You can find general gambling laws within Title 13A, Article 2, of the Alabama Criminal Code. While we are not attorneys, we can say this with the comfort of living in a democratic nation where that which is not specifically illegal is actually legal. See more about online gambling laws in the USA here. Gambling Sites That Accept Alabama Residents.
Americans have plenty of choices when it comes to playing poker online. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your preferences, the days of smoke filled basements and shifty-eyed card sharks are all but over. Millions of Americans are now turning to online poker rooms to satisfy their craving to play. With new sites popping up all the time, finding a friendly, safe atmosphere for betting real money can be a hassle. Doing a simple search through your browser can result in a frustrating plethora of decisions. The good news is, there are many reputable poker sites available to Alabama natives that are completely legal to wager on.
- A poker game played at home in Alabama is legal if you’re providing what state law calls 'social gambling.' The law defines social gambling as a “social game played in a private place.”.
- Is Poker Legal In Alabama? Alabama is probably not the first state that comes to mind when you are thinking about gambling destinations, but it has a somewhat flexible stance, legally, on the topic.
- 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.
This page will reveal to you the legal status of playing poker online in Alabama, as well as give you tips on the best rooms to bet on, and how to find them. We have done extensive research to make sure that we present the most reputable sites available.
Other Alabama Gambling Sites: Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos
The federal laws that regulate online gambling are often misconstrued. Rumors abound on the legality of online gambling in the states, but by and large, most U.S. states and providences are well within their rights to play online. The law states that, in the United States, running an online wagering operation is illegal. However, all of the top-ranked online poker rooms are located overseas where they are 100% legal.
Overseas poker sites are not regulated by Alabama state laws, but they are safe to use. State-by-state laws on gambling don’t differ much from Federal laws. You will not find any legal betting establishments in Alabama, so your best bet is to sign up at a reputable poker site so you can wager safely and legally.
Is Gambling Legal In Alabama
All of the sites listed on this page are legal, reputable, and backed by giant U.S. media outlets such as ESPN and FOX Sports. By not getting fooled with the many scams that lurk around the web and following the advice of this article, you will be making sure your money is being deposited into trusted accounts that are backed up by professional gaming commissions. So let’s take a look at the top poker rooms out there right now.
Best Online Poker Rooms for Alabama Residents
We test all the sportsbooks on the top ranking websites and can vouch for their legitimacy. In our research we have come up with what we consider the best premier poker rooms available as of 2015. As well as being the best, we also took into consideration the amount of benefits these sites give to new members. All of these sites offer something special for your first deposit, literally giving you money just for signing up. Alabama poker fans can rejoice in the fact that the top 3 online poker rooms are legal to use in your state, so start practicing your poker face.
The number one concern amongst poker players in the U.S. is legality. Bovada, as well as the other sites mentioned here, are all located in parts of the world that have legalized gambling. We have done background tests on each site and can assure that they are legitimate and safe for Alabama residents to gamble at.
When it comes to incentives for creating an account, Bovada stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. Upon completing the simple sign up process and making your first deposit you will be able to receive a 100% welcome bonus. By playing poker you will earn Poker Points, and over 60 days you will collect your free money. You gain points by playing, so you will be adding to your bankroll by doing just what you came to do, play poker. Bovada really can’t be beat for Alabama residents looking to hit the tables.
Don’t let the title fool you, this is a highly regarded betting site with top notch poker rooms. It doesn’t have as many members as older sites, but what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in quality. Many professional poker players choose SportsBetting.ag as their premier poker site.
As far as perks go, they are more than good to new members. Make a first deposit of $50 or more, and receive a 200% poker bonus. You can earn up to $1,000 by entering the bonus code (which they give you on the site) and they will activate your bonus within 24-hours. SportsBetting.ag is a legal and professional poker site for Alabama residents.
BetOnline is one of the fastest growing poker rooms in the U.S. Operated out of Panama where betting establishments are legal, you don’t need to worry about safety, and can focus on the game. BetOnline is a completely legal business with a growing number of members. Alabama residents will have no hassle playing their hands here.
They offer a more than generous 200% sign up bonus for poker. BetOnline has been cornering the market in poker entertainment. Very popular with serious players all over the U.S. and Alabama’s residents are no exception to this trend. You may find some of your friends in one of the beautifully presented poker rooms on the site. They use cutting edge technology to make the game look, and feel like you’re at a real table. You might even want to keep a stack of chips on your desk to shuffle as you play.
| Best Poker Sites | First Time Deposit Bonus | Peak Avg. Traffic | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker | 100% up to $1,000 | 18,000+ Players | VISIT |
| BetOnline Poker | 200% up to $1,000 - 'POKERNEW' | 12,000+ Players | VISIT |
| SportsBetting Poker | 200% up to $1,000 - 'POKER200' | 12,000+ Players | VISIT |
Q: Is my deposit safe?
A: With sites like Bovada.lv, their reputation precedes them. Backed by the giants of U.S. media outlets, and supported by leading gaming commissions, you can assure that your money is safe. You are depositing to over sea banks that are protected by the Federal laws of the countries they reside in. Depositing and cashing out your money is easy and 100% legal.
Q: Which types of poker games are available?
A: At AlabamaGamblingSites.com every site we have listed offers all the popular poker variations. Texas Hold‘em, Omaha, Hi/Lo/ 7-Card, and more. There are also tournaments and free-games. If you are a fan of poker, you will be spoiled for options.
Q: Can I play on my phone?
A: All of the sites have intuitive mobile gambling options. This makes it easy to play when you are away from your computer, a convenient pleasure of the computer age.
Q: How long until I get my payout?
A: There are many payout options on each site. The most popular way to receive your winnings tends to be via check, which can take up to two-weeks to arrive, but generally come between two and seven days. You can also collect by wire transfer, debit billing, and many other ways.
Q: I am new to poker. Are there free-to-play games so I can learn without betting?
A: All of the sites have highly populated free rooms so you can learn the game or play for fun. Once you are comfortable you will eventually want to start betting because that’s where the real fun comes in. Luckily, you can start betting in rooms for as low as .02-.05 cents. This way you can gamble real money without risking much, but experiencing the rush of real poker.
There is nothing in Alabama law that specifically cites online poker as legal or illegal. Gambling is limited to bingo and race betting.
Though the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1986 authorized Native Americans to run gambling establishments for revenue on their reservations, every tribe must negotiate compacts with the state. As for Alabama, it was not easy, and only one of the nine tribes was able to complete a deal. The compact is limited to bingo and slot machines, as no table games are allowed, and the singular tribe – the Poarch Band of Creek Indians – operates three casinos.
Bingo is allowed, but electronic bingo has been the subject of some dispute. Several cities have voted to allow horse and dog racing and betting, and pari-mutuel betting is permitted as well. There is also a state lottery.
Since table games are not allowed in the state, live poker is not permitted at gambling establishments, either. Online poker is not addressed specifically.
Which Alabama Laws Are Pertinent to Online Poker?
The Code of Alabama mentions gambling in the “Criminal Code” section under “Offenses Against Public Health & Morals.” Those titles alone give a good indication of how the state feels about gambling overall.
Under Title 13, Article 2, Division 1 deals expressly with gambling and starts with simple gambling. “A person commits the crime of simple gambling if he knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity as a player.” It does note that a defense for a player could be that he or she was “engaged in a social game in a private place.” The problem is that social games are not defined.
Gambling itself is defined as follows:
“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. Gambling does not include bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts…”
Notice that games of skill are not mentioned.
As for games of chance, the law defines:
“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.”
This remains open to interpretation, but poker would likely to be able to escape the chance factor in order to be deemed a game of skill.
Since players are mentioned in the statutes, it’s important to look at the law’s definition of a player:
“A person who engages in any form of gambling solely as a contestant or bettor, without receiving or becoming entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of the particular gambling activity.”
States Where Online Poker Is Legal
Crimes listed in the statute regarding promoting gambling, keeping gambling records, and possessing gambling devices primarily apply to operators and game runners, not players.
Is Online Poker Legal In Alabama
Unlawful actions include:
- Advancing or profiting from unlawful gambling activity as a player.
- Possessing gambling records with knowledge of contents.
- Possessing a gambling device via manufacturing, sale, transportation, or ownership transactions.
- Maintaining implements or appliances with any room or place used for gaming.
Poker is not mentioned, nor are games of skill. Further, nothing about internet games is included in any of the statutes, which opens legal doors for players and operators. However, as for players, they may be in a bit more danger than in other states because Alabama does hold contestants and bettors responsible, though only in profiting for anything other than personal gambling winnings.
As with many states, there seem to be numerous gray areas that could be exploited by the online gaming industry or used as a basis for prosecuting those gambling operators. The state has not gotten involved in any online poker or gambling matters yet, however, and the task of searching for offshore poker operators to prosecute may be a daunting one.
In summary, poker players who compete online have little about which to worry at this point in time. Should legislators decide to change laws to specify the illegality of online gambling and poker in Alabama, there may be a case for concern, but that seems unlikely.
Disclaimer: This is not written by an attorney and is not or should not be construed as legal advice. Please consult an attorney for help interpreting these laws as they pertain to any given situation.
Latest Developments Regarding Online Poker in Alabama
There have been no developments in Alabama online poker, as legislators seem to have no desire to address the issue in any way. If any other state in the Southern US takes up the issue, Alabama may be open to considering it, but the likelihood is slim due to the hesitancy of legislators to even allow table games in tribal casinos.
In the past several years, however, there have been multiple disagreements – many handled in the courts – regarding gambling machines. Racinos located off tribal lands have been fighting for the right to offer video gambling machines (slot machines). Most recently, the lawsuits have taken a turn to focus on slot machines that operate as bingo, but civil lawsuits accuse gambling establishments of using the bingo guise to simply operate more illegal slot machines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Does Alabama monitor online poker activity?
Answer: It is very unlikely. Alabama officials do monitor tribal casinos and racetracks around the state to ensure the remain compliant with current laws, but online activity is not likely to be on their radar at all.
Question: Will Alabama ever offer live poker?
Answer: It seems unlikely in the near future. Tribal casinos would like to offer table games like poker, but they don’t want to risk losing the right to offer slot machines, which deliver more profits. Alabama legislators do not like the idea of increasing gambling offerings whatsoever.
Question: Do online poker operators worry about offering poker to Alabama players?
Answer: If there were any true legal concerns, the online poker companies would change their marketing strategy and exclude states that had worrisome laws. No sites have exited the Alabama poker market, however, which means they see few risks involved in giving poker players their choice of sites on which to compete. And if any operator decided that online poker in Alabama was too risky, their players would be the first to know about the change.
Fun Facts
- Abbreviation: AL
- Nickname:The Cotton State
- Capital: Montgomery
- Largest city: Birmingham
- Population: 4,863,300 (24th of 50 states)
- Area: 52,419 square miles
- Famous poker players:Shannon Shorr, Hoyt Corkins