An Alabama casino gambling bill narrowly passed away through committee week that is last giving the legislation the opportunity to be heard by the complete State Senate.

The bill, understood as SB 453, passed through the Tourism and Marketing Committee by a five to three vote on Thursday.

The bill is built to help produce new income for the state in two ways.

First, it would produce a state lottery that would be regulated by the Alabama Lottery and Gaming Commission.

Bill Will Allow for Four Casinos

Perhaps more dramatically, that commission would also be charged with overseeing the introduction of casino gambling in the state.

Such operations is allowed at four horse racing tracks through the entire state, the time that is first games like slot machines, blackjack, as well as other dining table games would be allowed in the state.

The bill, which would amend their state constitution, was introduced previously this by Senate President Del Marsh (R-Anniston) month. He said that with all the state requiring an influx of revenue, he would rather see that money come through legalized gambling than via a taxation increase.

‘This is a large bit of legislation, a very piece that is controversial’ Marsh said at a general public hearing in the bill held Tuesday. ‘But I think it’s a choice that will there be put as an alternative to simply help try to resolve some of this spending plan problems in this state.’

Many Miss Electronic Bingo Casinos

During those hearings, there was impassioned testimony from all edges regarding the problem. Many people talked of attempting to see the return of gaming to facilities that once had it, before so-called electronic bingo casinos were closed down in the state following an Alabama Supreme Court ruling this past year.

‘I’ve seen hardworking that is good doing without, getting close to hungry,’ said Macon County equipment store owner Brent Thomas, who said that his area was indeed hurt tremendously by the closure regarding the VictoryLand bingo casino.

Meanwhile, others argued against any video gaming expansion, stating that the majority of the cash that the state made from the games would be coming from poor people.

‘It is a income tax,’ said Joe Godfrey, executive director of the Alabama people Action Project. ‘It’s a tax on the poor. It preys on the social people who can least manage to pay it.’

Native American Casinos Active in State

Still others noticed that there had been gaming in the continuing state, while the Poarch Band of Creek Indians already operate three casinos with electronic bingo machines in Alabama.

That, Marsh said, suggested the option wasn’t between having gambling or not, but instead whether the state would collect revenue from the gambling that was occurring.

Are you aware that Poarch Band, they do say that the bill that is newn’t contain sufficient guidelines about what would be allowed during the race songs where gambling would be allowed, that could leave loopholes that operators will endeavour to exploit.

‘It’s like handing your teenager a charge card without any rules connected and then being surprised when you get a bill that appears like the Alabama budget deficit,’ said Robert McGhee, treasurer associated with Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Council. ‘It’s a backwards thinking that opens the door to potentially irresponsible practices that could be hard to rein in following the fact.’

The bill would allow for casino gambling at competition tracks in Birmingham, Macon, mobile phone and Greene County. Proponents say that gambling expansion could create over $400 million in new revenue and 11,000 jobs for hawaii.

In order to approve a noticeable change to the state constitution allowing for gambling, three-fifths of the legislature would need to back the bill, as would a majority of voters in circumstances referendum.