Another state with native American gaming, Alabama is an interesting state when it comes to gambling in that the state is making strides to legalize more, but still has a way to go. Right now, the state does not have any kind of legalized sports betting outside of native American gaming and only has three tribal casinos. With Betfred as its sportsbook operator, the tribal casinos are the main operators in the Cotton State, but Alabama still has no commercial casinos.
Below, SBS will detail some of the latest updates in Alabama, what the future holds and different options for wagering in the state.
With major sports betting not currently legal in the state, Alabama has made more of a concerted effort in recent years to change this. According to an update in the Legal Sports Report, there have been multiple efforts to legalize sports wagering, including as recently as 2021. This most recent proposal passed the Alabama Senate, but failed to see the House floor for a vote.
In addition to establishing a state lottery (Alabama is one of the last states in the U.S. without a lottery), this proposal would have also helped turn racetracks into casinos, complete with retail and mobile sports betting. So while this package was mainly based on establishing a state lottery system, it would have marked a significant jump forward for Alabama had it not stalled at the end of the last state legislative session.
With gaming legislation not having the best track record of getting approved in the Cotton State, there still is some hope for gambling updates and bills getting passed in the near future. For instance, Mississippi and Tennessee, two of Alabama’s border states, just legalized sports wagering. However, there are nuances to each as Tennessee offers mobile-only wagering while those in Mississippi will have to visit a casino to place their bets. The Tennessee case study is interesting in that it offers sports betting on an open mobile market with “untethered operators.” This is something Alabama could look to replicate.
With their neighboring states passing new legislation that allows various kinds of wagering, one could surmise that this will happen soon in Alabama. In a similar case, Georgia tried to pass a mobile betting measure in 2021, but it failed to materialize past the legislature. From the same article mentioned above, there does seem to be no tangible gaming related measures up for debate in the Alabama legislature at this time. So while there are successful case studies in their region of getting gambling legislation passed, gaming in Alabama will center around the tribal casinos for the near future.
When it comes to sports betting and gambling in Alabama, the SBS team has provided you with the best online sportsbooks in the Alabama. This page will give you a breakdown of the best outlets in the Cotton State and which ones suit your needs the best. As you are perusing these websites, make sure to also check out which sites give you the best sign-on bonuses with our handy resource.
With all of these different options available in Alabama, also knowing which payment methods are accepted is a must. With SBS, we have you covered with our handy breakdown of payment methods and options that are all above the board and streamlined for ease-of-use. From Bitcoin and Skrill to Diners Club and Discover Card, you can find ways to wager in all kinds of forms and fashions.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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