Alabama gambling council hears from state lottery executives

Dec 2, 2016, 10:48 am (9 comments)

Alabama

The president of Louisiana's lottery said Alabama should be careful in how it drafts lottery legislation and cautioned against defining the game too narrowly.

Louisiana Lottery President Rose Hudson and New Hampshire Lottery Executive Director Charlie McIntyre spoke to Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley's advisory council on gaming yesterday.

Both states have long-established lotteries that provide money for public education.

To establish a lottery in Alabama, the Legislature would have to pass a proposed constitutional amendment that would be subject to approval by voters.

"I would say sweat the details, but sweat the details at the correct level," Hudson told the council. "That is, do it at the front end."

If the Alabama Legislature seriously considers a lottery next year, one key detail will likely be the definition of a lottery.

That definition was a sticking point in the lottery bill that failed during a special session in August.

The bill passed the Senate. The House added an amendment by Rep. Connie Rowe, R-Jasper, that defined a lottery essentially as the game is traditionally known -- paper tickets with a series of numbers that can allow the holder to win in a daily, weekly or monthly drawing.

The definition also allowed for tickets allowing instant winners, called scratch-offs.

The House passed the bill with Rowe's amendment, but the amendment raised opposition in the Senate, and the bill died.

Some senators wanted to allow the state's greyhound tracks to install video lottery terminals, which look like slot machines and can offer instant winnings.

Rowe is a member of the governor's council and asked Hudson about defining a lottery in the traditional sense.

Hudson advised against a narrow definition of a lottery because it would make it hard to adjust to evolving versions of the games, such as online games.

"That definition may not cut the mustard and would keep you out of the game," Hudson said.

Rowe said polls have indicated that a majority of Alabamians, including those in her district, want a chance to vote on a lottery. She said what most people have in mind is the game they play when they cross the state line into Florida, Georgia or Tennessee and buy a ticket at a convenience store.

"We do not need to do something down here that is a misrepresentation of what our people back in our districts believe we're down here voting on," Rowe said.

"If we don't have a definition that clearly defines that, it can just shape-shift into some really interesting things that could be well beyond what the constituency that I represent had in mind."

Bentley announced the creation of the advisory council in October after his plan for a lottery to support the state budget died during the special session.

Alabama is one of six states without a lottery.

According to a report by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, 27 states saw lottery revenues decline from 2014 to 2015.

But lotteries in southeastern states experienced growth in revenue from 2008 to 2015, according to the report.

Lottery revenues have grown in Louisiana, where voters approved a lottery in 1990.

Total lottery sales in fiscal year 2016 were $507 million, an all-time record for the state. Lottery sales in Louisiana have risen every year but one since 2007, when sales were $354 million.

For each dollar in lottery sales, 53 cents is returned to players in winnings, and 35 percent is dedicated to K-12 education, a requirement Louisiana voters added to the state constitution in 2004.

New Hampshire was the first state to have a modern lottery, in 1964.

Sixty-two percent of lottery revenue goes to prizes, while 26 percent goes to New Hampshire schools.

Adjusted gross lottery revenue in New Hampshire rose in nine of the years between 2000 and 2015, while declining in some other years, especially in the wake of the Great Recession.

In 2015, adjusted gross revenues rose slightly, to $283 million, netting $74 million for education.

The gambling council meets again on Dec. 15. It is to report its findings to the governor and the Legislature in January.

AL

Comments

Bleudog101

I'll believe it when I see it.  No Christmas present this year for Alabamans this year.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Dec 2, 2016

I'll believe it when I see it.  No Christmas present this year for Alabamans this year.

Bleudog101, It usually takes more than a year to get a lottery going after a vote by the people.

 At least it is not dead and they are still talking about it.

 Go Power Ball and Mega Millions!!Banana

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Dec 2, 2016

Bleudog101, It usually takes more than a year to get a lottery going after a vote by the people.

 At least it is not dead and they are still talking about it.

 Go Power Ball and Mega Millions!!Banana

True enough.  Don't forget you are in a progressive state and these Bible thumpers have a different mindset than that of an average Californian!  Take for instance Powerball coming to California a while ago, the lotto/legislature/residents realized how much money was crossing state lines to play that lottery and whoop there it is in California.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Dec 2, 2016

True enough.  Don't forget you are in a progressive state and these Bible thumpers have a different mindset than that of an average Californian!  Take for instance Powerball coming to California a while ago, the lotto/legislature/residents realized how much money was crossing state lines to play that lottery and whoop there it is in California.

Power Ball came to California in the Spring of 2013, I believe.   As to Bible thumpers, I prefer those over criminals. Criminals continue ruining life for the innocent.

Bleudog101, are you ready for the reality of having millions of dollars at your disposal? Jack Whitaker did not set goals for his child and grandchild. He must have had personal and business goals in the past that helped him create a thriving business before he won. 

  Do you dream, both daydreams and night dreams, about how your life will be after you win? Are you attracting the money and not repelling it in your actions, thoughts, feelings.Dance

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Dec 2, 2016

Power Ball came to California in the Spring of 2013, I believe.   As to Bible thumpers, I prefer those over criminals. Criminals continue ruining life for the innocent.

Bleudog101, are you ready for the reality of having millions of dollars at your disposal? Jack Whitaker did not set goals for his child and grandchild. He must have had personal and business goals in the past that helped him create a thriving business before he won. 

  Do you dream, both daydreams and night dreams, about how your life will be after you win? Are you attracting the money and not repelling it in your actions, thoughts, feelings.Dance

music* would be perfectly content with a small win of a million or 2 on the lottery.  There is no need in my life for those megajackpots.  OTH though if it were to happen, so be it!

LottoAce's avatarLottoAce

this debate has been going on for far too long.
I hope that it will end soon. if for nothing else
but for piece of mind for the good people of Alabama.

teacake58's avatarteacake58

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Dec 2, 2016

True enough.  Don't forget you are in a progressive state and these Bible thumpers have a different mindset than that of an average Californian!  Take for instance Powerball coming to California a while ago, the lotto/legislature/residents realized how much money was crossing state lines to play that lottery and whoop there it is in California.

the bible belt my behind a bunch of hypocrites i see more church members at the tn and ga lottery than a little even the preachers give me a break they just don't want to be seen in their state. Who cares what they do with their money because I'm going to do what I want with minds

Bleudog101

teacake58:  Your post made my day.  Do as I say, not as I do is what some of them live by.  Come to the casino in S. Indiana and the number of KY tagged cars far outweighs IN tagged vehicles ALL the time.  So glad KY has a lottery @ least.

cbr$'s avatarcbr$
I will believe this only if I see it on a actual ballet. Why is the Senate
oppose to scratch offs. If they make the games interesting & the prizes
worth playing for people will buy them.
End of comments
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