The state of Alabama has been offered $250 million by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to help with the budget shortfall within the state in exchange for a gaming compact. The tribe wants a compact for Class III gaming within the state and offered their deal to lawmakers in Alabama this week, but Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh is not receptive of the deal.
Marsh released a gaming study this past Monday and plans on introducing legislation this week that will authorize a lottery within the state. In the study, Marsh has estimated that the lottery could bring as much as $332 million a year for Alabama. In the report, slot machine and table gaming for four racetracks within the state are also discussed..
Approving Class III gaming in the state may prove to be quite difficult as Alabama is known as a conservative area. If table games and slot machines were given approval, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians would be able to offer the same gaming options as any other commercial casino based on the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
On April 8th, the democratic caucus offered up its own ideas for a lottery and Tribal/State gaming compact