Phillip Ensler, a Democratic state representative from Montgomery – and candidate for Alabama Lieutenant Governor in the 2026 election – has expressed support for legalizing a state lottery in Alabama and potentially sports betting as part of broader gambling legislation reform. If Alabama choose to go ahead with this, this could open up room for online casinos in future too.
His position argues this would generate significant revenue for education and healthcare, pointing out that Alabama residents currently travel to neighboring states to buy lottery tickets, resulting in the state purse losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Ensler emphasises widespread public support across political, racial, and economic lines, describing the lack of a lottery as “crazy” and a missed opportunity to improve quality of life, in addition to stimulating state revenues.
His proposal is a bold one, but it is likely to face significant opposition.
Lottery and gambling provision in Alabama
Alabama is one of only a few states without an official state lottery within its jurisdiction.
The Yellowhammer State came close to enacting a lottery game back in 1999, but it was rejected by the electorate in a referendum.
There are no organised commercial casino gaming or sportsbook enterprises in Alabama, with all gambling activity restricted to the electronic bingo offering provided by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, in their tribal Class II casinos.
Any significant or meaningful extension of gambling would require the Alabama legislature to make a constitutional amendment, once again subject to the approval of the electorate.
As part of his campaign for Lieutenant Governor, Ensler has been setting out his priorities and a desire to fix “real problems, not culture wars and personal agendas.”
Speaking out against the status quo
Beyond gambling reform, the man aiming to become the first Democrat to hold the office in 16 years wants to address healthcare, mental health, education, and financial and economic issues, “the things that really matter” to everyone regardless of political persuasion.
He was speaking to the ALReporter and other state-based media outlets on his ambition to use the office of Lieutenant Governor as a “bully pulpit” to gain attention and influence public opinion.
The drive to establish a lottery in Alabama appears to be an aim driven by practicality, given the activity on the borders of the state that its own residents are participating in.
Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee all operate a state lottery, with those in the Sunshine State and the Peach State up among the most lucrative in all of the U.S.
Phillip Ensler wants Alabama to have a big slice of the pie, especially when many of its people are actively participating in lottery games and other forms of gambling beyond its borders.
He says the focus is on greater funding for essential services, as told to the Alabama Political Reporter.
”I hear from people all over the state. Democrat, Republican, white, black, poor, more affluent, who say it’s crazy that we don’t have a state lottery.
“People cross over state lines to buy lotto tickets, and we’re missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars that could be used for education or healthcare“, added Ensler.
Ensler and Democrats face a fight in Deep Red State
However, the fight is a political one and in a Deep Red State such as Alabama, Ensler and his team have an arduous task on their hands to win over the electorate.
In every Presidential Election since 1976, the state has voted and remained red, while the Alabama legislature has been Republican controlled since 2011.
To some extent, the 2026 midterms will be a survey and referendum on President Donald Trump and his current office, but local pride and matters will also be prevalent, with Alabama Republicans expected to be favourites for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor offices.
The last Democrat to be elected as Lieutenant Governor was Gov. Jim Folson Jnr. in 2006.
