1 month ago
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Gas stations and convenience stores just across the Alabama-Georgia state line were packed Friday morning with Alabamians hoping to win the $1.22 billion Mega Millions jackpot.The Alabama residents had to cross state lines because they live in one of five states where the lottery is illegal."I came out here to play the lottery," Birmingham resident Alton Harville said. "We don't have one back home in Alabama, so I cross over the state lines to get a lottery ticket."Harville said he makes the 75-mile drive to Tallapoosa, Georgia, three or four times a month just to buy a ticket. Like Harville, Amelia Beavers and her family traveled from Pell City to Tallapoosa for a chance at the jackpot, but she believes the real win would be if Alabama got a lottery of its own."The state is losing too much revenue and money and stuff we could have," Beavers said.Harville agreed. He believes the state could benefit from a lottery."A lot of streets and interstates have road damage and, as far as educational purposes, it'd definitely be a big deal back home," he said. Beavers said this goes beyond just lottery tickets — when she goes to Georgia, she spends the whole day there."We get what we want and what we need," she said. "We spend the day shopping, that's money we could use at home. We eat dinner and all that."Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels is working to change that. He's in support of a lottery and sees the upcoming legislative session as a chance to bring one to the state.“We’re hopeful that, if we’re going to go down this road, that the Senate takes the bull by the horn and really gets us something that’s reasonable, that can be supported by members in the House,” Daniels said.The people crossing state lines are part of why Daniels is hoping to make a change.“Polling data tells you over 70% of people in Alabama want to have a lottery," he said. "Right now, you look at the price of gas, you’re talking about driving 25-30 minutes to the state line to play the lottery when you can go within a quarter of a mile from your home to purchase a lottery ticket.”Beavers said that she and others who want to gamble are going to continue to travel until Alabama makes a change."We do it anyway, and you're not going to stop it," she said. "You've got too many of them that are in a sense against it, but you're not stopping it because we can get in our vehicles and ride up here and get what we want."She and others are hoping legislators like Daniels will bring them the jackpot."I'll be glad when Alabama gets this, and we won't have to cross the line," Beavers said.Mitchell Fail from Oxford agreed with her, saying, "I can't wait until it comes here because we're always traveling to Tennessee or Georgia."The drawing for the $1.22 billion jackpot is Friday at 10 p.m. If none of these Alabamians win, they say they'll be crossing state lines to get another ticket very soon.
TALLAPOOSA, Ga. —
Gas stations and convenience stores just across the Alabama-Georgia state line were packed Friday morning with Alabamians hoping to win the $1.22 billion Mega Millions jackpot.
The Alabama residents had to cross state lines because they live in one of five states where the lottery is illegal.
"I came out here to play the lottery," Birmingham resident Alton Harville said. "We don't have one back home in Alabama, so I cross over the state lines to get a lottery ticket."
Harville said he makes the 75-mile drive to Tallapoosa, Georgia, three or four times a month just to buy a ticket.
Like Harville, Amelia Beavers and her family traveled from Pell City to Tallapoosa for a chance at the jackpot, but she believes the real win would be if Alabama got a lottery of its own.
"The state is losing too much revenue and money and stuff we could have," Beavers said.
Harville agreed. He believes the state could benefit from a lottery.
"A lot of streets and interstates have road damage and, as far as educational purposes, it'd definitely be a big deal back home," he said.
Beavers said this goes beyond just lottery tickets — when she goes to Georgia, she spends the whole day there.
"We get what we want and what we need," she said. "We spend the day shopping, that's money we could use at home. We eat dinner and all that."
Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels is working to change that. He's in support of a lottery and sees the upcoming legislative session as a chance to bring one to the state.
“We’re hopeful that, if we’re going to go down this road, that the Senate takes the bull by the horn and really gets us something that’s reasonable, that can be supported by members in the House,” Daniels said.
The people crossing state lines are part of why Daniels is hoping to make a change.
“Polling data tells you over 70% of people in Alabama want to have a lottery," he said. "Right now, you look at the price of gas, you’re talking about driving 25-30 minutes to the state line to play the lottery when you can go within a quarter of a mile from your home to purchase a lottery ticket.”
Beavers said that she and others who want to gamble are going to continue to travel until Alabama makes a change.
"We do it anyway, and you're not going to stop it," she said. "You've got too many of them that are in a sense against it, but you're not stopping it because we can get in our vehicles and ride up here and get what we want."
She and others are hoping legislators like Daniels will bring them the jackpot.
"I'll be glad when Alabama gets this, and we won't have to cross the line," Beavers said.
Mitchell Fail from Oxford agreed with her, saying, "I can't wait until it comes here because we're always traveling to Tennessee or Georgia."
The drawing for the $1.22 billion jackpot is Friday at 10 p.m. If none of these Alabamians win, they say they'll be crossing state lines to get another ticket very soon.
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