Does Alabama Have Gambling Casinos
Casino Games: No, there are tribal casinos, however these are limited to class 2 slots and bingo games. Casino table games are not legal under Alabama law. Crossing the Mississippi to gamble in their casinos where these games are feely available is very popular.
When it comes to states synonymous with the South and its traditions, there may be no greater representative than Alabama. Its contributions and appearances in American history are legion, both good and bad.
However, there may be no state more confused about its identity with respect to gambling than Alabama. It has forged its own unique place as perhaps the most on-again, off-again state in the union.
Online gambling
- There are no online casinos in Alabama, and there are no indications that it will be legalized soon. Alabama does not even have a state lottery, which often indicates an openness to other forms of betting. The nearest online casinos will be in West Virginia, which has already approved legislation. Tennessee has approved online sports betting.
- Alabama gambling laws are some of the strictest among US states which allow gambling. Land-based casino gambling is allowed only at tribal casinos, which would not exist if the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act did not assure Indian casinos.
- The state does not receive any benefit from gambling. The only taxes from racing fund the commission that regulates it. Bingo profits benefit charities. The reservations do not have a gaming pact with the state. The minimum Alabama gambling age is 19 years old for all forms of gambling. List of Alabama Casinos.
Alabama’s official stance on online gambling is similar to that of many states. There is no law definitively for or against online gambling in the Heart of Dixie. However, the only brand of gambling that is securely legal in Alabama is pari-mutuel facilities.
Furthermore, there is no state lottery in Alabama. This negates a common avenue for proponents of gambling to introduce slot machine-type gambling to regions of the country. So, the current climate for typical online gambling is fairly negative, even though its status under the law is uncertain. AL sports betting is not yet legal.
However, Alabama is moving forward with the Fantasy Sports Bill. It recently cleared the state house and could become law in the near future. The bill, dubbed HB354, now moves to the Alabama State Senate. In theory, it could be on the governor’s desk within a few weeks. There are some rumbles of constitutional difficulty with the bill though, because of Alabama’s express prohibition of gambling in its chief legislative document.
Interestingly though, supporters of the bill have managed to turn the discourse about DFS into one where daily fantasy sports is primarily a skill game. Thus it cannot be considered gambling under state law. This structuring of the argument could potentially open the door for other expansions in the state for skill-heavy games, such as poker. For right now, the best thing to do is wait and see. But it does seem that things might be shifting down on the Delta.
Likely online gambling operators
Operator | Notes |
FanDuel/DraftKings | Largest daily fantasy sports operators – likely waiting in the wings for legislation to pass |
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians | Own three casinos in eastern Alabama |
Milton McGregor | Owns Victoryland racino and has endured work stoppages, lawsuits, and even arrests to bring gambling to Alabamans |
Social casino options
The social casino options in Alabama are typical of most states. Slotomania, Double Down Casino, Big Fish, ZyngaPoker, and Zynga Slots are all available.
However, Alabama’s laws are uniquely harsh when it comes to enforcement. Even social gambling is barred inside the state, to the point that players in home games have found themselves on the receiving end of the criminal justice system. Players should exercise great caution in playing any type of casino game in Alabama. This includes the free social ones on Facebook or mobile devices.
The option about which to be especially cautious is MyVegas. This is MGM’s free slots app that allows players to build up loyalty points in a banked account. The danger lies in the fact that these loyalty points can be exchanged for real-world comps at participating MGM properties and partners, including some properties in nearby Mississippi. It would not be a stretch for Alabama to apply its stringent anti-gambling laws to the receipt of these prizes.
State casino operator history
Pari-Mutuel wagering
Alabama has one of the more hit-and-miss gambling histories in the US. The state legalized pari-mutuel wagering on horse and dog races in 1971. Its first track opened in 1973, but the tracks have been malingering along by offering less-prestigious greyhound racing for several years.
Bingo
Its first bingo parlor opened in 1980 when a single county legalized it (Jefferson, through constitutional amendment). However, the state has had to pass 18 more amendments to bring bingo to each new county that desires the game.
Most notably, the game of electronic bingo has gone back and forth in legality several times since 2003. Voters in Macon County approved a constitutional amendment to allow the machines at the Victoryland racetrack. This began a comical cycle of the facility placing machines at the location and the government confiscating the machines and associated cash, along with closing down the entire facility, only to have the racetrack reopen again with new machines. This cycle has occurred at least twice, and many small debates have raged between these blow-ups. As of September 2016, Alabamans can once again play electronic bingo at Victoryland. No word on when the next raid and shutdown will occur.
Lottery
The state does not offer a lottery option to its residents, even though lottery is often the exception for many states (like Texas) that are traditionally opposed to gambling. Various important citizens in the state have been campaigning for a lottery since 1993. In fact, it was a major plank for Don Siegelman when he successfully ran for governor in 1998. Even so, he still couldn’t get the constitution amended to allow lottery. There was hope for some movement in 2020, but the regular legislative session adjourned without a hearing on any lottery proposals.
Casinos
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 allowed federally recognized tribes to operate gaming facilities on tribal lands, and in Alabama, the only tribe to do so is the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The tribe operates three Class II facilities (meaning no table games) in the eastern part of the state. They generate tax revenue for Alabama’s government. Naturally, the state sued the tribe in 2013 to close the three casinos. It took two years of litigation to finally have the suit thrown out.
The most silver of linings for Alabama residents is the state’s proximity to Mississippi. There are two different areas of note for casino gambling in Mississippi – Biloxi/Gulfport and Tunica. Over 30 casinos are spread across Alabama’s neighbor to the west, and the Biloxi locations are especially accessible to residents in the southern part of Alabama. Mobile is a short hour’s drive away.
Still, much like flowers in the desert, four facilities have managed to find a way to live in the Heart of Dixie. They are listed below.
Land-based casinos
Property | Location | Ownership |
Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Atmore | Atmore | The Poarch Band of Creek Indians |
Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Wetumpka | Wetumpka | The Poarch Band of Creek Indians |
Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Montgomery | Montgomery | The Poarch Band of Creek Indians |
Victoryland | Shorter | Milton McGregor |
State Legal Environment
Permitted/Offered? | Notes & Restrictions | |
Land-Based Gambling | Yes | Pari-mutuel wagering mostly – some electronic bingo, but tentative legal status |
Online Gambling | No | Daily fantasy sports may be available soon |
Lottery | No | |
Charitable or House-Based Gambling | Yes | Bingo only – NO SOCIAL GAMBLING |
Minimum Gambling Age | 18 for pari-mutuel; 21 for casinos |
Among the states with a severe stance against gambling, this one ranks in the first three. Pro-gambling law-makers struggle greatly with biased popular opinions, any timid bills that were sent towards debate, being strongly rebuffed. The majority of people has a profound religious and traditional system of beliefs. Making us wonder: is there a casino in Alabama, or not even that? Also, on debating the opportunity of developing an online casino Alabama seems like an impossible market to penetrate, a distant, faraway dream, for Internet wagering enthusiasts and USA online gambling industry at all.
Best Alabama Online Casino Sites
Casino | Bonus | Website | Rating | Features | Deposit |
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1 | $2000 | 427 voted Review |
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2 | $12250 | 155 voted Review |
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3 | $12000 | 118 voted Review |
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4 | $2500 | 135 voted Review |
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5 | $1000 | 412 voted Review |
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6 | $7777 | 193 voted Review |
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7 | $3000 | 102 voted Review |
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8 | $800 | 129 voted Review |
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9 | $4000 | 125 voted Review |
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10 | $5000 | 418 voted Review |
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Contents
Alabama Online Gambling Laws
As a general aspect of the state’s legislation, changes move on rather slow. There are a couple of laws that don’t shock so much on account of their lack of logic, but because of their anachronic state, seeing how they don’t represent the current modern society. For example, regarding the actual governing laws on gambling Alabama still follows the same ones written in 1901. The same time that the law, still in effect, stated that it is considered an offence to open an umbrella on the street, for fear of spooking horses.
The Alabama society is made out of highly traditional and religious people, with strong and immovable beliefs. Most laws were passed in the Puritan spirit that this state was famous for in the past, no matter how out of place they feel during this era. Another active law says it’s illegal to wear a fake moustache in a church because it might cause laughter. Debate on new AL casino seems like it might be topped by other, more pressing regulations.
It is illegal to howl at ladies within the city limits in Mobile, AL. At the same time, one of the three active gambling casinos is in Mobile, Alabama. However, were it not for the Indian reservations, these wouldn’t exist as well.
At all, there are no laws related to online gambling regarding to playing mobile slots that pay cash. You can find more from this video:
Gambling Laws
Contrary to most expectations, the question if are there any casinos in Alabama, has a positive answer. There are actually three gambling casinos in Alabama. But this is far from considering it’s a hub for gambling in Alabama. Matter of fact, there could hardly be found a broader definition of gambling than this state proposes. So, any outcome in the form of a valuable result that was due to action not under your direct control is considered wagering. This could mean from investment banking to the growing of crops on account of suited weather. However, Alabama gambling lawsalso offer the harshest punishments for perpetrators which own, organize or enable such type of games.
A View on Online Gambling
Current Situation and Perspectives
There have hardly been accepted the three Alabama casinos with table games on the state’s territory. And this is mostly on account of them being protected under federal law. There has never been a bill submitted for online casinos in Alabama and the perspective on it becoming a hot topic for lawmakers to discuss, is far away from becoming a real issue. But offshore online casino Bovada is legal to play in Alabama as other offshore casinos.
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Other Options
Does Alabama Have Gambling Casinos Winnings
Since Alabama casinos online are out of the question, for now, there has to be another option to quench the thirst of people for Alabama gambling. Some websites, which are based mostly in other more permissive countries, have agreed to accept betting by US players. They found a loophole in the judicial system which states punishments for the owners of online casinos Alabama-based, but none at all for the players. Therefore, wagering can be done without a trace of fear, especially on those websites verified, reviewed and vouched for, by specialized sites.
Wagering Do’s and Don’ts in AL
There are more restrictions than in most US states regarding gambling. It’s disputable if any casinos in Alabama would have even been allowed, if not for the federal protection of Native Americans. As for poker in AL, be careful even at hosting a friendly get-together amongst friends.
Land-based
The hub of stateside betting is represented by Mobile Alabama casino gambling. With one of the best casino in Alabama, close by, the Wind Creek Atmore, owned by Poarch Band of Creek Indians. They have almost a monopoly in the state, though not by far the same way the Seminoles control gambling in Florida. The Creeks own two more establishments, all based on slot machines, and a couple more in neighbouring states. There aren’t any casinos in Alabama with table games, just slots.
Lottery
Among the Alabama gaming laws that were categorically refused was that of a state lottery introduction. If that is the view on the most extensive sort of betting country-wide, there is no surprise on the stance on online casino Alabama.
Betting Tracks
Among the few places to gamble, we include dog racing betting and pari-mutuel wagers. Simulcast is allowed only in closed racinos with just one left with live races. Some might view the simulcast as being a first step towards the opening of an Alabama casino online, but given the general context, it’s unlikely.
Does Alabama Have Gambling Casinos Closed
Bingo Halls
If we want to expand the Alabama casino list, we can include bingo halls, allowed only in specified counties such as Greene and Macon. It’s true that they aren’t by far what an Alabama gambling casino should be about, but nevertheless, seeing how they were regulated in 2008, they might be considered a huge leap in legislating gambling.
Social Gaming
A subject that is to be threaded extra carefully. For example, MGM offers a free version where players can win points for each play. On account of having the option to use these reward points in the closest casino near Alabama, the Beau Rivage in Mississippi, this is forbidden. Also, private card games have been known to be raided by the local sheriff which get to decide whether or not is gambling legal in Alabama. No Alabama online casinos potential operator wants to risk upsetting law enforcement this strict.
You Might Also Be Interested in:
Tennessee online casinos
Georgia online casinos
❓ What is the legal status of gambling AL?
There are a few places where it is allowed, such as the near Mobile Alabama casinos, bingo halls, or dog tracks. Online casinos in Alabama have zero shots at being implemented in the near future.
❓ Are there any legal means of gambling in AL?
Yes. There are a couple of casinos in Alabama slot machines specialized, some dog tracks and bingo halls. But are there casinos in Alabama with table games? The answer is no. And seeing how Alabama online casinos are also off the grid, the only option remaining is gambling on verified and closely reviewed offshore online casinos.
❓ What is the minimum legal gambling age in Alabama?
19 is the gambling age required in any Alabama casino. However, we would advise when playing online to respect the USA online casinos general minimum age of 21.
❓ Am I prohibited in depositing or withdrawing money from online casinos AL?
AL online casinos assure that you receive your money regardless of the state of provenance. Indeed, if you reside in Alabama the casino online where you’ve gambled might take extra measures of precaution before sending your winnings, in order to prevent any fraudulent happening.
❓ Any future signs for laws regarding gambling becoming laxer?
New casinos in Alabama are an issue that holds a reduced interest for lawmakers. AL online casinos are nowhere in sight at this moment.
❓ Does Alabama have casinos to be opened soon?
Considering what casinos are in Alabama and the view on gambling expansion, there is a low chance for any new casino in Alabama, as well as for the development of Alabama casinos online.
Additional Sources:
https://whnt.com/2018/05/14/will-supreme-courts-ruling-affect-alabama-gambling-laws/
https://www.alabamapolicy.org/research/strengthening-alabamas-gambling-laws/