Like most other states, there’s no definitive laws for or against the practice of gambling at Alabama online casinos in the USA. To some people, this may seem that playing at online casinos in Alabama may be legal, and some sites even go as far as to point players towards ‘legal offshore online casino websites’, yet our advice is to always play on the side of caution and not to play online from the state of Alabama.
Our Online Casino Alabama Reviews
The south-easterly state of Alabama is renowned for its conservative stance with regard to gambling. In fact, Alabama gambling laws prohibit most forms of gambling in brick-and-mortar casinos, with the only land-based casinos available in the state being those operated on tribal lands – the rights for which were established in 1988 by the Indian Regulatory Act. Over the years, however, things have started to shift at a very slow rate. In 2007, for example, charitable gambling involving bingo and pull-tab games was made legal in certain counties and cities, while, in 2019, Daily Fantasy Sport was legalized. These two examples joined the other handful of totally above-board gambling options Alabamians have, which are namely pari-mutuel gambling, and horse and dog race betting. If you reside in the state of Alabama or are visiting and would like to play for real money at Alabama online casinos, then please read on. As always, we urge all our players to play securely and to follow the laws of the state or country they are in.
Best Alabama Online Casinos
CasinoTop10’s Best Online Casinos in Alabama need to:
- Have a variety of online casino games;
- Have excellent graphics and top-notch software;
- Provide efficient and helpful customer service;
- Offer attractive bonuses and promotions to AL players.
The Legality Of Land-Based Casinos & Online Casinos In Alabama
With some of the most uncompromising gaming laws in the entire United States of America, the majority of gambling in Alabama can be considered to be illegal, restricted or unavailable… Indeed, the state doesn’t even have its own state lottery – the last attempt at instating this was made in 1999 with 54% of voters rejecting the idea. When it comes to online gambling, the state of Alabama has no specific laws regarding the practice – and this is because the laws on gambling were written in 1901, obviously way before the internet was invented. Nevertheless, Alabamian law does state that a laptop could be used as a gambling device and that it is illegal to play through illegal gambling operations. Moreover, it is illegal to operate a gambling website within Alabama, and the state does not license or regulate online casinos itself, meaning that you are not protected by the state if you do play at Alabama Online Casino. Having said all this, there are some forms of gambling that are legal in the state of Alabama given that you are of legal age.
- The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 federally recognizes the tribes’ right to operate gaming facilities on tribal lands. One of these tribes, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, runs three land-based tribal casinos in Alabama (under the name of The Wind Creek) in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka. All of these are Class II casinos, meaning that there are no table games available, such as blackjack or poker, as these are illegal in the state of Alabama. These, however, do host electronic bingo games, which can be accessed by those aged 21 or over.
- Charitable gambling was given the go-ahead in 2007 giving players the chance to play bingo and pull-tab games legally in certain counties and cities.
- Alabama law states that horse racing can be made legal in cities that have 300,000 inhabitants or more through a referendum. Nevertheless, the largest city in Alabama is Birmingham, which had a population of 209,880 in 2018 (unless you count its suburbs). There are also no operating horse racing tracks in the state. Nevertheless, online horse racing betting in Alabama is legal and, at the time of writing, there are three major operational race betting sites in Alabama, namely BetAmerica, TwinSpires.com and AmWager.com. These often stream live horse races, which you can follow on your laptop or mobile, and you can bet as you would at a real-life racing course. Should you win when betting with one of these licensed betting sites, your winnings would be paid at full track odds.
- Ironically, while greyhound racing is illegal in at least 39 states, there are two dog racing tracks in the state of Alabama: one outside Birmingham and another outside Mobile. Betting on these is legal in cities that have 300,000 inhabitants or more, or online. This is, however, probably on its way out as more states ban the practice due to animal cruelty concerns.
- In 2019, the HB-361 law saw Daily Fantasy Sport return to the state of Alabama for the first time since 2016. Like other fantasy sport, this game sees players using their imagination and logic to assemble imaginary teams of athletes pertaining to different sporting teams. At the time of writing, there are two large companies that offer this service in the state. Each of these has a lot of competitors pledging a few dollars to enter, meaning that the jackpot for winners could be a very nice one indeed.
- Social Gambling in Alabama is also subject to strict laws. As things stand, any social gambling that neither profits the player nor the host is acceptable and legal, but don’t stretch it – even card games taking place within private homes are said to have been raided. Meanwhile, while bona fide coin-operated games or devices whose aim is to amuse or entertain the player are legal, you are not likely to find any grand prizes at the end of your round. Having said all this, social casinos where you can play popular casino games with friends without betting any real money, are not banned (though caution is advised).
- The southern part of Alabama is close to Mississippi, where there are many more options for gamblers including 30 casinos spread across the state. However, there are laws when it comes to gambling and online casinos in Mississippi, so it’s important to read up about those before you head there to ensure that you are following the rules.
Land-Based Gambling In Alabama Today
| Casino | Location | Unique Features | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| VictoryLand | Shorter | Bingo, Simulcast | 3200 Slots |
| Wind Creek Casino & Hotel | Wetumpka | Bingo, Shops | 2500 Slots |
| Wind Creek Casino & Hotel | Montgomery | Bingo | 2200 Slots |
| Carnival Fantasy Casino | Mobile | Carnival Cruise liner | 15 Tables, 130 Slots |
| Greenetrack Bingo & Racing | Birmingham | Bingo, Simulcast | 300 Slots |
Online Gambling Laws In Alabama
Online gambling in Alabama is a gray area because there are no laws that advocate for or against it. Nevertheless, given the stance the state has taken on most forms of gambling in the state – there are no land-based casinos, blackjack and poker are illegal, there is no state lottery – our advice is to refrain from gambling at Alabama online casino when in the state. Alabama’s gambling laws, while strict, do allow for certain forms of gambling, however. Pari-mutuel facilities, for example, are entirely legal, and recent changes in the law have paved the way for charitable gambling and Daily Fantasy Sport to take place legally within the confines of the state. For the latter, however, the argument for the bill that legalized the practice of Daily Fantasy Sport was that the game is more about skill than gambling. This could, in the future, open doors for certain skill-based games, including casino games, to be legalized but, as things stand, this is not the case just yet.
What should I know about Online Casinos in Alabama?
- The state of Alabama has very strict laws that regulate gambling in land-based casinos and other forms.
- There are no specific laws for or against online gambling in the state of Alabama, but this doesn’t mean that playing at Alabama online casino is legal.
- Over the years, Alabama has legalized a number of online gambling practices, including pari-mutuel for dog and horse racing, charitable gambling and Daily Fantasy Sport. Tribal casinos operating from within tribal lands also offer online bingo.
- While the gambling age in Alabama is 19 years, you need to be at least 21 years of age to gamble at tribal casinos.
Gambling Laws Governing Offshore Casinos & What It Means For Alabama Players
When browsing the internet looking for answers on whether you can legally play real money at Alabama online casinos, you may come across sites that suggest playing at legal offshore casinos. As we’ve explored in this article, while the state of Alabama has no laws for or against online gambling, we do not recommend that you go for offshore casinos while living or visiting the Heart of Dixie.
Online Casino Games for Alabama
| Bloodsuckers Slot |  | Bloodsuckers Slot review |
| Bonanza Slot |  | Bonanza Slot review |
| Book of Dead | | Book of Dead review |
| Starbust Slot | | Starbust Slot review |
The state of Alabama has very strict laws regulating land-based casinos, with table games like blackjack and poker being banned even in tribal-owned and -run casinos. As such, while there are now definitive laws condoning or condemning playing for real money at Alabama online casinos, it is best to assume that most casino games online or otherwise are not available. Nevertheless, Alabamians can try their hand at other types of gambling legally within their state.
These include:
- Pari-mutuel wagering on dog and horse races, which was legalized in 1971. For more information about this, read our section on The Legality Of Land-Based Casinos & Online Casinos In Alabama.
- Electronic Bingo at tribal-run casinos that operate from the confines of tribal lands in the area of Alabama.
- Daily Fantasy Sport.
- Charitable gambling.
Payment Options at Alabama Online Casinos
Since there are no online casinos licensed or regulated within Alabama, we cannot possibly say which payment options are more popular among Alabamians. If you are outside of Alabama and would like to play real money online, then it’s best to check your preferred site’s payment options to see if they fit your needs.
Alabama Online Casinos FAQs
Is online gambling legal in Alabama?
Historically known for its conservative stance when it comes to gambling, it should come as no surprise that the state of Alabama has some of the strictest laws regulating gambling anywhere in the US. Even so, playing for real money at Alabama online casino is a gray area as the gambling laws, written well before the invention of the internet, do not specify whether it is legally acceptable or not to do so. This often leads to many players assuming that since there is no law that expressly forbids the practice, then it is safe to play at online casinos. Our advice, however, is to keep safe and well in-line with the law. For those looking to play for real money in the state of Alabama, there are a few options available, including pari-mutuel, Daily Fantasy Sport, and electronic bingo at the tribal casinos which operate from within the confines of tribal lands in Alabama. Any other forms of online gambling, cannot be expressly said to be legal or acceptable under the law.
Can I play at an online casino in Alabama via mobile or tablet?
Although the state of Alabama has very strict laws when it comes to gambling, its law is quite silent on online gambling in the state: there are no laws that ban it, but there are no laws that okay it, either. Moreover, the state does not currently license or regulate online gambling sites within it, and it also doesn’t promote them in any way. For that reason, the best assumption you can make is that you can’t play at Alabama online casinos legally…Nevertheless, there are some social casinos where you can play the most popular casino games which you love without betting any real money – and you can even play together with your friends. While these are not banned or illegal, we still advise to play with caution and to read the sites’ terms and conditions before signing up.
What casino games can I play at Alabama online casinos?
There are no state-licensed Alabama online casinos, so you will not be able to play popular casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, online poker, Texas Hold’em or video poker for real money in Alabama. Nevertheless, social casinos do offer you the possibility to play some of these games without betting any real money. While casino games are not available, you can practice other forms of gambling for real money in Alabama. These include pari-mutuel, Daily Fantasy Sport, and electronic bingo at the tribal casinos which operate from within the confines of tribal lands in Alabama.
Is it possible to play online casino games with Dollars?
The only three states which license and regulate online casinos within their confines are New Jersey, Pennsylvania casinos, or Delaware casinos, and all accept Dollars. Nevertheless, playing on sites registered outside the confines of the state of Alabama is not expressly legal. If you are in a state or a country which allows online gambling and you would like to play with Dollars, then we suggest checking directly with the sites to see which currencies the specific sites accepts before signing up.
Are the Alabaman online casinos on this site regulated?
All online casinos mentioned on this site are regulated, safe to use, and have all the measures in place to protect you and your money.
Am I eligible to receive an online casino bonus at an Alabama Casino?
This depends entirely on the website you choose to bet on. Our advice is to always read the terms and conditions of the specific site you are using and to only press ‘Accept’ once you have fully understood them.
How do I start playing for real money at an Alabama online casino?
Since the state of Alabama has no laws that state that gambling at Alabama online casinos is legal, we recommend not to play for real money at any online casino. Nevertheless, if you would like to play for real money, there are other options which the state of Alabama allows, including pari-mutuel, charitable gambling, horse and dog racing, and Daily Fantasy Sport.
Which online casino payment options are popular in Alabama?
Because there are no state licensed or regulated online casinos in Alabama, there is no real data on which online casino payment options are popular in the state. If you are joining a legal gambling site, such as the aforementioned racing betting sites, then it’s best to check the website to see how you can deposit money or bet.
Do I need to pay taxes on my gambling winnings in Alabama?
Like all other income, gambling income is taxed at a federal level. So, whether you win $10 on the slots or a couple of hundreds at poker, you have to report it to the relevant authorities. Your winnings are then added to your job income and other incomes, and then taxed at your usual tax rate (2%, 4% or 5% depending on the amount of your income).
Play at a Real Money Casino Alabama Online & Walk Away with a Large Sum!
We hope this has helped you to better understand the laws that surround Alabama online casinos. As always, we urge you stay safe, play responsibly and to follow the law of the jurisdiction you are in.
