Alabama
Alabama has dominated the college football scene for about two decades now. That dominance has cultivated a fan base around the Southern state, however, those same fans have long been shelled out of betting on the Tide and other sports. What gives? And is there any way to bet anyway?

Yes, there is, which is why we’ve written this in-depth betting guide to Alabama. Despite the state still actively banning sports betting, there’s a handy workaround for in-state bettors wanting to get action. Keep on reading and we’ll explain everything in depth — and we mean everything!

Quick Alabama Facts

StateAlabama
?? Sports Betting Laws?Not Available
? Population5 Million
? Minimum Gambling Age21 Years Old
?? Retail Sports Betting?Not Available
? Online Sports Betting?Not Available
? Mobile Sports Betting?Not Available
? Online Horse Betting?Not Available
? DFS? Available
Last updated on: November 25, 2024

Is Sports Betting Legal In Alabama?

No, sports betting is not legal in Alabama. It is one of 12 states in the United States without legal betting. The question is, will they change anytime soon?

Honestly, we have our doubts. The South, in general, remains the region of the country most against legalized sports betting. The ultra-conservative region has strong values we suppose, and isn’t budging on betting.

To be fair, Alabama has tried to pass betting on multiple occasions. All have failed, but the 2024 attempt was spectacular in a sense. Sports betting was part of a bill to get multiple forms of gambling inside the state, including casino and lottery. The bill advanced with the lottery legalization kept in, but the sports betting provisions were taken out. That tells you where things stand.

Still, this doesn’t mean Alabama bettors are out of luck. No, no, in fact, the offshore betting market has thrived in Alabama since it’s the easiest way to bet sports online. These apps work perfectly fine inside the state because they’re based outside the country, thus don’t have to abide by Alabama or U.S. regulations. Keep on reading because we’re about to name-drop our favorite offshore bookies!

Nov 19, 2024 10:38 AM

The future of sports betting in Alabama remains uncertain in 2024, as legislative efforts have stalled, pushing any potential developments to 2025.

Alabama Sports Betting Timeline

An extensive look at the history of sports betting legislation in the great state of Alabama.

2024

September 14, 2024 - Many in the state believe that Donald Trump's return to the White House could bring positive changes for sports bettors in the Cotton State.
 
August 21, 2024 - An Indiana gambler has been sentenced to eight months in prison for conspiring with an Alabama baseball coach to rig a game in hopes of winning a six-figure bet.
 
July 3, 2024 - The 2024 legislative has failed, but there are still lobby groups organizing themselves to make it a push for it in 2025.

June 29, 2024 - Advocates for the legalization of sports betting in Alabama pointed to the successes of neighboring states.

May 26, 2024 - Despite efforts by Alabama lawmakers to legalize various gaming options, including a state lottery, the initiative failed to secure approval before the legislative session ended, effectively halting progress for 2024.

May 1, 2024 - Despite the progression of legal gambling bills in Alabama, the inclusion of sports betting remains absent from the legislative advancements.

April 9, 2024 - Changes made by the Senate to the Alabama sports betting bill were rejected by the House. The bill will be brought to a committee review in an attempt to salvage. However, a hearing for this discussion has yet to be scheduled.

March 8, 2024 - The Senate sponsor reported that the updated bill removes provisions for sports betting, casino gambling, and language that could have enabled Medicaid expansion.

January 16, 2024 - A unique and resilient gambling bill is advancing despite opposition, offering hope for success.

2023

December 19, 2023 - Anticipating a gambling push, an API report argues that expansion is accompanied by 'perils and exaggerations.'

December 1, 2023 - With the conclusion of the college football regular season, attention shifts to Saturday's SEC Championship game, featuring SEC East champion Georgia against West division winner Alabama.

November 3, 2023 - The big Alabama-LSU game this weekend should attract lots of sports betting attention in Alabama due to potential SEC title and playoff implications.

July 4, 2023 - Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon was dismissed after a suspicious bet on an Alabama-LSU baseball game in Cincinnati was reported and flagged by a sportsbook operator and U.S. Integrity.

June 11, 2023 - Significant discussions unfolded among lawmakers in Alabama during the 2023 legislative session as they explored the possibility of enacting legislation to legalize sports betting apps in the state.

May 4, 2023 - Should the legislation to legalize sports betting in Alabama continue to gain traction within the legislature, there is reason to believe that Governor Kay Ivey will sign it into law.

February 19, 2023 - The 2023 Alabama sports betting scene shows signs of improvement as judges support new policy reforms.
 
January 27, 2023 - Eleven individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged involvement in an illicit sports betting ring worth millions of dollars.

Best Sportsbooks In Each Category In Alabama

Best overallBetUS
Best bonusesBetUS
Most unique bonusesBetNow
Top VIP programMyBookie
Best reputationBovada
Best sportsbookBetOnline
Best casinoEverygame
Best mobile appXBet
Best for new playersBovada
Best for high rollersBetUS
Best up-and-coming sportsbookXBet
Last updated on: November 25, 2024

Top 7 Alabama Sports Betting Sites

A bevy of options exist in the Alabama betting market. Maybe too many for some bettors who can feel overwhelmed with so many choices. This is where we come in — we’ve hand-picked our best Alabama betting sites. Here are seven that made our short list and why:

  1. BetUS - Lucrative free-play promotions for all.
  2. Bovada - User-friendly interface and reliable mobile betting experience.
  3. XBet - Top-notch mobile playing experience.
  4. BetOnline - Competitive odds and early line releases.
  5. BetNow - Unique promotional bonuses for all types of players.
  6. Everygame - Long-standing reputation and multi-language support for international bettors.
  7. MyBookie - Leading VIP rewards program for repeat betting.

#1 BetUS

BetUS Website Preview
Our score: 4.1/5
Play now on BetUS
Pros
Massive free-play deals
Big betting selection
Cons
7-day expiration period on bonuses
High rollover requirements
BetUS ends up atop our list. Why? Well, a multitude of reasons to be fair. It’s a well-run operation for one. Sports and casino bets are everywhere on this site, which obviously matters the most. However, there’s one thing that BetUS does really, really good. That thing is promotional bonuses. We’d go as far as to say no one topples BetUS at giving out free play to players. No one! The deals feel like they’re “too good to be true”, but we assure you, they are as legit as can be. Let’s bring attention to a few head-turners. There's the welcome bonus. At most top competitors, this deal tops out at $1000 in free play or so. At BetUS? That number balloons to $3125 when maxed out. An ungodly sum of money, but again, it’s 100 percent legit and open to new players of the site. On a pure dollar basis though, the biggest deal of all is the referral bonus. When topped out, this one alone can reach $6000 in free play. At most places, refer-a-friend offers are throwaway at deals. At BetUS? It sets the bar for all bonuses. These are just two examples of big-money bonuses. But we assure you, this is the norm. BetUS has a dozen or so other deals that are in the same ballpark for casino, crypto, and other special offerings. Alabama bettors looking for free money need not to look anywhere else!

#2 Bovada

Bovada Website Preview
Our score: 4.3/5
Play now on Bovada
Pros
Trustworthy site
Great user experience
Cons
Bonuses pay out cheaply
Dated-looking design
You may be reading this so far and thinking to yourself, “can I really trust these online sportsbooks anyway?” Look, that’s a valid question. You should have some healthy skepticism about this. However, using Bovada will quickly put those concerns to bed. This place is as trusted as can be! How can we say that? Because it wouldn’t be one of the most-used sportsbooks if it weren’t. A sketchy place would drive users away yet Bovada has attracted them in droves since the early 2010s when it was founded (before places like DraftKings). Success like that, especially in this overcrowded industry, tells you about the quality of this bookie. We’ll tell you too: it’s a classic experience. Bovada isn’t the flashiest site with crazy bonuses or unique feature. But here’s the thing — it doesn’t have to be because the experience is so user-friendly. Even a brand-new player can enter Bovada and figure things out because the platform is dead simple and easy to navigate. Dependable, simple, easy to use — that’s Bovada in a nutshell. Alabama bettors are in good hands betting sports here. Oh, and the online casino is pretty underrated too.

#3 XBet

Xbet Website Preview
Our score: 4/5
Play now on Xbet
Pros
Excellent mobile app
Really forward-looking design
Cons
Needs more casino games
More and more, mobile betting is completely taking over the space. At this point, maybe half of bettors have never used a computer to lay a wager, or worse, gone to a physical sportsbook. That’s how far the pendulum has swung. Betting sites have adapted with a full-blown app experience. Out of all that though, XBet has emerged as one of the clear-cut best mobile platforms. The first thing that literally jumps out about XBet’s app is the design. We’ll be honest, most betting sites — even the really good ones — have an ugly-looking platform. This is merely a product of having created it in the 2010s and not really updating it in the time since. Xbet does not suffer from this. We’ve personally seen them update the user interface over the years and it’s a beauty to look at. But even better, the design is highly functional. XBet has a swath of bets available across sports and casino. But that never bogs down the platform when on mobile. Casino games load right on your phone lag-free. This same experience carries over into live betting. All this is to say, errors are hard to find when on XBet’s app. But speaking of the app, it’s extremely accessible. Why? Because there’s no traditional app per se. By that, we mean an app that has to be downloaded from Apple or Google’s app stores. No, all you need to do to bet on the go is pull up Xbet on your mobile device’s web browser — boom, it works just like that! Again, downloading apps is so 2010s, while XBet is with the times. XBet is ahead of the curve on mobile betting. This leads us to believe they’ll also be trend leaders in other categories. The online betting space is always shifting and we’re confident XBet will shift with it — if not create the shift in the first place.

#4 BetOnline

BetOnline Website Preview
Our score: 4/5
Play now on BetOnline
Pros
Deep sportsbook menu
Fair-priced odds
Cons
Sign-up bonus pays peanuts
BetOnline’s sportsbook is something else. While all the sites on this list have well-stocked sports betting menus, the one at BetOnline is on a completely different level. Ultimately, that becomes its market differentiator. Of course, Alabama bettors will get their fix of Crimson Tide wagers here. That’s a no-brainer. The same goes for major sports like the NFL or MLB. However, BetOnline has the same wide support for lesser-known things like cricket or snooker or even politics. The latter of which can only be bet on offshore sites (more on that later). But it’s not just that BetOnline offers a bevy of bets across sports and leagues. No, the same goes for its actual bet types — moneylines, live odds, props, futures, and so forth. It’s this variety where bettors really get their money’s worth, especially in props. Come to BetOnline for massive events like the Super Bowl or March Madness for unique bets you won’t get elsewhere. Last but not least, BetOnline is well-known for just how early it does get bets up. Take the NFL, for example, when one game ends, the next week’s matchup for that time has odds up within minutes (if that opponent has already played). So if you’re impatient, BetOnline might be your destination to get wagers first.

#5 BetNow

BetNow Website Preview
Our score: 4.2/5
Play now on BetNow
Pros
Only sportsbook rebate
Wide variety of promos
Cons
Live betting could be better
BetNow surely has the best name on this list. And it’s true, BetNow readily has bets for you to “bet now” — from sports to casino to poker and more. Bettors sure won’t be bored with the limitless options here. But that goes for the bonus options as much as the betting options. You see, BetNow’s bonuses are impressive. Not in the way that BetUS is with huge dollar values. But impressive in the way that it offers A LOT of deals. By our count, there are four different welcome bonuses, three reload deals, and three rebate programs going on right now. It’s rare to have options galore like this. Most competing sites offer one sign-up bonus and one reload offer, for example. A one-size-fits all approach, which doesn’t make all that much sense. We mean, bettors have different preferences and wall sizes. It’s hard to group them all together. That’s why BetNow’s variety stands out so much. We do want to call out one deal, in particular, and that’s BetNow’s sportsbook rebate. This is truly a one-of-a-kind deal because no other bookmaker offers one. Anywhere. Only BetNow! They will refund two percent of sportsbook losses. Even if that’s not a gigantic number, bettors should just be happy for any refund on sports wagering. All this helps BetNow stand out in the marketplace and in a good way.

#6 Everygame

EveryGame Website Preview
Our score: 3.8/5
Play now on EveryGame
Pros
Solid in-play feature
Tons of soccer bets and promos
Cons
Dated-looking design
Bonuses are cheap
Everygame is based out of Europe. That comes with not-so-surprising features. Things like a massive soccer betting menu, soccer-based promos, and decimal odds — all readily available at Everygame. We know Alabama is a football state, but soccer bettors (if there are any), should look Everygame’s direction. But even if you’re not a soccer enthusiast, Everygame has something else to offer ALL bettors. That’s a slick live betting system. It’s one of the best performers in this feature among all platforms we tested out. For starters, Everygame has in-play odds for A LOT of different sports and leagues. All the major ones will be supported here including NFL, NBA, MLB, La Liga, Premier League, and so on. And when we say support, we mean every single matchup in these leagues will have live betting available. Once on the live bet feature, it works like a charm. Live odds keep up strikingly well with real-time games. Lag is rare, which isn’t always the case with competitors. There’s just a smoothness to using in-play at Everygame that every bettor should experience.

#7 MyBookie

MyBookie Website Preview
Our score: 4/5
Play now on MyBookie
Pros
All-in-one betting destination
Quality rewards program
Cons
Invite-only rewards program
MyBookie is a one-stop shop for online betting. Realistically, a bettor could use MyBookie for all their online betting needs. This is for two reasons. One, the platform is just flat-out good. Some of the qualities we mentioned about the other bookmakers in this last also apply to Mybookie. Two, the number of betting options here is vast. MyBookie’s sportsbook is solid, of course. All the bets you can think of are offered under one roof. But we’re also big fans of MyBookie’s casino. It flies under the radar but it offers hundreds of game options in its own right. Heck, there’s a MyBookie poker room too. All these betting options are interwoven through the MyBookie VIP rewards program. Every single bet made on-site will score you reward points. Some bets pay better than others though. Take a $1 on a sports parlay, that’s worth more than a spin of a slot machine. Point is, MyBookie will reward you for any activity on its platform. Points can be swapped for free play. But here’s the thing, there’s zero cap to how much free play you can tell up like this, unlike one-time sign-up bonuses. MyBookie rewards never, ever end if you keep betting. So for Bama bettors looking to stick with this gambling thing, MYBookie’s VIP incentives are tough to overlook.

Where Are Sportsbooks Like Fanduel, DraftKings, Caesars?

Not here. Seriously, they’re not allowed to operate in Alabama until sports betting gets officially legalized (big if at this point). None of those popular platforms allow bettors to wager from their apps. Give it a try and they’ll be geo-blocked on the spot. No, not even a VPN is good enough to overcome that either.

This leaves offshore betting apps as the sole option for Alabama bettors if they want to wager online. Well, they could find a local, in-person bookie. Honestly though, that’s probably the sketchiest thing you can do. Unless something changes legal-wise, offshore betting remains the best route if inside the state.

Betting On Politics, Esports, Entertainment In Alabama

We referenced this earlier, but it’s so important that it needs its own section. Only offshore betting sites offer wagers on politics (both U.S. and international), entertainment, esports, WWE, and other things in the “nonsport” category. Offering more betting markets is a serious leg up that offshore sites have over licensed apps.

See, licensed apps like BetMGM or ESPN Bet, are not legally allowed to offer these types of wagers. State regulars across the board disallow this. The rule is only “real” sports can be wagered on. That’s another rule that likely won’t be changing anytime soon too.

Betting Apps In Alabama

We have a separate guide to Alabama betting apps. It has the depth of this guide but hyper-focused on the mobile betting scene of Alabama. It’s a beefy topic that needed its own guide. But spoiler alert: some of the sites you saw on this page will also be found there. That’s by design though. If you want to be among the best of the best, you need an app that excels.

Start Betting In Alabama Today — Our Guides

It’s not enough to just bet if you’re an Alabama resident. No, you actually want to win at the damn thing. But how? Welp, research, luck, and more research. We can’t help you in the luck department, but we can at research. Check out some handy, must-read guides on what it takes to be a successful bettor:

Payment Methods Available For Alabama Sportsbooks

You can’t bet at Alabama betting sites without first depositing money. The thing is bookmakers know this and have purposely made it dead-simple to fund your account. That starts by offering many payment methods on-site. Here are the most common ones, plus guides on how to use them:

  • VISA — the co-most popular card accepted on betting sites.
  • Mastercard — the other co-most popular card across the betting landscape.
  • Bitcoin — the payment method that'll earn you the most free play.
  • Bank wire — the tried-and-true payment method.

Alabama Casinos And Resorts

There are only a few casinos in Alabama, with electronic bingo machines and greyhound simulcast wagering offerings.

CasinoCityPhoneType
VictorylandShorter1 334-727-0540Racino (greyhound)
Wind Creek Casino & Hotel AtmoreAtmore1 866-946-3360Native American
Wind Creek Casino & Hotel MontgomeryMontgomery1 866-946-3360Native American
Wind Creek Casino & Hotel WetumpkaWetumpka1 866-946-3360Native American
Last updated on: November 25, 2024

History Of Alabama Legalization Efforts

Alabama has not yet been able to pass regulations around sports betting but it has tried on more than one occasion. Here's what's happened over the last few years:

Several Bills Failed to Grab Traction

In every year since 2018, when federal law changed to allow states to legalize sports betting, someone in the Alabama legislature has introduced a bill to do just that. However, none of them have gained much footing.

In 2019, HB 315, and in 2020, HB 336 would have legalized sports betting in the state. They were both structured very similarly, and, unsurprisingly, both died on the committee.

The 2021 bill was a whole collection, an omnibus. In addition to sports betting, it would have launched an Alabama State Lottery and established casinos. The Senate approved it, but the House did not even take it up. Bettors in Alabama will have to wait until things change a bit.

Alabama continued to fail to license its own local sportsbook in 2022. Sports betting supporters have since pushed even harder in 2023 and 2024, but as of yet, no agreement appears close.

Betting on Alabama Teams

There’s no question that Alabama residents love their sports. While they don’t host any professional league teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL, they do have some great collegiate teams that perform quite well in NCAAF football and NCAA Basketball, such as Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, and Alabama State Hornets. Here's how to get action on 'em:

Betting On Alabama Crimson Tide

The Nick Saban era is officially over in Tuscaloosa so it remains to be seen where the Crmon Tide will continue their dominance in college football without him. Over the last 15 years, bets on Bama paid consistently. Now? We'll see. But you better believe the Tide are freely available to bet at sportsbook we already suggested above!

Other Types Of Betting In Alabama

Earlier in this article, we covered how Alabama had a new bill to legalize sports betting, casinos, and a lottery in one go. One by one, all those got struck down and none passed. Maybe legalized casino and betting aren’t all that surprising, but lottery is. Alabama is one of five U.S. states without a lottery — which should tell you how slim the chances of legalized sports wagering happening is.

Pretty much the only forms of betting in Alabama are horse racing and daily fantasy sports (DFS). DFS platforms like FanDuel and PrizePicks work perfectly fine and are available online. Horse-betting works online too, but oddly enough not in person. Alabama outright banned live horse bets, but allows it via in-person simulcast and online sites.

Sports Betting Rules In Each State

We've done in-depth guides to other states besides Alabama. Check out our complete directory:

Responsible Gaming In Alabama

Before you run off and jump into gambling with all the information we’ve presented, we want to remind you to play smart and stay in control. Read that sentence twice cause it’s important. Gambling should be an enjoyable hobby — not something that causes stress or financial strain or both.

Since there’s no legal sports betting in Alabama, there’s no fully built infrastructure to address problem gambling. It’s for this reason that we’re mentioning it ourselves to close out this guide. You might have to become self-aware of problem gambling like chasing losses, inability to stop playing, borrowing money to gamble, lying about losses, among others.

If you ever catch yourself doing these things, there is some external support. We’re sharing that support below for your convenience. We hope betting never drives you to this point, but it does, these resources will help:

Gamble Aware (https://www.gambleaware.org/)

A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.

International Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.icrg.org/)

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.

24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/)

A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems.

Alabama-specific resources:

Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling Helpline (https://www.alccg.org)

A 24-hour confidential helpline providing support, information, and treatment referrals for problem gambling in Alabama.

Alabama Department of Mental Health – Gambling Addiction Program (https://mh.alabama.gov)

Offers resources and referrals for gambling addiction treatment within Alabama, along with support services for individuals and families.

The Council on Problem Gambling - Alabama Resources (https://www.ncpgambling.org/state/alabama/)

This non-profit can connecxt you to local resources state-by-state