors are circulating about that possibility although the Governor has denied any interest in compacting.