As more and more states post bills to legalize sports betting, it is in our best interest to understand where each state stands in the process of legalization. In this article, we will be discussing the state of Alabama.
We will be going over where Alabama currently stands on sports betting, where to place bets, best sports teams, and the latest news on sports betting! After reading this article, you should know everything there is to know about the legality and where to go for sports betting in Alabama.
While sports betting may not be as popular in Alabama as even its neighboring state, Mississippi, sports in general have been a major part of the states culture. After all, it is home to one of the most popular and feared NCAA football teams of all time, the Crimson Tide. So, let’s take a look at everything you need to know for sports betting in the great state of Alabama!
Alabama Sports Betting at a Glance
- Status of Betting Alabama – Fortunately for sports bettors in the state of Alabama, a 44 page bill has been introduced that would permit wagering on certain professional or collegiate sports or athletic events and other events. Overseeing sports wagering in Alabama would be the Alabama Sports Wagering Commission. Under the law, a 10% tax would be enforced for all sports wagering from licensed operators.
- Where to Bet in Alabama – Alabama is very restrictive when it comes to gambling and wagering. So, as of right now there are no current options for sports betting. The only casinos in the state are owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The only options for sports bets in Alabama requires travelling out of state or using offshore sportsbooks online.
- Teams in Alabama – While there are no professional sports teams in Alabama, sports are a huge part of the culture in the state as it’s home to one of the greatest college football teams to ever compete. They are also home to a number of minor league clubs and teams.
Status of Sports Betting in Alabama
With sports betting sweeping through the nation, states are jumping on board to get it legalized and boost their economy. Next door to Alabama, Mississippi wasted no time in getting the bill introduced and legalizing sports betting.
Currently, Alabama is in the process of getting sports betting legalized statewide. In April of 2019, Alabama introduced a 44 page bill that would permit sports wagering on professional sports, collegiate sports, athletic or other events. Overseeing all of the sports wagers and bets will be the Alabama Sports Wagering Commission.
They will collect a 10 percent tax on all sports wagering receipts from licensed operators in the state. There are no current talks of potential sportsbook locations, however, there are three prominent casinos in Alabama owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. This list includes Wind Creek Wetumpka, Wind Creek Atmore, and Creek Casino Montgomery. These seem to be great options for potential sports betting locations and are worth keeping an eye on for the future of sports betting in Alabama.
While there are no professional sports teams in Alabama, there are a variety of options for placing sports bets on there prominent college sports teams and minor league clubs. For online sports bettors, offshore sportsbooks are a great option until the legal process gets worked out. It is only a matter of time before everything goes through and the bettors of Alabama are free to place their wagers as they please!
Where to Bet Sports in Alabama
Alabama is very restrictive when it comes to gambling and wagering. So, as of right now there are no current options for sports betting. The only casinos in the state are owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The only options for Betting Alabama requires traveling out of state or using offshore sportsbooks online.
However, with sports betting in the process of getting permitted in Alabama, we can assume that the three big casinos will likely be great options for sports betting. These casinos include the Wind Creek Wetumpka, the Wind Creek Atmore, and the Creek Casino Montgomery.
- Wind Creek Wetumpka – The Wind Creek Wetumpka Hotel and Casino is located 4 miles from Fort Jackson in Wetumpka, Alabama. They feature 85,000 sq-ft of casino floor and offer a variety of different slots and table games.
- Wind Creek Atmore – Located six miles from downtown, the Wind Creek Atmore Casino hotel is based out of Atmore, Alabama. They feature 50,000 sq-ft of casino floor and include a cinema, golf course, and amphitheater.
- Creek Casino Montgomery – The Creek Casino Montgomery is located in Montgomery, Alabama. It features over 65,000 sq-ft of casino floor space and has over 2,200 machine games.
Latest Alabama Betting News
- Alabama Governor Quietly Legalized Daily Fantasy Sports – The governor of Alabama, Republican Kay Ivey, has signed the Alabama DFS bill two days after being approved by the Senate. Operators of Fanduel and DraftKings will be taxed 10.5 percent on their gross revenues. The games will be overseen by the attorney generals office under the new Alabama law and will require operators to pay an annual registration fee as much as $85,000 for the largest operators and as low as $1,000 a year for the smaller ones.
- Draftkings Returns to Alabama with Special Promotion – With the state of Alabama recently legalizing Daily Fantasy Sports, DraftKings looks to welcome Alabama players back with open arms! Just for living in Alabama, DraftKings will give each user a deposit bonus match up to $25 and will also showcase the “Free Contest Friday” offering 15K in giveaways for the first three weeks after launch!
- Alabama Lottery Bill is Dead for the Session – Coming as no surprise to Alabama residents waiting for a lottery to be approved, the latest attempt at establishing a state lottery has failed and won’t be coming back this session.
Alabama Sports Teams That Drive Betting
While sports betting is not currently legal in Alabama, the first steps to bringing it to this great state are underway. Now, sports betting may be a new thing, but sports in general are definitely not! Alabama may not have a professional sports team but they certainly have plenty of other options to get behind including the University of Alabama football team, the Crimson Tide.
They have been NCAA National Champions multiple times and are coached by the legendary Nick Saban. Alabama also has a wide variety of semi pro and minor league teams for their residents to get behind.
- Alabama Crimson Tide – Home to one of the most decorated and iconic football programs in NCAA history, the Alabama Crimson Tide hosts a variety of different collegiate sports teams for the University of Alabama. It is common to see the Alabama football team in the National Championship and ranked number one year after year.
- Birmingham Legion FC- The Birmingham Legion FC are an American Soccer team that are based out of Birmingham, Alabama. The compete in the USL Championship which is a second division of soccer in America. With their first professional season occuring in March 10, 2019, the Birmginham Legion FC are a new club to Alabama and were established in 2017.
- Montgomery Biscuits – The Montgomery Biscuits are a Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and located in Montgomery, Alabama. The minor league squad was founded in Orlando, Florida and compete in the Southern League of minor league baseball.
- Boxing: Deontay Wilder – Not a sports team, but certainly a betting favorite from the state of Alabama is the WBC Heavyweight Champion, Deontay Wilder. He is a heavy favorite in most events and delivers devastating knockouts fight after fight. His nickname, The Bronze Bomber, comes from the combined 40 knockouts in 42 professional fights.
So, while there are no professional sports in Alabama, you can see above there are plenty of options for bettors. College sports are extremely popular in Alabama, especially when it comes to football. They have a good variety of minor league teams and semi pro including hockey, soccer, and baseball.
Legal Status at a Glance
- Casino Legal Status – Outside of the casinos owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, gaming is currently against the law in Alabama.
- Sports Betting Legal Status – A 44 page bill has been introduced that would permit wagering on certain professional or collegiate sports or athletic events and other events.
- Horse Racing Legal Status – With many of the other gaming and betting options off the table for Alabama residents, betting on Horse Racing and Greyhounds can be a breath of fresh air. It is fully legal at a number of different tracks in Alabama.
- Poker Legal Status – Unless you are on the property of the indian tribes, poker and online poker are not allowed in the state of Alabama.
- DFS Legal Status – After bills for the legalization of Daily Fantasy Sports have failed in the last three years, the governor has finally signed a bill to legalize DFS in June of 2019.
- Lottery Legal Status – After multiple attempts to put together a state lottery in Alabama, year after year it is shut down. Currently, there is no lottery in Alabama.
Alabama Sports Betting Timeline
- April, 2016 – Attorney General declares Daily Fantasy Sports illegal gambling.
- May, 2018 – PASPA is struck down by the Supreme Court allowing states to decide for themselves on sports betting.
- April, 2019 – A 44 page bill has been introduced that would permit wagering on certain professional or collegiate sports or athletic events and other events.
- May, 2019 – After multiple attempts to put together a state lottery in Alabama, year after year it is shut down.
- June, 2019 – Governor of Alabama has signed a bill to legalize DFS for the first time in three years.
