Sports betting in Alabama is currently very limited. As it stands, parimutuel horse racing, slot machines for bingo, and daily fantasy sports are the lone gambling options in Alabama.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned on May 14, 2018. This allows each state in the country to propose and create their own laws and regulations for sports betting.
To date, Alabama has not passed legislation regulating sports betting and no legal sportsbooks operate within the state as a result.
A bill was introduced in April 2019 which would allow wagering on certain sporting events; the Alabama Sports Wagering Commission was created as a result to regulate sports betting within the state.
While sports betting has yet to be legalized in Alabama, residents are able to put down some action in neighboring states. Mississippi has legalized retail sports betting, and Tennessee may soon be next in line with legalized betting pending.
When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal in Alabama?
Alabama’s delay in sports betting legalization relates to both the political climate and lack of major league teams within the state. The NCAA’s Alabama Crimson Tide would be the biggest draw for sports bettors. However, outside of college sports, Alabama may not offer the largest of potential betting markets.
Historically, Alabama has resisted efforts to regulate gambling of any kind. In fact, there is no state lottery, resulting in many residents traveling to Florida or Georgia to buy tickets. Even table games, such as blackjack and poker, are not permitted.
The state’s limited number of casinos are only able to offer electronic bingo. Listen to Alabama politicians, and this doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon.
Republican Mac McCutcheon’s 2018 statement below provides a picture of how far away new legislation could be:
“It goes deeper than just a religious belief of gambling one way or the other. It goes into the bingo machines, the counties that have local legislation that allow those to be there. The dog track issue. All of this plays in. It’s more complicated than taking a simple vote on the lottery. I would like to see us get back to a lottery issue first, before we muddy the water if you will with all these other things out there.”
In the meantime, Governor Ivey favors conducting a feasibility study to better estimate how much revenue legal sports betting could generate. With that study estimated to take six months, it’s unlikely Alabama will see any laws passed in 2020.
Alabama Sports Betting FAQs
Can you bet on sports in Alabama?
No. Sports betting is not yet regulated in the state of Alabama.
Where can you legally bet near Alabama?
You can legally bet on sports in Mississippi.
What is the biggest sports team in Alabama?
The Alabama Crimson Tide college football team is the most popular local sports team in Alabama.
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