Alabama Community College students could see thousands in scholarships if a newly introduced gaming bill becomes law.
House Bill 151 also calls for a casino planned for somewhere in northeast Alabama.
The bill would legalize several forms of gaming, including a lottery, sports betting, traditional raffles, bingo, and seven casinos spread out across the state.
Language in the bill says one of those casinos must be in a county north of US Route 411 and border the state of Georgia. In North Alabama, those potential locations are in DeKalb and Jackson counties.
Proceeds from the casinos as well as all other legal gaming will go toward health care, volunteer fire departments and roads.
Meanwhile, the proceeds from the lottery will fund two-year community college scholarships, dual enrollment costs, and research for higher education.
It will also provide money for some public school capital projects and the hiring of resource officers.
State lawmakers say the bill is also a way to put a stop to illegal gambling operations.
"Alabama has the opportunity to capture this industry, to cap it, to stop its growth and collect on it. It would give Alabama the opportunity to regulate this cancerous growth that continues to spread throughout our state, our homes, and our phones, and through our computers, and through our communities."
The bill also establishes the Alabama gaming commission and the gaming enforcement division.
The enforcement division would police all gaming activities and work to crack down on any illegal gambling and betting.
The commission will include members appointed by the governor and lieutenant governor, as well as the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate.
If the bill passes both chambers it will go on the Nov. 5 ballot for a vote.
