Alabama Online Casinos & AL Gambling

To understand the gambling atmosphere in Alabama, we should go back to 1901 when the state’s constitution outlawed all forms of gambling. The rules were tweaked in 1902 when the Alabama Supreme Court legalized pari-mutuel betting on dog and horse racing. Things would remain the same for the next several decades until lawmakers legalized charitable bingo in 1980. However, operators had a $7,500 weekly limit on the amount of prize money they could award.

One of the most significant events to affect gambling in Alabama occurred in 1988 when the federal government implemented the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This piece of legislation made it legal for Native American tribes to operate casinos on tribal lands. While some might think that this would have opened the floodgates, it didn’t. Over thirty years later, only three Native casinos and a small handful of racinos operate.

Another thing you need to know about Alabama casinos is that they don’t allow Class III games. In other words, they don’t offer blackjack, craps, roulette, or any other table games. They only allow electronic games like video bingo. This means that Alabama casinos are essentially glorified VLT halls.

Aside from horse racing, bingo, and a few casinos, there isn’t much more in terms of gambling in Alabama. In fact, Alabama doesn’t even offer a state lottery. Then Governor Don Siegleman ran his 1998 campaign platform with a promise of implementing a state lottery. Even though he ended up getting elected, the measure lost in a referendum. Several attempts to legalize the lottery have been made since then, but they have all failed.

We should point out that Alabama does allow another form of gambling: Daily fantasy sports. Despite heavy opposition, the state legislature surprisingly legalized DFS in 2019. This gave sports bettors in Alabama a glimmer of hope. PASPA had been overturned just a year earlier and several states were introducing legalized sports betting. Sadly, the legalization of sports betting in Alabama hasn’t come close to garnering enough support despite multiple attempts.

Poker is another popular pastime that remains illegal in the state. Not even the tribes can operate poker rooms. Alabamans who want to play a few hands need to travel to a neighboring state like Mississippi or Louisiana that offers legal poker. The closest thing to poker that’s legal in Alabama is video poker. Because casino poker variants like Three Card Poker and Mississippi Stud are Class III games, Alabama casinos aren’t allowed to offer them.

So, what about the future of online casinos in Alabama? Well, it doesn’t look promising at all. Those in the Cotton State who wish to play at a legal Alabama online casino will have to settle for playing at social Alabama online casino sites.

Despite countless attempts to legalize the lottery in Alabama, the state remains one of only five states that do not offer one. The last time the legalization of the lottery went as far as a referendum was way back in 1999. This is rather baffling, seeing how desperate the state government is to find new revenue streams to fund necessities like education. Meanwhile, every neighboring state has legalized the lottery resulting in much-needed revenues.

Things were looking up entering the 2023 legislative session, but debate has once again stalled and it looks like further debate on legalizing the lottery will have to wait until the next session. It just doesn’t seem like authorities have any interest in legalizing it. Senator Greg Albritton claims that a lottery could put nearly $1 billion into the state’s coffers every year. He also claimed that the Senate has passed at least two lottery bills, but none of them were voted on by the House.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, commonly referred to as PASPA, was a federal law that came into effect in 1992. It essentially prohibited sports betting in all but four states. However, the Supreme Court surprisingly ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional and overturned it in 2018. This ruling meant that the legalization of sports betting was left in the hands of each individual state.

Several states, including Delaware, New Jersey, and Mississippi, were quick to start offering legalized sports betting. Today, sports betting is legal in more than 30 states. Of course, Alabama isn’t one of them. The closest things to legal sports betting in the state are daily fantasy sports and pari-mutuel dog and horse racing. Ironically, there are no live racing venues in the state, although there are a few venues for off-track betting. As an aside, a few social Alabama online casino sites offer sports betting using play money.

All is not lost. Four sports betting bills were proposed between 2019 and 2021. Even though none of them came close to succeeding, bills pitched in 2022 and 2023 got a little more attention. Proponents hope that the 2024 legislative session will bring better results. Still, you shouldn’t hold your breath.

Alabama gambling laws prohibit casino operators from offering Class III games. This Alabama real money online casino guide mentioned earlier that Class III games include table games like blackjack, craps, and roulette. Well, slot machines are also categorized as Class III. As such, Alabama casinos are not allowed to offer them. Instead, they feature video bingo games which are considered Class II games. Confused? Let us explain.

With modern slot machines, the outcome of each spin is determined by a Random Number Generator. An RNG is essentially a computer program that produces random results that cannot be corrupted by the casino or the player. RNGs are certified by accredited agencies and regularly tested to ensure they work properly. On the other hand, Class II machines replace the RNG with a bingo server that mimics an RNG. So, electronic bingo games offer a similar look, feel, and playing style as the slots that you can play at online casinos in Alabama. It might be a case of semantics, but the language means that these electronic bingo games are legal in Alabama and available for play at Alabama casinos and racinos.

Alabama casinos are not allowed to offer table games as they are categorized as Class III games which are illegal in the state. As such, you cannot play games like craps, roulette, and baccarat at Alabama casinos. If you have a hankering for some table game action, then you’ll need to go to another state that offers legalized table games. It’s either that or visit a recommended social legal Alabama online casino. These Alabama online casino sites offer a full range of table games, including blackjack and multiple casino poker games like Caribbean Stud, Pai Gow, and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em.

Just as there has been increased demand for legalized sports betting and Alabama online casinos, there has also been a push to legalize Class III games in the state. It shouldn’t come as a shock to learn that these drives have all fallen short. It makes sense that the state would need to legalize Class III games either before or at the same time as Alabama online casinos become legal. That’s going to take time.

Although there are no state-licensed retail casinos operating in Alabama, the state currently has three Native American casinos that are allowed to operate, thanks to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. All three casinos are owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama.

There are also three off-track betting facilities and a racino that offers simulcast races, as well as about 300 gaming machines. Let’s take a quick look at the Native American casinos.

Wind Creek Atmore

Costing about $245 million, Wind Creek Atmore opened in 2009 and is likely the closest thing to a Vegas-style casino resort in Alabama. A 57,000-square-foot gaming floor boasts around 2,500 Class II gaming machines. The complex features a 236-room hotel, a spa, a bowling alley, and a 2,000-seat outdoor amphitheater that offers a diverse range of entertainment. Other amenities include a pool, fitness center, and several dining facilities.

Wind Creek Montgomery

An expanded Wind Creek Casino in Montgomery opened in 2015 after undergoing renovations. The casino offers 65,000 square feet of gaming floor with 2,200 electronic gaming machines. It also has a five-story hotel with 115 rooms, along with a salon, pool, fitness center, and retail shopping. There are three restaurants and a B.B. King’s Blues Club that offers entertainment and other events throughout the year.

Wind Creek Wetumpka

Wind Creek Wetumpka opened in 2014 at a cost of $246 million. The expansive 85,000-square-foot gaming floor holds over 2,000 exhilarating electronic games, including several jackpot games. It is attached to a AAA Four-Diamond hotel featuring a pool, spa, and cabanas. Visitors have plenty of dining options, including a buffet and Fire Steakhouse, along with a couple of others that are open 24/7. Wind Creek Wetumpka is located in Wetumpka 100 River Oaks Drive.

While there is hope, it doesn’t look like legal real-money online casinos in Alabama will become a reality in the immediate future. Still, the Cotton State does offer some gambling opportunities, including three Native American casinos, OTB, fantasy sports, and bingo. Residents can also play casino games for fun at several social Alabama online casinos.