Alabama Sports Betting 2024
Even though new laws weren’t passed, there was hope Alabama sports betting would move forward in 2024. Indeed, with forecasts suggesting that legal Alabama online gambling could generate $700 million annually, there’s a growing interest in regulation.
Therefore, ahead of any forthcoming legislative changes, here’s a look at how Alabama sports betting could shape up in 2025 and beyond.
Alternatives to Alabama Sportsbooks
- 1
Established 2009Must be 18+ to participate. T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. New users only. The bonus will be added to your account. Bonus funds must be used for play and are not available for withdrawal. Bonus will expire 14 days from issue and any unused bonus may be removed from your account.Clean Design with User-Friendly InterfaceHundreds of Contests Available DailySpecial Contests for Beginnersnot requiredPromo Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)Minimum Purchase10.00iOS AppYesLive StreamingYesNFL Player PropsYesBet Builder
Can you create your own personalised bets?YesFanDuel is at the top of daily fantasy sports providers. The platform offers hundreds of contests daily with some specifically designed for beginners. The platform, together with DraftKings, is a pioneer of the DFS genre. - 2
Established 2012Must be 18+ years of age or older (19+ in NE, AL) (21+ in AZ, FL, IA, LA (select parishes), and MA). Paid contests not available while physically located in HI, ID, LA (select parishes), MT, NV, OR, or WA. Void where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. Available to first-time DraftKings Daily Fantasy (“DFS”) customers only. - 3
Established 2021Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age or older (21 years of age or older in Massachusetts and Iowa, and 19 years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska) to access and play on ParlayPlay.
Alabama Sports Betting Overview
| Current AL Sports Betting Status: | Not legal |
| AL Online Sports Betting Launch: | TBD |
| Pre-Live Alabama Betting Sites Offers: | TBD |
| No. of licenses to be issued: | TBD |
| Regulator: | TBD |
Latest AL Sports Betting Update 2024
Alabama sports betting is a story of missed opportunities. As it stands, online sports betting in Alabama isn’t legal. However, that’s not because people don’t want it.
In May of 2024, the Alabama state house ended its legislative session without legalizing any sports betting bills. Reps. Chris Blackshear and Andy Whitt introduced two bills in February that would have cleared the way for legal gaming in the state. Alabama House Bill 151 proposed a constitutional amendment to allow legal gaming. Alabama House Bill 152 would have established the Alabama Gaming Commission to oversee sports betting. HB152 would have also required the governor to negotiate for a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which currently controls several retail casinos.
Despite both bills passing the state House, they failed to make it to the Senate floor, and the 2024 legislative session came to an end.
Gov. Kay Ivey said she would not call a special session to address bills that would have expanded gaming.
The good news, however, is that support is growing. With reports suggesting the industry could be worth $700 million annually, many believe that positive changes will happen soon.
To know where we’re going, it’s important to know where we’ve been. With that in mind, here’s how the push to legalize sports betting in Alabama has shaped up so far. To see why there’s a growing air of expectation, scroll down to see the recent history of sports betting in Alabama.
Alabama Sports Betting Timeline
A effort to legalize gaming is defeated in a statewide ballot initiative.
HB 315 was sponsored by Rep. John Rogers but didn’t make it any further than an initial reading. Even though this sports betting legislation died early, DFS was approved by Gov. Ivey.
Rep. Rogers sponsored HB 336 which pushed for regulation and sports betting tax of 10%. Like HB 315, this bill went no further than an initial reading.
2021 was the best year for those in support of betting sites. SB 214, introduced by Sen. Del Marsh, got the ball rolling. Although that died, it inspired Sen. Jim McClendon to submit SB 319. This AL sports betting bill also sought to legalize commercial casinos and lotteries. Although it never made it into law, it was the furthest a bill had ever gone, fueling hopes for positive changes in 2022.
House Bills 151 and 152, which would have allowed legal sports betting (most likely in person only), are introduced and passed, but fail to make it to the Senate floor for a vote.
Current Alabama Sports Betting Bills & Laws
It’s likely that Alabama will mirror the sports betting laws in Tennessee. This is because neither state has commercial casinos. Therefore, any online sportsbook will have to operate as a lone entity or be tied to a state gaming commission.
Daily Fantasy sites are legal in Alabama. DFS contests are legal in Alabama and have been since 2019.
This means you can join the likes of DraftKings DFS and put your picking skills to the test in free and premium contests. You can use FanDuel DFS, as well, to fantasy contests and bet on racing at online sites like TVG.
Horse racing betting sites are also legal in Alabama. Even though there aren’t any tracks in the state, you can use online betting sites such as TVG and TwinSpires Racebook.
Meanwhile, Alabama has three tribal casinos owned by the Poarch Creek Indians. These venues don’t offer sports betting, but you can play at the following casinos:
- Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Wetumpka
- Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Atmore
- Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Montgomery
The most likely scenario is that sports betting in Alabama will be an online affair because there aren’t any commercial casinos. It may be the case, however, that the Poarch Creek Indians will also be given the right to offer legal sports betting.
Projected AL Sports Betting Revenue & Taxes
Any sports betting bill in Alabama will probably also seek to legalize casino gaming and lotteries. If so, the Governor’s Study Group on Gambling believes sports betting legislation in Alabama will create an industry worth between $510 million and $710 million annually.
This calculation is based, in part, on a previous sports betting bill that sought to tax operators at a rate of 10%. However, at this stage, nothing is confirmed. This includes the amount of tax Alabama residents will have to pay on gambling profits.
What to Expect from Alabama Sportsbooks
Looking forward to legalized online sports wagering in Alabama? Here’s what you could expect to see at the first from the best sports betting apps:
Range of Sports & Markets
You’ll be able to place bets on dozens of different sports and hundreds of events every week. Indeed, the mark of a high-quality online sportsbook is the number of wagering options it offers. The best Alabama sports betting sites will cover everything from football to darts.
Competitive Odds
Alabama betting companies will try to pique your interest with generous odds. Then, once you add odds boosts to the mix, sports wagering becomes a potentially profitable endeavor with the right bookmakers.
Promotions & Bonuses
Bonus bets, enhanced odds, cashback, and loyalty rewards should all come as standard at the leading Alabama sports betting sites.
Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs allow you to earn points each time you place bets at your chosen sportsbook. These points can be exchanged for bonus bets and other rewards, so you’re basically get something back for your time online.
Great Customer Support
Alabama online betting sites will offer multiple points of contact. That means you can get help and support via email, live chat, phone, and social media.
User-Friendly Software
It’s no use offering great odds and promotions if people can’t find them. Therefore, you can expect any sportsbook licensed by the Alabama Gaming Commission to have secure and efficient desktop and mobile software.
Easy Payment Options
All licensed mobile sports betting operators are legally required to offer safe betting payments. This means you’ll be able to make deposits and withdrawals using reputable processors such as Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal.
Live Betting & Streaming
Some online sportsbooks, such as BetMGM and FanDuel Sportsbook online, also offer live streams. These are free to watch and activated once you place a bet on the event in question. Sports betting sites that don’t offer live streams will have live animations. However, the ability to place live bets has become a staple at online sportsbooks today.
In-play sports wagering also opens opportunities for bets on things that could happen within specific timeframes.
How to Compare Alabama Sportsbooks
Sports betting in Alabama is likely to offer a variety of options. That means you’ll need to engage your critical faculties to find the ideal sportsbook. Of course, personal preference always matters. However, there are some things you can look at when it comes to comparing legal sportsbooks in Alabama:
- Added Extras: The best legal online sportsbooks in Alabama will go the extra step to ensure you get a comprehensive betting experience. Adding stuff like live streams, stats, and betting tips.
- Bonuses and Promotions: What added value can you get from an Alabama sports betting site and how easy is it to claim the best sportsbook promos and loyalty rewards?
- Sports and Bets: Does the Alabama betting site you’re using cover the sports you love? A bookmaker isn’t worth using if it doesn’t have enough sports bets that interest you.
Top 3 Alabama Sports Teams to Bet On
We can’t talk about Alabama sports betting and not reference the state’s top teams. Even though there aren’t any pro teams in the state at the moment, there’s plenty of talent in the minor and college leagues.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide are one of the best college football teams in the US. Since they were founded in 1892, this team has won 16 division titles (as of 2021), produced four Heisman winners, and has a winning record that few college football teams can match.
Auburn Tigers
The Auburn Tigers are a collective of teams representing Auburn University. As well as a college football program, the Tigers have teams competing in basketball, baseball, golf, swimming, athletics, equestrian, and more. Therefore, if you’re looking for sports betting opportunities in Alabama, it’s always worth looking at what the Auburn Tigers are doing.
Birmingham Barons
The Barons are a Minor League Baseball team playing out of Birmingham, Alabama. As well as winning the Dixie and Southern League championships on multiple occasions, the Barons are affiliated to the Chicago White Sox.
Legal Alabama Sports Betting vs. Offshore Sportsbooks
We all want local lawmakers to legalize sports betting in Alabama as soon as possible. However, we also understand that it takes time to get things right.
Therefore, we’d urge you to wait for legislation to pass and not use offshore online sportsbooks. Aside from being illegal, these sites may not provide safe and fair betting conditions.
Responsible Sports Betting in Alabama
The final thing to say about legal sports betting in Alabama is that all licensed operators will have your well-being in mind. Put simply, they’re legally and morally obliged to make sure you’re not spending more than you can afford. Naturally, they can’t control what you do.
However, they do provide links to contact numbers of problem gambling charities. Moreover, legit AL sports betting sites will also offer onsite responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, reality checks, and timeouts.
References
