When will Alabama get a lottery?
Alabama is one of five states without a lottery, along with Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah, and the 2026 legislative session ended April 9 without a vote on either lottery bill. The next chance for lawmakers to act is the regular session that opens February 2, 2027. Even then, voters would have to approve a lottery before any tickets could be sold.
Why it takes so long
Alabama's constitution bans lotteries, so creating one requires a constitutional amendment. That needs three fifths of each chamber, 21 of 35 senators and 63 of 105 House members, and then a majority of voters in a statewide election. Alabamians have voted on a lottery once before. In October 1999 they turned down Gov. Don Siegelman's plan, 54.2% to 45.8%.
The closest call since came in 2024, when a package that paired a lottery with casino-style gaming fell one vote short in the Senate, 20 to 15, on May 1. This year two narrower bills were filed. Sen. Merika Coleman's SB257 would have let voters decide on a lottery, casinos, and sports betting, and Rep. Phillip Ensler's "Clean Lottery Act" covered a lottery alone. By early March, Coleman's bill was stuck in committee and Ensler's had not had a hearing, FOX10 reported, and neither reached a floor vote before the session ended.
The 2027 session starts with a new legislature after the November elections. Both leading candidates for governor appear to support a lottery, Yellowhammer News reported in January. Republican Tommy Tuberville's answer was “Sure, do it, BUT know we need real growth in this state, not gimmicks.” The governor cannot put the question on the ballot alone, though. Only the legislature can.
Even a yes vote would not mean tickets right away. Mississippi, the most recent nearby state to start a lottery, passed its law on August 28, 2018, and sold its first scratch-offs on November 25, 2019, nearly 15 months later. A similar timeline after a 2027 vote would put the first Alabama tickets in 2028 or later.
Until then, Alabama players keep doing what they have done for decades, crossing a state line. All four neighbors sell tickets. Georgia has 201 scratch-offs on sale, Florida 89, Tennessee 84, and Mississippi 75, as of October 1, 2026. Alabama residents who win can claim in the state where they bought the ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Alabama get a lottery?
Not before 2027 at the earliest. The 2026 legislative session ended April 9 without a vote on either lottery bill. Lawmakers would need to pass a constitutional amendment, voters would need to approve it, and a new lottery would then need months to launch.
Why doesn't Alabama have a lottery?
The state constitution bans lotteries, so creating one takes a constitutional amendment approved by three fifths of each chamber of the legislature and then by voters. Voters rejected a lottery 54% to 46% in 1999, and a 2024 plan fell one vote short in the state Senate.
Where do Alabama residents buy lottery tickets?
In neighboring states. Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi all run lotteries, and stores along those borders draw a steady stream of Alabama customers, especially when Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots climb.
Jessie Jurado is a news writer who covers new scratch-off launches, state lottery guides, taxes on winnings, news, and much more. She joined ScratchCheck in 2026 and writes the site's state-by-state coverage.
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