Gambling Resistance Fades in Alabama

As Alabama guvernatorial candidates push for a state lottery referendum gambling resistance slowly fades in the state. The state of alabama could soon see a gambling boom, as the Supreme Court struck the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) down and cleared sports betting legalisation all across the country. Despite the state being unlikely to legalise the segment in the short term, both major parties’ gubernatorial candidates are in favour of creating a state lottery which may lay the groundwork for future regulation.

“I think there’s been a change in attitude, a slight change in attitude, maybe an unwitting change in attitude,” said Don Siegelman, a former governor who unsuccessfully proposed a state lottery in 1999. “I don’t think the evangelicals would organise and execute a plan to defeat sports betting with the same passion and enthusiasm that they mustered in 1999.”

Despite a failed referendum for a state lottery less than two years ago, both the Republican governor, Kay Ivey, and her Democratic rival, Walt Maddox, say voters should decide whether it is created or not.

However, there is still some opposition, as stated by Rep. Rich Wingo: “I dread going back into session, if I’m re-elected, knowing that there’s probably going to be fantasy sports, there’s going to be the lottery, there’s going to be sports gambling, the Vegas-type gambling. I just feel like we’re going to be inundated with this gambling issue.”

Source: FocusGamingNews