Another session of the Alabama State Legislature is behind us, and while no bills were passed addressing gambling or a state lottery this session, that does not mean the debate has gone away. Per a recent article from a local news outlet, although a bill was presented in the latest Alabama Legislative Session approving legalized gambling in the state in at least some form, the bill proposed by Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) received little traction. However, gambling remains a hot topic, especially as states have eased their restrictions. In the meantime, Alabama remains one of the only five states without a lottery. Dr. Jason Imbrogno, Professor of Economics at the University of North Alabama, was interviewed, saying one of the main issues surrounding the gambling debate is that multiple meanings of “legalized gambling” make it difficult to determine the pros and cons of the issue.
For this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news and updates coming from the state of Alabama, along with some additional notes regarding gaming in the area.
Arguments for and against legalized gambling – or even a state lottery – are plentiful, according to the recent article. The benefits vary depending on the kind of gambling in play – a state lottery, 50/50 raffles, sports betting, and casinos each carry their positives and downsides, he said. Additionally, Imbrogno said increased tax revenue is the main benefit of legalized gambling. However, he also said the tax benefits hinge on the type of gambling introduced. “At most, under the most open, liberal possible changes to our gambling laws that are being considered, the best estimates say around $700 million in added state tax revenue, per year.”
While the loudest opposition to legalized gambling in the state has come from a moral perspective, Imbrogno says some economic aspects that could have negative effects on the state. He specifically pointed to the problem of gambling addiction first and said addiction, especially for young men regarding sports gambling, is a problem that some estimate would affect more than 100,000 Alabama residents. “Gambling is a Pandora’s box that our society opened, and the costs outweigh the benefits greatly in my opinion.”
According to Imbrogno, the increased criminality associated with gambling is a problem to consider, which could offset any positive economic change gambling might bring to the state. He added that the alleged benefits of legalized gambling (tax revenues, jobs, etc.) may take away just as much along each of those dimensions from other related industries such as tourism, out-of-home dining, sports, and outdoor recreation.
In other Alabama gambling news, Jonathan Hodge, a trucker from Luverne, Alabama, ended one of his routine hauls by winning a $120,000 Cash 5 jackpot using random numbers. According to a May 16th North Carolina Education Lottery press release, Hodge purchased his ticket online for the Thursday, May 8th drawing and chose the Quick Pick option, which lets the terminal or retailer randomly generate the numbers. Cash 5 is one of six lottery games in North Carolina that gives players the option to purchase tickets either at a retail location or through Online Play via the lottery’s website or the official NC Lottery mobile app.
Cash 5 jackpot is claimed by matching all five white balls in any order, with smaller prizes awarded for matching two to four numbers. However, luck was on Hodge’s side as his ticket matched all five numbers in the drawing. The odds of hitting all five are 1 in 962,598, according to the press release. Looking at this, the article notes, one has to wonder what the odds are of winning the same game’s jackpot not once, but twice/ However, this is exactly what happened last year when a lucky man struck two jackpots in two months playing the Cash 5 game, gathering well over $660,000 in winnings.
Back to the current winner, the North Carolina Education Lottery reported that Hodge has already claimed his prize at lottery headquarters. After federal and state taxes were withheld, he took home $86,109. The lottery’s press release also quoted the lucky winner saying he couldn’t initially believe he had won. “I kept reading it over and over,” Hodge said. He further explained that he plans to use the money for a down payment on a house. North Carolina has one of the newest lottery systems in the United States, established in 2005 through the North Carolina State Lottery Act.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gambling notes and news coming from the Cotton State, make sure to check out the excellent array of information for you at SBS. Of course, for even more info on the topic covered here, the Alabama sports betting guide is a must-read page that covers an awesome array of info about the latest gaming news in the Cotton State. Conversely, for those looking for some new outlets to check out, the BetOnline sportsbook review rundown is a fantastic page to peruse for eligible customers. Here you can learn more about the different perks of utilizing the outlet and beyond. Finally, for those looking to diversify their deposit and withdrawal options, look no further than the payment methods breakdown, which goes over all kinds of options from crypto to more traditional routes.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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