ALABAMA (WHNT) — The Alabama House of Representatives has voted to approve compromise legislation that will bring a lottery, along with other limited forms of gambling to Alabama.

The Alabama House of Representatives voted 72-29 for a conference committee proposal, exceeding the 63 votes required to win approval in the 105-member chamber. The conference committee proposal went to the Alabama Senate on Wednesday night, needing 21 votes for approval.

Senators delayed a decision on the proposal after an initial voted 20-15 for a motion to concur, one short of the required to win approval. Senators then voted to carry over the bill for the evening.

“We had a vote that ended up being a test vote. The bills are carried over, so the legislation is still available to us to continue to debate it,” The Associated Press reported that Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed told reporters.

A conference committee in the Alabama Legislature approved two bills, HB151 and HB152, on Tuesday that could bring a lottery and other forms of gambling to the state.

HB151 is an amendment to the Alabama Constitution allowing for The Alabama Education Lottery to benefit education. The amendment would also allow for electronic games of chance, traditional raffles, and traditional paper bingo. The amendment bans all other forms of gambling, including sports betting, which had been the topic of heated discussion.

Table games, such as poker and blackjack would also be banned. That ban also covers all card games, dice games and games with a dealer.

HB151 would also allow for electronic games at racetrack locations in Green County, Jefferson County, Macon County and Mobile County, along with bingo halls in Green County, Houston County and Lowndes County.

The amendment would require Governor Kay Ivey to enter into negotiations with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for a compact limited to in-person activities on land held in trust before February 6, 2024.

HB152 would set up an Alabama Gambling Commission to regulate gaming in the state. The bill will use all of the enforcement structure previously passed by the Alabama Senate but will add a lottery corporation to oversee the lottery.

The bill also sets requirements for getting a license to operate the electronic gaming facilities allowed by HB152.

All lottery proceeds will be earmarked for education purposes including scholarships, research and bonuses for retired teachers. All gambling proceeds will go to an annual supplemental appropriation in the State General Fund.

The committee, made up of Senators Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), and Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) and Representatives Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City), Andy Whitt (R-Madison), and Sam Jones (D-Mobile), approved the bill on a 6-0 margin Tuesday afternoon.

Although the gambling compromise has passed out of committee, it will still need to be approved by both the House and Senate, then signed by Governor Kay Ivey.

This story includes reporting from the Associated Press.