An excerpt from the report reads, “It is important to note, however, that while there are costs associated with gambling, the taxation of regulated gambling activities creates an opportunity to dedicate public funds to gambling treatment, prevention, or education services.” However, the chair of the committee and former Montgomery mayor, Todd Strange, pointed out that the benefits outweigh the costs, according to their findings. That said, the report also highlighted that the legalization of gambling would come with a social cost. The report also stated that up to 19,000 jobs could be created. Tax revenue that could be generated from the legalization of gambling stood at $700 million annually, according to the 876-page comprehensive report, released on Friday, December 18. The most prominent finding is in the area of tax revenue generation and job creation. The committee was put together earlier in the year solely for this purpose.Īccording to the report, the benefits of regulated gambling outweigh its disadvantages. The Study Group on Gambling is a committee that was set up by Governor Kay Ivey to analyze the impact of gambling before its legalization. It has been reported by The Study Group on Gambling that the tax revenue generated from gambling in Alabama could be over $700 million.
