4/8/2019 Group Watch: Dueling Lottery Bills Debated
Sharp division emerged concerning electronic gambling during a public hearing on dueling lottery proposals. The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee heard input on two lottery bills. One bill would start a state lottery and also allow video lottery terminals at licensed locations, including dog tracks in Birmingham, Tuskegee, Mobile and Greene County. Another bill would allow a lottery with paper tickets only. Opponents of the latter bill say that would give the Poarch Creek Indians a monopoly on electronic gambling. No vote was taken but there are obvious details that have to be worked out before a bill leaves the Senate.
