Alabama Sports Betting – Legal Status, Online Sportsbooks, Where To Play, and FAQ 271r6v

Since states were granted the authority to legalize sports betting in 2018, online sports betting has exploded in popularity across the nation. Alabama has thus far been left out of the sports betting party. While several efforts have been made to Alabama sports betting legislation, none have succeeded. Unfortunately, sports betting sites are not legal in Alabama. 6w652e

Even though sports betting sites are not currently legal in AL, lawmakers are making progress. This page aims to capture all the information on the efforts to legalize sports betting in the state. We will cover the latest legislative developments, which sportsbooks could eventually make their way to the state, the biggest Alabama sports teams to wager on, and we will wrap up with a very special FAQ. Let’s get started.

Latest on sports betting in Alabama 6n6758

The latest attempt to legalize sports betting in Alabama has stalled. A Senate committee removed the provisions from House Bills 151 and 152 that would have made retail locations and online sports betting sites legal for Alabama sports bettors. SportsHandle has the latest on this development that will likely prevent online gambling and legalized sports betting in the state for another year.

According to the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Greg Albritton, changes had to be made to gather the votes needed to the legislation due to concerns that sports betting could possibly harm young people. Additionally, many Black Senators felt they were left out of the negotiations, and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians did not fully expanding gambling in the state.

Had the legislation been ed as introduced, it would have repealed the constitutional amendments regarding gambling and prevented future ones from being ed. Alabama sports betting would have been limited to racetracks in Greene, Jefferson, Macon, and Mobile Counties, an additional location in Greene County, and the current bingo halls in Houston County and White Hall. Online sports betting and a state lottery would have become legal.

Alabama sports betting revenue would have been taxed at a rate between 24 and 32%. The legislation did not allow for online casino games.

Unfortunately, since the sports betting provisions were removed from the bills, legal sports betting in Alabama will remain out of reach for another year. Alabama will stay as one of 12 states without legal betting.

Alabama State Capitol in the city of Montgomery.

Alabama Sports Betting Key Dates and Legislation Timeline 6f4n4t

  • September 2024: Republican state representative Matthew Hammett from south Alabama has introduced a bill to elevate penalties for illegal gambling operations from misdemeanors to felonies, aiming to strengthen existing laws. The bill proposes making promoting gambling a Class C felony with penalties of 1 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $15,000, while repeat offenses would be classified as a Class B felony, carrying 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $30,000.
  • May 1, 2024: After months of negotiations and two weeks of conference committee discussions, Alabama’s legislative chambers voted on a package of lottery bills on April 30. While the House approved the bills, the Senate fell one vote short of the required two-thirds majority, rejecting HB 151 with a 20-15 vote, which would have sent the lottery legalization decision to voters.
  • March 5, 2024: An Alabama Senate committee approved a scaled-down version of House Bills 151 and 152, minus legal sports betting and seven new brick-and-mortar casinos. The current legislation would only authorize parimutuel wagering and a state lottery.
  • February 15, 2024: House Bills 151 and 152, which would legalize sports betting and a state lottery and would authorize the construction of seven brick-and-mortar casinos, ed the Alabama House and moved to the Senate for approval.
  • 2023: No sports betting legislation was introduced during the 2023 session.
  • April 4, 2022: Alabama sports betting legislation does not ; four lottery bills fail because they could not gain sufficient .
  • 2021: SB 319 would have legalized Alabama sports betting, but while the Senate ed the bill, the House didn’t even take it up.
  • 2020: HB 336 died in committee.
  • 2019: HB 315 would have made sports betting legal but failed to make it out of committee. Daily fantasy sports became legal.

Which online sports betting sites could be coming to Alabama? 6p4o3m

As soon as Alabama online sports betting becomes a reality, whenever that may be, it stands to reason that many of the best sports betting sites according to s in neighboring states would want to get established in Alabama. This is pure speculation, of course, but it would not be shocking to see the major players in the mobile sports betting industry waste no time establishing Alabama sports betting sites:

BetMGM 4l32a

BetMGM Sportsbook refers to itself as the King of Sportsbooks, and it is not hard to understand why. It has one of the best sports betting apps in the industry; the lines are competitive, new s get welcomed with a generous bonus, and existing s receive daily odds boosts and other regular promotions.

Caesars 592ez

Alabama sports bettors can expect a top-of-the-line experience with Caesars Sportsbook. The bonuses and promotions for new and existing s are among the best in the industry. Betting lines and odds are competitive with other online sports betting sites, and the app is well-made, easy to use, and reliable.

DraftKings 422f4

DraftKings Sportsbook was already a household name as one of the top daily fantasy providers in the industry before branching out into mobile sports betting. While the promos are often good and in line with what many sports betting apps offer, DraftKings does have one of the highest rollover requirements.

ESPN BET 383861

ESPN BET launched in November 2023 and is a relative newcomer to the sports betting industry. While Alabama sports bettors may gravitate to the ESPN name, they’ll stay because of the reliable, easy-to-use app, the competitive odds, welcome bonuses and promotions, and market depth.

FanDuel 83527

Like DraftKings, FanDuel Sportsbook benefitted from being an established leader in the daily fantasy sports industry when it expanded into online sports betting. FanDuel often ranks as one of the best providers with solid bonuses and promotions, competitive lines, and one of the best sports betting apps in the industry.

Fanatics Sportsbook 3q2bj

The longtime sports apparel brand first entered the mobile sports betting world by acquiring PointsBet in June 2023 for $225 million. However, the Fanatics Sportsbook online sports betting site and app did not launch until December 18, 2023. Fanatics quickly expanded into several states and has developed a solid reputation amongst bettors for the quality of its lines, app, and promotional offers.

Casinos in Alabama 1a1a60

While Alabama sports betting is not yet legal, gamblers can enjoy one of five brick-and-mortar casinos, three of which are on tribal land. The Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Atmore, Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery, and Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka are all owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama, the only tribe in the state recognized by the federal government.

Gamblers can also enjoy betting on greyhound and thoroughbred races (simulcast) and thousands of slot machines at Victoryland in Shorter, AL, and the Birmingham Race Course Casino. However, both have received quite a few negative reviews online.

Alabama Social Casinos l38v

Online casinos are illegal in Alabama, but people can play slots and other casino games at social or sweepstakes casinos. Players do not need to use money to play; they can earn virtual (for playing games) currency via promotions and daily bonuses. Instead of playing for money, s play for fun/

However, players can use a second virtual currency called ‘sweeps coins.’ Players can trade these in for prizes, i.e., cash prizes, gift cards, etc. Here are some of the popular ones available in Alabama:

  • Chumba Casino
  • LuckyLand Slots
  • Funzpoints
  • Wow Vegas
  • McLuck.com
  • High 5 Casino
  • Pulsz
  • Chanced
  • Sweeptastic
  • Vegas Gems

Daily Fantasy Sports in Alabama 5x6l38

The Alabama attorney general declared daily fantasy sports illegal in 2016. However, a bill legalizing daily fantasy sports games was ed in May 2019. The legislature decided that there was enough skill-based play involved, making daily fantasy sports different from traditional forms of gambling.

How does it work? s receive a salary cap with which they must draft a roster of players (skill position players like quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends, kickers, and a defense/special teams unit). Players on your roster earn s points according to how well they perform on the field.

The higher the total score, the better your chance of winning money.

FanDuel and DraftKings, the two top dogs in the DFS industry, operate in Alabama. PrizePicks and Underdog came to an agreement with the state attorney general and entered the market in 2023. All the SuperDraft. DFS isn’t quite the same as legal sports betting, but it’s a solid option for sports fans in the state.

Legal Sports Betting Markets 5d2533

Since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018, 38 states and the District of Columbia have ed legislation legalizing sports betting. Of those states (and DC), 31 allow online sports betting. Here they are:

Wyoming.

Sports Betting Status in States Near Alabama 5o483r

Alabama sports betting is not yet legal, so Alabama bettors will have to travel to a nearby state to put some money down on the Crimson Tide or Auburn next college football season. Luckily, people will not have to go too far. Sports betting is legal in Mississippi, but only in person at retail sportsbooks. Online sports betting is legal in Tennessee, which is a very close drive from Birmingham, Huntsville, and Northeast Alabama.

While it does not border the state, as of Monday, March 11, Alabama bettors can place sports bets in Georgia state legislature but has not yet been legalized in the state.

Popular Alabama sports teams 2j1j66

Alabama Crimson Tide 5v206n

Many college sports betting fans in the state likely wish Alabama sports betting had been established years ago so that they could have placed their sports bets on the Crimson Tide and their many victories.

Alabama is one of the most successful and popular college football teams in recent history, having won six national championships (and played in nine title games) during the CFP Era (2014 to 2024). However, they last played for the national championship during the 2021-22 season, and with Nick Saban retiring, it remains to be seen how competitive the Alabama Crimson Tide will be going forward.

Auburn Tigers 663g6f

Auburn is not as successful or popular as its in-state rival, Alabama, but the Tigers are usually one of the better college football teams in the SEC. Their last season with a winning record was back in 2020. The team ranks 12th on the all-time win-loss list for NCAA football.

Birmingham Barons 4aw6v

There are no major professional sports teams in Alabama, but the state is home to one of the best spring football teams. The winner of the last two USFL championships, the Barons are arguably the best spring league football team in the country. However, they could face a challenge this year with the USFL merging with the XFL to form the United Football League (UFL).

Popular sports to wager on in Alabama 5e6m3y

Of course, college football is king in Alabama. There is little doubt that wagering on college sports will be available when legal sports betting arrives in Alabama. But all the sports will be offered by the biggest sportsbooks that open up shop in the state, including:

Responsible Gambling in Alabama 1n1r4z

Even though Alabama has yet to legalize sports betting, responsible gambling services are available. The Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling can connect those in need of help with services regardless of their ability to pay.

The Alabama Gaming Commission requires responsible gambling policies in the state’s casinos and gambling establishments. Bettors can also turn to national organizations for help, including the National Problem Gambling Helpline and the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Alabama Sports Betting FAQ 1295v

Has Alabama legalized gambling? 3a2h33

No, Alabama has not legalized gambling. The state’s constitution banned games of chance and lotteries in 1901, which is why a constitutional amendment is needed to legalize sports betting. However, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (a federally recognized tribe) is allowed to operate three casinos. Efforts to legalize Alabama sports betting have come up short in recent years, but ers in the legislature are hopeful that sports bettors in the state will have Alabama online sportsbooks in the coming years.

Can I sports bet online in Alabama? 412w3r

No, you can’t. Online betting sites are not legal in Alabama.

Who regulates sports betting in Alabama? 4455n

Since sports betting is not legal in Alabama, there is no need for a governing body for Alabama sports betting sites. The National Indian Gaming Commission regulates casinos on tribal lands.

What is the legal gambling age in AL? 5x5k6z

Alabama online sports betting is not legal, so there is no age requirement. The legal age to gamble inside of one of the three tribal casinos in Alabama is 18. When Alabama sports betting does become legal, it would not be surprising if the legal betting age is 18.

Does Alabama tax gambling winnings? 586670

Winnings from tribal casinos are considered taxable income. Winners must pay state and federal income tax.

What are some of the potential sportsbooks in Alabama? 5j605k

When online sports betting becomes legal in Alabama, all the biggest sportsbooks will open up in the state. Alabama sports betting, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, BetRivers, ESPN Bet, and Fanatics, would be among the first Alabama sports betting sites. Alabama sports fans will have no shortage of mobile betting options and will be able to bet online once sports betting is legalized in the state.

Ted Dahlstrom

Ted Dahlstrom 3k1e49

Ted Dahlstrom works in the Seattle area as an Editor for Better Collective. Ted’s background is in government and communication, but his ion is writing about sports and sports betting, which led him to BC in an unexpected alignment. He avidly s all the Seattle sports teams and Gonzaga basketball.