Alabama Constitution Section 65 - Lotteries and gift enterprises prohibited.
Alabama Constitution – Section 65: Lotteries and Gift Enterprises Prohibited
Text of Section 65:
"The legislature shall have no power to authorize lotteries or gift enterprises for any purposes, and shall pass laws to prohibit the sale in this state of lottery or gift enterprise tickets, or tickets in any scheme in the nature of a lottery; and all acts, or parts of acts heretofore passed by the legislature of this state, authorizing a lottery or lotteries, and all acts amendatory thereof, or supplemental thereto, are hereby avoided."
Explanation:
Section 65 of the Alabama Constitution prohibits lotteries and similar gambling schemes in the state.
Key Provisions:
Ban on Legislative Authorization:
The Alabama Legislature cannot create or allow any lottery or gift enterprise for any purpose — even charitable or educational.
Mandatory Prohibition Laws:
The legislature must pass laws to ban the sale of lottery tickets or similar items related to games of chance.
Nullification of Past Laws:
Any prior laws passed before this section that authorized lotteries or gift schemes are declared void.
Purpose:
To prevent gambling through lotteries and protect the public from schemes of chance that may lead to fraud or addiction.
Reflects Alabama’s historically strict stance against most forms of gambling.
Modern Implications:
Despite this provision, there have been ongoing debates and proposals in Alabama to allow state-run lotteries or casino gaming, often requiring a constitutional amendment to override Section 65.
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