Gambling and a lottery
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Give me Liberty
Rodger Williamson
The Alabama Senate passed a gambling constitutional amendment this past Thursday, March 7.
Although the Bible warns against the love of money and get-rich-quick schemes, nowhere in the Bible does it call gambling a sin. Following Thomas Jefferson’s advice on a “wall of separation between the church and the state,” the topics of gambling and a lottery are secular.
As a Libertarian, I believe in the liberty and freedom that was fought for when my ancestors fought the British during the American Revolution. I am confident that if the likes of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, or Benjamin Franklin could know what America has become today, that they would all collectively roll over in their graves in protest. We are not free, if as long as we do not infringe upon the rights of others, we cannot do as we please.
I see gambling as a personal issue, and I support the right of individuals to do with their own money as they see fit. In contrast, I am opposed to any increases to the leviathan that is public government that is beyond covering the most basic of needs. Libertarians support the right of individuals to gamble, or not, at their own discretion, as long as they assume full responsibility for their own actions. But when it comes to bills being passed by the Legislature, we are opposed to bad bills that either increase government or attempt to legislate morality.
As it stands now, those who are inclined to gamble are probably already doing so, whether it is online gambling, or office pools, or through local BINGO, or through the lotteries of other states. With the lotto, the dollars of Alabama taxpayers are currently streaming across state lines into Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida and improving the lives of the citizens of those states.
We Libertarians believe that Alabama should go ahead with joining into the lottery system, so as to redirect those dollars back into our own state. For those that oppose gambling, they are always free to abstain from participating.
The constitutional amendment, HB 151, passed with one vote to spare over the necessary 21-vote threshold by a margin of 22-11. Accompanying enabling legislation, HB 152, also passed by the same margin.
The substitute amendments under the amended Senate plan include a statewide lottery and a requirement that the governor negotiate a gambling compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Not included were sports betting, online gambling, or other non-Poarch new casinos. The constitutional amendment would be voted on in the Senate plan on September 10 in a special election.
The Senate’s revised constitutional amendment also includes authorizing pari-mutuel wagering, including historical horse racing at the racetracks in Greene, Jefferson, Macon, Mobile, an additional location in Greene County, at the existing bingo halls in Houston County, and the town of White Hall in Lowndes County. The Senate also voted to give Alabama citizens the ability to vote for a statewide lottery.
The amendment would also require the Legislature to establish a law enforcement division within the Alabama Gambling Commission to police lottery games and other gambling activities and eliminate unlawful gambling activities. It would also repeal all local bingo amendments and prohibit the enactment of any future local amendment to the Constitution of Alabama, providing for gambling activities.
The bill now heads back to the House for its consideration since it differs from the amendment they passed in February.
Senate Democrats still prefer the House plan over the Senate’s plan because the House plan offers other gambling interests besides the Poarch a path towards possibly offering Class III gaming such as roulette, blackjack and craps if the constitutional amendment is put on the ballot and approved by voters.
However, given the substantial changes made by the Senate from the House version, the legislation, which includes a constitutional amendment to be voted on by the public and the so-called enabling legislation, must be approved by the House to proceed.
Gov. Kay Ivey said last Friday, March 8, that she is reviewing whether a gambling package passed by the Senate on Thursday is a “good deal” for Alabama, stating: “I am pleased the Senate advanced these bills and that the legislative process will continue. I will be thoroughly reviewing the latest versions to ensure what goes to the people is a good deal for the state.”
Will it all pass? …I guess we will all have to wait to see.