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Alabama Sports Betting
Sports betting is not yet legal in Alabama but has come very close on several occasions including in 2021 when three sports betting bills were approved by the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
These bills would allow the state’s racetracks to become casinos and establish a state lottery. Unfortunately, while the legislation passed the Senate, there wasn’t enough time for a House vote.
This means that if sports betting is to become a reality in Alabama, a new set of bills will need to be introduced. One possibility is to put the question of sports betting to the electorate and include it as a ballot measure during the 2022 election.
Who regulates the Alabama sports betting market?
If the state passes gaming legislation, it will likely establish a new gaming commission that will oversee casino gaming, the lottery, and sports betting.
Once a decision has been made, we will update this page.
Which sportsbooks are available in Alabama?
There are no legal sportsbooks available in Alabama as of yet.
If legislation is passed, the state’s racetracks could become casinos and partner with established sports betting operators or launch their own sports betting products in partnership with technology providers.
The state could also allow tribal groups to renegotiate their gaming compacts to allow retails sportsbooks to open on tribal lands. However, with only three tribal casinos, these options would be quite limited.
Alabama mobile sports betting apps
There are no mobile sports betting apps currently available in Alabama. If the state passes sports betting legislation, it’s likely to include mobile sports betting options that are untethered to retail locations. This would be the only option that makes sense as retail opportunities are so scarce in the state.
Daily Fantasy Sports in Alabama
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) operators were allowed a free run at the state until Alabama Attorney General published a legal opinion in 2016 that DFS contests were illegal. For the next three years DFS operators withdrew from the state. Then, in 2019, Governor Kay Ivey signed HB361 into law which established a regulated DFS market.
There are currently only two operators in the state—DraftKings and FanDuel.
What about online poker in Alabama?
While Alabama’s legal code makes no mention of poker or online poker, there’s very little hope that the state’s lawmakers will advance any bills that propose the establishment of a regulated market.
Should the state pass legislation that would legalize commercial casinos, it’s possible that mobile casino gaming might be included. However, this is a slim hope and one that we wouldn’t bet on.
Alabama sports betting frequently asked questions
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Is sports betting legal in Alabama?
Not yet. There have been several attempts to push through casino/sports betting bills but none have passed.
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What is the legal age for sports betting in Alabama?
The legal age will likely be 21 if sport betting legislation passes.
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When could sports betting become legal in Alabama?
Sports betting and expanded gaming could be included as a ballot measure in the 2020 election.