. We’re taking a look at where things stand and why these issues haven’t made it back to voters in over 20 years.
Earlier this year, a group of bipartisan lawmakers proposed comprehensive gaming legislation to include a lottery, sports betting, some casinos, and a state gambling commission with lottery money going to the education fund and all gaming proceeds going to the general fund. Projected revenues would be between $800 million and $1 billion, according to lawmakers.
“We’re still sitting here, what 25 years later, since the last time the citizens got to vote on something,” Rep. Chris Blackshear said. Craig Carlisle is the president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention and director of missions with the Etowah Baptist Association. “Besides the ideological opposition against gambling, there are plenty that say we don’t like the corruptive nature of gambling. We don’t like the state picking winners and losers,” Stacy said.