Deep division among lawmakers over gambling has sent a lottery legislation in Alabama straight to the trash bin.

News website Al.com reported that the Alabama Senate thumbed down a procedure that would have allowed a vote on a proposed lottery bill sponsored by State Sen. Jim McClendon.

The lottery bill needed at least 21 votes to pass the Senate since the Alabama constitution requires that three-fifths of legislators would have to approve any gambling legislation. During Thursday’s special session, legislators voted 20 to 11 rejecting  a cloture motion to stop the debate on the lottery.

“Procedurally, they killed the bill,” McClendon lamented.