Is Poker Legal In Alabama
Despite its accelerated growth, Alabama’s lawful poker and gambling industry is still quite small even in 2021. And although there is support for legal online poker and regulated gambling, most of Alabama’s state officials would like things to remain the way they’ve always been. Overall Thoughts About Legal Online Poker In Alabama. Alabama residents, know that legal online poker can be done at sites operating outside of the United States. These sites are very high quality and efficiently run to ensure legitimacy. Players need only to meet the legal gambling age of the site, and in Alabama, which is 21.
Residents living the state of Alabama who are interested in playing online poker, can take solace in the fact that there options out there that they can take advantage of. When thinking about playing poker online in Alabama, there are certainly some things that you should know, and pay attention to. All of this and more about online poker in Alabama can be found on this page, as we bring the full scope of the current state of affairs within its borders.
Not only will you find out about the current legal status of online poker in Alabama, but you will also find some of the best places to create an account to play. Online poker laws, and online gambling laws in general can be different because of the legislation that can be set down at the state level. The fact of the matter is that there are legal ways to play online poker if you live in Alabama.
Is Online Poker Legal In Alabama?
To answer this, we must approach it from two different perspectives. The first is from the angle of the site itself. Is an online poker site legal to operate in Alabama? The answer to this question is no. But then the next part that we must discuss is from the angle of the poker player. Just because that the operation of a poker site cannot legally take place in Alabama, does not mean that residents in the state are out of luck. In fact, there are a variety of legal poker sites that Alabama poker players can signup at and play all of their favorite games.
This is made possible because the laws in place which effectively ban online poker sites make no mention of the player not being allowed to place the bets and play poker. As a result, offshore sites come into play to fill the void and demand for online poker players in Alabama. These sites are based outside of the United States, but accept and allow U.S. players, like those in Alabama, to create an account with them.
| Legal Alabama Poker Rooms | U.S.A. OK? | USA Poker BONUS | Full REVIEW | PLAY NOW |
| BetOnline Poker | Yes - 50 States | New 200% Match / To $1K | ||
| SportsBetting Poker | Yes - 50 States | Up To 25% Each Deposit | ||
| 5Dimes Poker | Yes - 50 States | No Bonuses For Poker |
BetOnline Poker Room - Best Alabama Poker Room
States Where Poker Is Legal
BetOnline Poker - One of the poker sites that Alabama residents need to put on their list to check out as far as great poker sites is BetOnline. This poker room offers players all that they could hope for plus more. Whether it's the fact that residents in Alabama are welcome to sign up, or to play the many games available, Bovada is truly first class.
BetOnline provides Alabama poker players with the chance to play for real cash at a variety of limit tables, no limit tables, and tournaments. There is even the chance for World Series of Poker challenge tournaments, with the winners getting a seat at a table in Vegas!
Overall Thoughts About Legal Online Poker In Alabama
Alabama residents, know that legal online poker can be done at sites operating outside of the United States. These sites are very high quality and efficiently run to ensure legitimacy. Players need only to meet the legal gambling age of the site, and in Alabama, which is 21. The site is typically 18, but to legally place a wager when playing poker the highest gambling age must be met. Aside from those stipulations though, playing online poker while living in Alabama is not as difficult as one might think, and there should be no fear for breaking the law.
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Last Updated October 9, 2020
Poker players in Alabama generally have a lot of questions when it comes to the gambling laws of their state, especially whether it’s legal to play online poker in Alabama and where you can play. In this guide to gambling in Alabama, we’re going to cover legal online poker options in AL and then survey a host of interesting facts and resources related to gambling in the state of Alabama.
Update as of 2019
This section is an updated version of the original article. While the the information on this page is correct, some new legislation might be in effect since this page was originally written. We’ve left the orginal article in tact below the new information.
| Type/Code | Summary |
|---|---|
| State Code Section(s) | 13A.12.20-30; 13A.12.90-92; 34.6.12-13 |
| Definition of Gambling | Gambling: A person engages in gambling if he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. |
| Definition of Contest of Chance | Contest of chance: Any contest, game, gaming scheme or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein. (Poker is not specified.) |
| Online Poker/Gambling | There have been no serious attempts to legalize and regulate online poker or internet casino games for players in Alabama. |
| Live Poker | No live poker is permitted in tribal casinos, which means no established poker rooms exist in Alabama. |
| Casinos | One tribe operates several casinos in the state per IGRA, but there are no other casinos in Alabama. |
| Sports Betting | Alabama is not yet prepared to consider a sports betting bill. |
| DFS | Lawmakers considered S.325 to legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports in 2018, but the bill never went to the floor for a vote. |
| Other Forms of Gambling | Live greyhound racing is legal but horseracing is not. Pari-mutuel betting is allowed on dog and horse racing but only via state-licensed operations. Social games are legal in private homes with stipulations. |
Alabama State Lottery Bill
In May 2015, Alabama State Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh pushed for a state lottery. Del Marsh and other proponents argued that a state lottery would be worth $400 million a year to the Alabama Treasury. The Tourism & Marketing Committee approved the bill by a 5-3 vote. The same bill would have allowed the state’s 4 racetracks to have casino gaming. Sen. Bill Beasley, a Democrat from Clayton, called for a voice vote on the bill.
The next month, the State Senate killed the bill by Del Marsh in a wider vote. This led Former Auburn University football coach Pat Dye and former Alabama Power Co. President Charles McCrary to join the Alabama Jobs Coalition, which pushed for a state lottery and racino gambling. Pat Dye and Charles McCrary claimed not only that the bill would generate $400 million in state revenues each year, but it also would create 11,000 new permanent jobs.
Over the course of the summer of 2015, the Alabama Jobs Coalition continued to publicize the bill. In September 2015, Huntsville Sen. Paul Sanford asked the Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee to consider a lottery bill which would approve a state lottery. Under terms of the bill, Alabama would join the Powerball and Mega Million multi-state lottery associations. Del Marsh declined to have the committee vote on the bill, effectively ending any chance of a lottery bill being passed in 2015.
In February 2016, the Alabama House Economic Development and Tourism Committee voted to approve a lottery bill which was supported by Rep. Alan Harper, R-Northport. This bill would approve a state lottery and participation in the multi-state lottery associations. Funds would be shared between the Education Trust Fund and the General Fund. This stripped-down version of the bill is still being discussed. In Alabama’s upper house, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said he would need to see how the funds were allotted before he would say whether he would support the bill or not.
If passed, Alan Harper’s bill would place a lottery referendum on the November 2016 ballot. The likelihood of a lottery passing in Alabama is small, because the state’s leaders have been against such a bill traditionally. Politicians like Rich Wingo and Paul Hicks opposed the bill on social conservative grounds, saying God would not support the state, if gambling were passed. Arnold Mooney opposed the bill on economic conservative grounds, saying such a fundraising method is regressive and it would grow the size of government.
Top Online Poker Sites in Alabama
With a number of sites to choose from, Alabamians have their pick of the litter when it comes to online poker rooms. Based on bonus value and room conditions, we’ve selected the top rooms for Alabama online poker players and listed them here.
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