Alabama’s Lotto Block
Who’s keeping the lottery off the table? The answer may surprise you.
If you’re waiting for Alabama to roll the dice on a lottery, don’t hold your breath. While most Alabamians support it, a peculiar alliance of influences—those morally opposed to gambling, the Poarch Creek Indians, and illegal gambling operators—has kept the odds stacked against it. Let’s break it down:
Poarch Creek Power Play
The Poarch Creek Band of Indians is one of Montgomery’s most powerful lobbies, and they’re not interested in a clean lottery bill. Their goal? Legal permission for full Vegas-style casino gaming in Alabama. Ideally, they’d like a monopoly in Alabama, but will likely settle for a monopoly in Jefferson County.
Until they secure this, the politicians in their pocket will hold firm against any straightforward lottery proposal.
Illegal Gambling’s Stake
For illegal gambling operators, a legal lottery is the ultimate threat. Running underground slot machines in gas stations or grocery stores is low-risk and high-reward (only a misdemeanor if caught).
With so much money on the line, whispers of bribery and influence persist. Some local and state officials—especially in Alabama’s Black Belt—may say they back a lottery publicly but vote otherwise when it counts.
Moral Roadblock
Alabama isn’t just religious—it’s one of the most religious states in the country. Many in the Republican party have steadfastly opposed gambling, believing it morally unacceptable.
Without Republican support, lottery advocates are left relying on Democrats from the Black Belt and Jefferson County, some of whom are speculated to have financial ties to illegal gaming operators. The result? A gridlocked system with little room for progress.
The Bottom Line
Between the moral opposition, lobbying power plays by the Poarch Creeks, and the grip of underground gambling, Alabama’s lottery dreams remain a long shot.
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