However, other states still stay rather conservative when it comes to gambling and its various forms. Alabama is one such example. The state has very strict laws concerning gambling. Besides, the charges for violating these laws are harsh, and the state authorities rarely close their eyes to any fraudful gambling activities. In Alabama, specific types of gambling activities are allowed but under strict regulations. At the same time, some of the most popular types of gambling activities are still restricted and prohibited.
In this article, we will tell you more about the Alabama gambling laws. You will learn more about the different types of gambling activities in the state. Besides, we will also provide you with more information about the Alabama casinos. Yet another topic that we will discuss will cover the Alabama online gambling laws as well. You will learn whether it is allowed to gamble online in Alabama or not.
We will make a brief observation on the topic of the Alabama state gambling laws. We will tell you exactly what kinds of gambling games players in the state can enjoy. We will also mention which are the types of games that you are not allowed to play in the state of Alabama. Thus, you will be able to understand the major details regarding the gambling regulations in the state of Alabama and compare the gambling laws in Alabama with those in other US states.
Alabama Gambling Laws – Types of Regulations on Gambling
The first thing that you need to know is that most forms of gambling are strictly prohibited in Alabama. According to the Alabama state gambling laws, the only form of gambling that is fully allowed is pari-mutuel betting. It was first introduced in the state in the early 1970s. The first institution in Alabama that served to regulate gambling activities in the state was the Alabama Racing Commission. It was formed in 1971. This helped Alabama become one of the first states in the south where gambling activities started to be legally regulated by the official authorities.
The commission allowed municipalities with more than 300,000 citizens to vote and determine whether they wanted to permit greyhounds and horse racing in the city. Currently, in Alabama, there are two major greyhound tracks. An interesting fact is that off-track betting is also allowed but under strict regulations. Only licensed and authorized establishments can provide off-track betting services according to the Alabama state gambling laws.
| 🎲 Gambling Type | ✔️ Legal Since |
|---|---|
| 🐕 Greyhound Racing | 1973 |
| 🐎 Horse Racing | 1984 |
| 🎱 Bingo | 1980 |
| 🎫 Video Bingo | 2003 |
| 🎰 Casino | 1988 |
The gambling laws in Alabama are very specific, especially to betting gaming activities. Some tribes in the state are allowed to offer video bingo. But currently, three tribal casinos in Alabama are granted a license and can legally operate in the territory of the state. An interesting fact is that the state of Alabama does not benefit from gambling at all. All income generated from gambling taxes goes to fund the commission that regulates gambling in the state.
Most of the video bingo game revenues are used for charities. This makes Alabama among the few states in the US that don’t benefit from the revenues generated from gambling. And the income from gambling in the state cannot be compared to that of other states, where many other forms of gambling are allowed, and the revenues are drastically higher.
Types of Gambling Games Allowed by the Alabama Gambling Laws
In 1980, bingo was also declared legal through the state of Alabama gambling laws. In the very beginning, bingo games were allowed only in Jefferson. But throughout the years, amendments in the gambling laws in Alabama lead to the expansion of the locations where bingo was legally allowed. This fact started to change the gambling situation in the state and made it a bit more dynamic.
As of 2003, for example, the Alabama gambling laws allowed electronic bingo in Macon City. Once bingo started to be legalized, more video bingo rooms started to open doors and to welcome players from Alabama. Greenetrack Racino in Eutaw and Victoryland in Shorter were among the major locations where the new video bingo establishments were opened.
| ⭐ Gambling Game | ⚖️ Legal Status |
|---|---|
| 🐎 Horse Racing | Legal |
| 🐕 Greyhound Racing | Legal |
| 🎰 Tribal Casinos | Legal (Only Class II Games) |
| ♠️ Commercial Casinos | Not Legal |
| ⚽ Sports Betting | Legal under specific restrictions. Bookmakers are not allowed in Alabama |
| 🃏 Poker | Not Legal |
| 🎫 Lottery | Not Legal |
| 🎱 Bingo | Legal (Specific regulations apply) |
| ✨ Charitable Gambling | Legal (Specific regulations apply) |
| ♣️ Social Gambling | Legal (Specific regulations apply) |
The situation regarding sports betting in the state is still rather controversial. Bookmakers are illegal in the state, and there are no land-based establishments that are pointed out as bookmakers. But at the same time, none of the gambling laws in Alabama prohibits betting on sports events. But taking into account the fact that land-based bookmakers are not allowed, the only way people can place bets on sports events is online at the legalized off-track establishments.
As we already mentioned, greyhound and horse racing is legal in Alabama. Greyhounds racing in Alabama is known to the state since 1973. Only two greyhound tracks operate legally in Alabama today. One is the Mobile Greyhound Park, and the other is the Birmingham Race Track. On the other hand, horse racing is yet another type of gambling that is legalized by the state of Alabama gambling laws. Horse racing was first allowed in 1984. The events were held at the Birmingham Race Track. However, due to financial difficulties, it stopped the horse racing events.
Video bingo is another type of gambling activity that you will be able to enjoy in Alabama. It is fully legal but subject to strict restrictions. One of the major details regarding bingo is that all revenues from video bingo have to go to charities. Nowadays, around 30 bingo halls are authorized to legally offer video bingo games in Alabama. Another interesting fact is that lottery is among the non-legal gambling activities in Alabama.
Types of Casinos Regulated by the Gambling Laws of Alabama
Casino games in Alabama are not legal yet. This is one of the states where people cannot access casinos and play different types of casino games. Among the casino games that are not allowed in Alabama are roulette, poker, craps as well as slot machines. The Alabama gambling laws are strict, and anyone or any establishment that offers casino games is prosecuted by the law. This is considered a class A misdemeanour and can lead to a fine of up to $6,000.
However, according to the Alabama gambling laws, there are specific exceptions. And these exceptions apply to only three land-based casinos that are allowed to offer casino games, mainly slot machines. These three establishments are tribal casinos that are run by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. If any other gambling establishment is offering casino games, according to the gambling laws in Alabama, this is considered a class A misdemeanour.
Most Famous Casinos in Alabama
The several casinos that operate legally in the state of Alabama are part of bigger hotel resorts. They have a license from the gambling regulatory institutions in Alabama, and the laws allow only these three casinos to welcome customers who can play casino games. These three casinos are the Creek Casino Montgomery, the Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka and the Wind Creek Casino Atmore.
| ⭐ Alabama Casino | 🎰 Capacity | 📌 Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ Wind Creek Casino Atmore | 1,200 Slot Machines | 303 Poarch Road |
| 2️⃣ Wind Creek Casino Montgomery | 2,100 Slot Machines | 1801 Eddie Tullis Drive |
| 3️⃣ Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka | 2,500 Slot Machines | 100 River Oaks Drive |
Wind Creek Casino Atmore is the smallest one, offering around 1200 slot machines. However, the Wind Creek Casino Montgomery and the Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka have a bigger capacity. But the difference between both is not that big. Wind Creek Casino Montgomery has a hall with nearly 2100 slot machines, while Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka offers around 2500 slots. If you are interested in online slots, you can check which are the best casino sites in the USA where you can legally play these types of online casino games.
Online Gambling in the State of Alabama
As you may know, online gambling is one of the segments that endured dramatic changes in the US. Until recently, online gambling was not allowed in many of the states in the US. However, with the latest amendments and regulations, different states can vote for legalizing online gambling. And, in fact, nowadays, more and more states in the US have started to change their legislature giving the green light to online gambling.
Now, more and more US operators receive licenses to provide gambling services on their platforms and to accept players from specific states. Even offshore gambling sites can get a license and legally offer their services in the given state. Without a doubt, this leads to increasing the income from gambling taxes and from issuing gambling licenses.
But the situation in Alabama is still a bit different. There are no specific Alabama online gambling laws that clearly define what is legal and what is not. What is interesting is that the existing Alabama gambling laws can apply to online gambling as well. But there are no specific written gambling laws regarding online gaming activities. This puts online gambling in Alabama in the grey zone. But if you are one of those players that like to play online casino games and benefit from extra prizes, then check which are the top online casino bonuses in the USA.
According to the state of Alabama gambling laws, off-track betting is the only legalized form of online gambling. But as we have already mentioned, it can be done only through specialized and authorized platforms, in legitimate and specified locations. Still, players in Alabama can access offshore gambling sites and use their services and will not be charged for violating any laws, because the laws still do not clearly define if this type of gambling activity is legal or not. So, we might assume that the online gambling industry in Alabama is still not regulated properly.
It is expected that soon the Alabama attorney and the lawmakers will try to find a consensus on that matter. They have to file specific suggestions and amendments to define more clearly whether online gambling would be considered legal, and to what extent. Until then, there will be no Alabama online gambling laws that strictly prohibit people in the state from accessing the top online gambling sites in the US.
Overview of the Gambling Laws in Alabama
We hope that this article helped you learn what gambling types are allowed in the state. It was no surprise even to us to find out that gambling is strictly regulated in Alabama as it is in most of the states across the US. But Alabama seems to be more conservative when it comes to gambling regulations. The topic of online gambling in the state is still controversial, and no specific laws put a light on it. But you can always check the top-ranked online casinos in New Jersey, for example, where online gambling has been legal since 2013.
The state of Alabama does not allow many different types of gambling activities to be conducted throughout the state. There are not many land-based casinos either. But at least specific types of gambling activities, such as horse racing and greyhound racing, that tend to be traditional across the US, are legal. But after all, players in Alabama can still enjoy some interesting gambling games and find some good gambling opportunities.
FAQs About the Gambling Laws in Alabama
We hope that the topic of the gambling laws in Alabama was interesting for you. But in case you still need to know some more details regarding the Alabama state gambling laws, please have a look at the section below. Here, we have gathered some of the most frequently asked questions about the state of Alabama gambling laws. You can find extra details in the provided answers to these questions.