The members of the General Affairs Committee voted 5-3, this week, to advance Legislative Resolution 10CA, a bill that would give lawmakers, not voters, the power to authorize any form of gambling in the state of Nebraska.

Nebraska voters, who currently have the power to a had approved betting on horse races, state lottery and charitable gaming such as keno and pickle cards but rejected off-track betting, casinos and slot machines.

“LR 10CA would not itself change the types of gambling allowed in Nebraska. Rather, it would remove a barrier placed in the state constitution more than 150 years ago,” said Sen. Paul Schumacher, who introduced the amendment.

Sen. Tyson Larson said that he supported LR 10CA because he believes Nebraska has been missing out on the funds that could come from expanded gambling.

LR 10CA, just like any other gambling bill, is likely to face opposition as Sen. Merv Riepe, who voted against the proposal, said that he don’t want to take away the decision of this matter from Nebraska voters and Sen. Beau McCoy has filed a motion to kill the proposal.

In Alabama, a statewide poll has been conducted by News 5 and the results show that 69% of Alabamians said that Governor should consider gambling before raising taxes, 72% said that they support lottery, and 60% would vote for casino-style gambling.

In 1999, voters rejected lottery, with the religious right and Mississippi casinos leading the opposition, making Alabama as one of the states that does not have lottery.