A proposal for an Alabama lottery, legal sports betting, and other regulated gambling remains stalled in the state Senate.

Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, has said for several weeks he is trying to round up the 21 votes needed in the 34-member Senate before introducing his bill.

Legislators returned today from taking a week off for spring break, and Albritton said the situation has not changed.

He said he is still short of the 21 votes and won’t introduce the bill today.

Lottery and gambling bills are perennial issues in the Alabama Legislature.

Alabama is surrounded by states that use funds from lotteries to help support education and state services.

Sports betting is legal in 38 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Alabama Constitution prohibits lotteries and gambling. That means the Legislature would have to pass a proposed constitutional amendment to submit to voters, who would have the final say.

The last time a proposal went to the ballot was in 1999, when voters rejected Gov. Don Siegelman’s lottery plan.

A comprehensive gambling bill that started in the Alabama House last year was scaled back and eventually died by a single vote in the Senate.

It included a lottery, casinos, sports betting, a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and a commission to regulate gambling statewide.

Albritton’s new bill includes most of the elements of last year’s comprehensive plan but would not allow full-scale casinos with table games.

Lawmakers still have time to pass a bill this year if Albritton can find enough votes.

Fourteen meeting days remain in the annual session, which can last until May.