Full Alabama Betting Sites Guide: AL Online Sports Betting Options
Alabama; known for its beautiful nature, sprawling inland waterways and maniacal college football fans. But is there legal AL sports betting? Unfortunately, the state’s law classifies gambling as a misdemeanor. We have the full details on the status of AL betting sites.
On this page, we explain the current laws, future outlook, and other betting options you can look into. We’ll also share with you some nearby states that are good choices for online sports betting.
But you won’t find links to any of the proclaimed best AL betting sites here. Since it’s not legal, there are no AL bookies with a valid license in the state. Your safety is our number one priority, so we only mention trustworthy, licensed bookmakers in our articles.
Best Betting Sites AL – The Alternatives
Even though there’s no legal AL sports betting, there are some alternatives. The state boasts three Native American casinos, one racino, and some bingo halls. Outside of that, there aren’t many options for AL bettors. It’s even one of five states barring the sale of lottery tickets.
Daily Fantasy Sports in Alabama
DFS, a longtime workaround before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned is now a billion-dollar industry. Luckily, daily fantasy sports (DFS) are available in Alabama via the main industry players.
After the state’s Attorney General declared DFS illegal in 2016, all the providers exited the market. However, in 2019, the state passed a law declaring it legal, and the sites returned. Now you can draft your way to the top in whichever sport you like.
Offshore Sites for AL Players
Alabama is what’s considered a black market for most forms of gambling. That means betting sites are illegal and playing with them can lead to legal problems. Many offshore bookies like Bovada, MyBookie and BetOnline.ag take advantage of the demand and open up shop there anyway.
Unfortunately, without a license in the state, they cannot guarantee your safety or fairness. Sites accepting players from black market states are not trustworthy. We find it best to stay away from these sites and visit other places and states where gambling is fully legal.
Land-based Casinos
Another popular option for gamblers in Alabama is visiting one of the states three Native American casinos. While no table games are available, there is a myriad of electronic options to choose from, like slots, e-bingo, and video poker.
Additionally, there are four simulcast racebooks, featuring pari-mutuel wagering on greyhounds and horses. Horse racing, along with DFS, are the only forms of AL sports betting apps allowed in the state. Keep this in mind if you’re planning on going mobile.
Racetrack Betting
As the only form of legal sports betting sites AL bettors can use, racebooks are some of the most popular places to gamble in the state. The reason for its legality is because it’s not classified as a game of chance, but rather as a form of pari-mutuel wagering.
This loophole means you can bet on horse and greyhound racing to your heart’s content. It’s also the only form of sports wagering allowed through mobile devices that isn’t some sort of Daily Fantasy Sports app.
Nearby States with Legal Sports Betting Options
Luckily, Alabama is a relatively small state, and you can cross it going east to west or vice versa in around four and a half hours. This means Mississippi is indeed an option for most Alabamans keen on betting this year’s Iron Bowl.
It should be noted that while Mississippi has fully legal sports betting, doing so online isn’t an option. You must make your bets in person at licensed MS casinos and retail sportsbooks.
Another great option, though more difficult for those living in southern Alabama, are Tennessee betting sites. It’s fully legalized, and numerous operators take wagers both online and in-person. All you need to do is cross the border and make your bet!
What Legal Sports Betting Would Look Like in Alabama
We strongly encourage you to only play at legal sites. Since there are no sportsbooks AL players can use in the state, taking the extra time to travel to states with legal online sports betting helps you stay protected. Gambling boards and agencies enforce strict requirements designed to protect you.
The current black market best betting sites AL players use can’t offer you this, and perhaps most importantly they lack important player safety standards. Illegal sites don’t have to adhere to fair payout standards or age verification and aren’t obligated to help those with gambling problems.
In legal markets, however, all of this is enforced. You also have a load of legal options, like NFL betting or MLB betting. It’s unfortunate the best betting sites AL offers are illegal ones, but at least there are neighboring states to keep you safe.
Alabama Betting Laws
Most forms of gambling in Alabama are illegal. There are no in-state sportsbooks AL players can play at. However, a recently passed daily fantasy sports law means you can draft lineups, and there are a few legal racebooks in the state.
Additionally, the Native American casinos in the state mean there are some options for games like slots, but table games are illegal. You need to go elsewhere in the country if that’s your preferred method of gambling.
The legal gambling age in Alabama varies by county. In some places it’s legal to wager on greyhounds at 18, others at 19 and yet others at 21 years of age. However, slots and DFS games are limited to 21-year-olds and overs.
| Betting Type | Law |
|---|---|
| Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Land-based Casino | Legal |
| Online Casino | Not Legal |
| Poker | Not Legal |
| Racetrack Betting | Legal |
| AL Gambling Age | Varies by County |
The above shows the forms of gambling legal in Alabama. As you can see, there aren’t many options outside of daily fantasy sports and pari-mutuel racetrack betting. The good news is that these are good alternatives to illegal AL betting sites.
It remains to be seen what happens in the state over the coming years. We hope to have a list of the best AL betting sites should it become legal, so check this page periodically for updates.
The History of AL Online Sports Betting
Gambling in most of its forms has been illegal since the Constitution of Alabama declared it prohibited in 1901. However, the state’s Supreme Court ruled that racetrack betting is allowed because it relies on the skill of the animal, and is therefore not a game of chance.
We’ll leave it up to you to figure out how that applies to horses and dogs and not sports teams. Either way, the state doesn’t look favorably upon gambling in general, as it’s one of only five states in the country that doesn’t have a state-run lottery.
Here is an overview of the history of AL sports betting and gambling:
Given the state’s interpretation of DFS and horse racing as games of skill, it remains to be seen if there will ever be sports gambling websites in AL. In the meantime, AL sportsbook fans have to use one of the options in some neighbor states.
Currently, there are no movements to do so, though some experts believe state officials are taking a cautious approach to see how sports betting plays out in other states.
The Future of AL Sports Betting
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, there has been little progress on the AL online sports betting legalization process, with bills repeatedly dying on committee floors. Some rumors are going around that measures to legalize AL bookies may come in the near to mid-term, but nothing is concrete.
Ultimately, what’s blocking the path to legal AL online sports betting are state representatives with dog and horse racing tracks in their districts. They feel that legalizing sports betting in AL may be a detriment to their constituents.
Unfortunately, until a bill is passed, we won’t be able to list any best betting sites AL gamblers can use. However, you can place sports bets in legal sports betting states simply by being within state lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
While we try to make all our guides as comprehensive as possible, our readers occasionally have more specific questions. If you feel we missed anything or want to ask us something, feel free to send us an email to contact@bestbettingsites.com.
⚖️ Is online gambling and sports betting legal in AL?
No, online gambling and sports betting is not legal in AL. Therefore, we can't provide you with a list of best betting sites AL players can use.
🛡️ What is the Alabama legal gambling age?
Outside of pari-mutuel wagering, the legal gambling age in Alabama is 21. However, in some counties, you can place wagers on dog and horse races at 18 or 19 years old. You can see more about AL betting laws in our detailed writeup.
🚨 Are sites like 1xBet and Bovada legal and safe?
No, offshore sites are not licensed in the state of Alabama, or any other US state, so they are not safe. Check out our thoughts on what legal AL sports betting may look like in the future.
🔎 Can I play at sportsbooks in other states if I am in AL?
No, you cannot play at sportsbooks in other states while located in AL. Legal bookies in other states have IP and geolocation restrictions that will block you from playing. However, you can create accounts with those sites in most cases. Check out our guide to legal states neighboring Alabama if you are willing to make the trip.