ARAB — The next regular legislative session isn't set to begin until February, but state lottery and gambling bills are already expected to take up a lot of floor time in 2024.
"Everybody's expecting a gambling bill next session just like every quadrennium," State Rep. Brock Colvin (R-Albertville) said Thursday at the Marshall County 2023 Legislative Update breakfast in Arab.
After he spoke along with State Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) and State Rep. Wes Kitchens (R-Arab), an audience member wrote in a question asking Colvin about his thoughts on gambling and lottery coming up next session.
"It's no secret I do not support expanding casino gambling in Alabama," he outlined. "I do get the want for a lottery, all of our surrounding states have a lottery, I can see how it would make sense. But I've also seen the numbers."
Colvin said based on the projections he's seen, the state would receive roughly $150 million for a statewide lottery.
"I'm just saying, if that is what we needed, we wouldn't have just cut the grocery tax by $150 million," he said. "...I don't think it's the game-changer that everybody makes it out to be."
Colvin would consider voting for a clean lottery bill if it comes up but fears any proposed gambling package will include expanding casinos.
"There will be some bills dropped next session, but I'm afraid it's going to be the same ugly, comprehensive, 'let's put casinos everywhere in Alabama' [bills]," he said. "We're just not going to support that."
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