Can I play online poker in Alabama? The answer is yes!
Is it legal to play online poker in Alabama? The answer to this is also yes!
When traveling to the Deep South, it is hard to not notice how much more conservative the citizens are than their counterparts to the north. Alabama does not completely buck this trend, but its stance on gambling is more open than you would expect. While we wouldn’t expect a regulated environment for online poker in Alabama any time soon, the laws they currently do have are not the strictest set of statutes on the books.
This creates a surprisingly adequate, while still not great, experience for the citizens of Alabama. There are a few excellent real-money online gaming options available. It's perfectly legal for you to play them too because laws like the UIGEA and Wire Act only target those responsible for running the games, not individual players.
Below we have compiled a list of those offshore Alabama online poker sites that will give you the best playing experience!
The sites for online poker in Alabama consist mostly of reputable operators, but there are a few shady organizations mixed into the picture. In order to protect you from companies that might be engaged in underhanded business tactics, we've looked closely at all of them and identified those that are known for their trustworthiness and solidity.
No matter which of the below rooms you opt to make your poker home, you'll be treated to fair games, responsive customer support, and the faithful payment of any cash you should happen to win. Read our descriptions of the sites below, and then choose one to sign up at.
When contemplating the best Alabama online poker sites, it would be a mistake to overlook Ignition Poker because it has the largest player traffic numbers and the most games of them all. Some of the formats offered include NL Holdem, PL Omaha, tournaments, fast-fold games, Jackpots, and SNGs. Ignition offers a $150k Gtd event weekly as well as multiple regular MTT series with prize pools as large as seven figures. The unique thing about Ignition Poker is that all users remain anonymous at the tables and are listed solely by a player number that's determined by the specific seat they occupy in a cash game or the order in which they registered in tournaments.
The poker software comes available for download on Mac and PC as well as a mobile client accessible from any browser. When you make your first deposit at this PaiWangLuo Network site, you'll get a 100% up to $1,000 poker bonus (150% up to $1,500 for Bitcoin Deposits) as well as another 100% up to $1,000 to play casino games.
Sportsbetting.ag is well-known for its variety of gambling lineups, which incorporate poker but also casino games, sportsbooks, racebooks, and more. SB Poker is the third-largest poker room available for Americans. Numerous cash game formats including NL Holdem, PLO, and PLO/8 are on offer. Sportsbetting.ag also boasts the largest Bad Beat Jackpot in the industry, occasionally reaching heights of $1 million. Fast-fold poker, SNGs, MTTs, and lottery-style Windfall poker are also available. Promotions, including leaderboards, can also help in boosting your bankroll.
You can download SB Poker on your Windows or Mac devices. There is also a high-quality mobile version available for iOS and Android. You'll be eligible for a poker bonus of 100% up to $1,000. There are also many additional promotions available throughout the casino, sportsbook, and racebook.
BetOnline is a sister site to SB Poker, with both operating on the Chico Poker Network. BetOnline is recognized for offering the best mobile software available. The mobile software offers the same plethora of games and formats as can be found on the desktop version, and the software runs smoothly. Beyond just enjoying the poker room, you can also play in the casino and bet on sports from your smart device.
In addition to a mobile app for iOS and Android, BetOnline also offers downloads for Mac and PC. The first deposit poker bonus is 100% up to $1,000.
Bovada offers all of the same poker tables and games as Ignition because the sites are sisters on the Pai Wang Luo network. However, Bovada has an additional advantage as it contains a sportsbook, which is not present at Ignition. You can bet on baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and all of your favorite sporting events. You can also bet on horse racing, eSports, politics, and all kinds of other contests.
You can download Bovada on any PC or Mac. Furthermore, there's a web-based client that's compatible with iOS, Android, and plenty of other OSes. The poker bonus is worth 100% of your first deposit up to $500, and you can receive additional bonuses for casino games and sports betting.
ACR Poker is the place to be if you wish to build a bankroll from nothing. There are numerous freebuys, freeroll, and micro-stakes tournaments where you can play for free or just a few cents. Interestingly, ACR is one of the last poker options that offer $0.01/$0.02 cash game tables. Of course, there are also plenty of higher-stakes games as well available for more experienced players
ACR Poker supports all Windows and Mac devices, and there's a limited mobile version as well. Our ACR bonus code PRB10FREE is valid for a $10 no deposit bonus. Upon making your first deposit, you'll also receive 100% up to $2,000.
Of the numerous poker sites that maintain a cryptocurrency focus, CoinPoker is the most popular by player traffic. All play is denominated in USDT (Tether) although you can utilize several other coins for deposits and withdrawals, like Ether and Bitcoin. The lineup here includes NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, and 5 Card Omaha. Leaderboards run weekly and monthly to reward dedicated cash game and tournament grinders.
CoinPoker offers software that is widely compatible with many devices including PCs, Macs, iOS devices, and Android phones and tablets. CoinPoker currently boasts three separate welcome deposit bonuses of 100% up to $100, 100% up to $300, and 100% up to $700. You can also receive 33% rakeback if you keep a balance of the proprietary CHP token.
Everygame has been in the gambling industry for more than 30 years, starting off as an offline bookie before transferring its operations to the internet in 1996. When you opt to play at Everygame, you'll be able to take advantage of a number of promotional deals including 36% rakeback, rake races, reload bonuses, and a robust VIP program.
Windows users can download the Everygame Poker client while those using other hardware can utilize an Instant Play interface to play using any modern browser. The welcome poker bonus is 200% up to $1,000 as well as 25 free casino spins. Additional bonuses are available through the sportsbook and the two additional casinos, Casino Red and Casino Classic.
SwCPoker operates its cashier functions and all gameplay in Bitcoin. The gameplay on offer is quite varied with all of the usual poker formats, like NL Hold'em and PL Omaha, but also numerous obscure types of poker like HORSE, Open Face Chinese, 2 to 7 Triple Draw, and Razz. Micro-stakes tables are not subject to any rake and plenty of freerolls serve to place some extra cash back in players' pockets.
SwC operates on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. Although SwC lacks a first deposit bonus, it offers users up to 50% rakeback depending on volume of play.
Unlike many crypto-focused poker sites, Nitrobetting utilizes Bitcoin exclusively for its cashier functions and gameplay. There are no alternative cryptos in use here, creating a streamlined and simple user experience. Formats on offer include No Limit Hold'em, Crazy Hold'em, Six Plus Hold'em, and Pot Limit Omaha. Freerolls can give newer players an opportunity to win, and leaderboards reward regular grinders every week.
Nitrobetting runs in any web browser, and thus the software functions on pretty much any device including mobile and tablet devices. Upon completing your first deposit, you'll get a 100% up to 25mBTC poker bonus. Check out the attached sportsbook and casino for additional promotional value.
All of the poker rooms we've talked about above are fine places to play, and we can't really say that any of them is directly better than the others. This is because they each have their own unique selling points and drawbacks. It's on you to evaluate the factors that are important to you when making your selection. Despite the fact that we can't make your decision for you, we do have a list of points that you may wish to think about while pondering the pros and cons of each site.
✜ If you're particularly attracted to the thought of a large bonus, then ACR Poker offers a 100% bonus up to $2,000.
✜ If you want to see full lobbies and a broad range of games available, then Ignition, Bovada and ACR Poker will likely meet with your approval.
✜ If a killer rakeback deal is your goal, then it may be profitable to sign up at Everygame with 36%. Coin Poker also offers up to 33% rakeback if CHP coins are held.
✜ If you're keen on scoring regular promotional rewards, then ACR's Elite Benefits and Everygame's Loyalty Levels are for you.
✜ If you're looking to play from a Mac or mobile, then SB Poker, BOL, Coin Poker, Bovada, and Ignition have well-rounded software that supports your platform.
✜ If you want to conduct multiple types of betting using one account then Sportsbetting.ag, BetOnline, Bovada, Everygame, and Nitrobetting have sports and casinos in addition to poker.
✜ If the nonstop action of fast-fold poker appeals to you, then Ignition and Bovada's Zone Poker along with ACR's Blitz games will leave you satisfied.
It's a cinch to retrieve your winnings after you encounter success at the tables. All of the Alabama online poker sites are able to send you a check in the amount of your cashout. At some of them, additional methods for requesting your cash may be available, like bank wires and money transfers.
The superior processor for most users is Bitcoin, which all of our recommended sites transact in. By moving your money around via the Bitcoin network, you can avoid most of the fees and delays inherent in old-school banking solutions. If you're not yet familiar with how to employ Bitcoin for your online gaming needs, then you would do well to examine our walkthrough to getting set up with Bitcoin.
Perhaps you happen to have another address in a nearby state, be it your business location, summer home, second apartment, family homestead, etc. If so, then you may have other online poker options available to you. Here is a list of the states that border Alabama and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee. If you seek info about internet poker in the United States as a whole rather than any individual state, then our U.S.A. players guide ought to prove useful.
You may have friends or family members whom you feel would like to learn more about the topic of online poker in Alabama. This is a subject that many people are ignorant about, but you can help spread the knowledge of the game you love by sharing this page with them.
This section aims to provide factual information regarding the laws and legality involving online poker and gambling within the state of Alabama, land-based gambling information, current and future state regulations, and the history of poker and gambling in the state.
As may be perhaps guessed from its conservative reputation, Alabama doesn't look favorably on gambling, and most forms of this pastime are strictly prohibited. We can review the code and how it treats real money gaming for ourselves by looking at Title 13A - Criminal Code, Chapter 12 - Offenses Against Public Health and Morals, Article 2 - Gambling Offenses. Before we go any further, let's consider a few definitions, which are found in § 13A-12-20:
(3) 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.
(4) 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. Gambling does not include bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts, including but not limited to contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities, and agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health or accident insurance.
Well, that's quite a wordy passage, but it's pretty similar to what's found in several other states. Basically, the question of whether or not poker is held to be a type of gambling hinges on if it “depends in a material degree upon an element of chance.”
This Material Element Test isn't well-defined, and how it's interpreted in any given case is basically up to the discretion of whoever is making the decision. Respected gambling attorney Erica Okerberg has detailed the issues with this test in an article hosted at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas website. Unfortunately, in Garret v. State (2007), the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals stated that Texas Hold'em was a game of chance and is thus considered gambling under the state's legal code.
Now, let's look at the main charge that individual players could face, which is called “simple gambling” and is explained in § 13A-12-21:
(a) A person commits the crime of simple gambling if he knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity as a player.
(b) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that a person charged with being a player was engaged in a social game in a private place. The burden of injecting the issue is on the defendant, but this does not shift the burden of proof.
(c) Simple gambling is a Class C misdemeanor.
This seemingly basic law actually has a few points that merit further elucidation. To “profit from gambling activity” in (a) above is clarified in the definitions section, which delineates that one must have entered into an agreement to share in the proceeds of such activity to be deemed to be profiting from it. This probably doesn't affect online poker players except perhaps those who are also affiliates. However, you can “advance gambling activity” by allowing property you control to be used for the purposes of gambling activity, and so setting up and running an online poker client on your PC and in engaging in real money poker play might qualify.
There's a very broad exception for social games although there's nothing defining what a social game is anywhere in Alabama law. Any social game must occur in a private place to be excluded from falling into the category of “simple gambling.” We imagine that this includes traditional home games that many of our readers like to participate in, and under some interpretations, it could also include members-only card clubs.
Simple gambling is a Class C misdemeanor. Under AL law, such offenses are punishable by up to three months in jail and/or a fine of up to $500.
Alabama police use their discretion in arresting people for simple gambling. Usually, they leave live games alone, even if they're unquestionably illegal unless they receive complaints about them or the stakes are particularly high. Even in these cases, they sometimes just tell the players to stop without taking any other enforcement action.
When it comes to online card games, though, there has never been an arrest, much less a conviction, for any regular player in Alabama. You'll be totally fine, from a legal perspective, as a private player of online poker in Alabama.
There are more severe laws on the books for those who actually derive a profit from illicit gambling games. Promoting gambling, conspiracy to promote gambling, possession of gambling records, possession of a gambling device, exhibiting gambling devices, and transportation of lottery paraphernalia are just a few of the actions that can cause someone to run afoul of the Alabama gaming laws. Perhaps the weirdest proscription against gambling-related pursuits is found in § 13A-12-50:
Unlawful to maintain electric bells, etc.
No person or persons shall maintain or use any electric bells, wires or signals or any elevators or dumbwaiters or other implements or appliances connected with any gaming place or rooms used for gaming, which may be used for the purpose of communicating with the occupants of such gaming house or rooms used for gaming or with those who may be within, and any person who erects, maintains or uses any such bells, wires, signals or elevators or dumbwaiters or other implements or appliances or devices of like kind for said purpose shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary for not less than one nor more than five years.
This language gives us an impression of how old the relevant passages of Alabama law are. Most of them haven't been updated for more than a quarter-century. Despite the fact that there are many misdemeanor and felony charges that could potentially be brought against the operators of AL gambling sites, none of the U.S.-facing internet poker rooms seem too worried about them, and they all serve residents of the Yellowhammer State. It's possible that some of these statutes wouldn't hold up in court due to the legal doctrine of desuetude.
§ 13A-12-31 declares that this chapter of law doesn't apply to regulated pari-mutuel wagering as authorized by the state. Bingo is also permitted in certain localities around the state under the terms of various amendments to the state constitution.
Alabama is one of the few states that does not have a state lottery in place, which is rather surprising because even fairly conservative states that neighbor Alabama partake in state-sponsored lotteries. This is not to say though that there aren't any regulated land-based gambling options within the state's borders. There are pari-mutuel racing tracks, tribal casinos, and bingo games.
The three tribal casinos, all managed by the Poarch tribe, are not anything too big though, and they don't have poker rooms. The poker economy is not strong in the state and nothing has been able to really break through.
We would say the chances are not very high that Alabama regulates any kind of online gambling, including poker. The voting blocks in the state are very conservative, and they have shown that they are going to hold true to the values of the more traditional interest groups, which are generally not in favor of any kind of online gambling.
There have never been any attempts in the Alabama Legislature to introduce any bill setting up an internet poker framework. Furthermore, the Poarch Band, which operates tribal casinos in the state, has been trying to make a deal with Alabama whereby they would be the only group authorized to offer real money gaming. The Poarch are willing to spend quite a bit of money for this concession, which would fill the state's depleted (and often negative) coffers nicely. If such an arrangement were made, then this would act as a significant barrier to entry for any other organization that would be interested in lobbying for the institution of a legalized AL online poker market.
It's hard to dig up comprehensive records on gambling in early Alabama. The area was mostly inhabited by native tribes and was alternately controlled by the French, Spanish, and British before most of this territory was transferred to the United States in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Alabama achieved statehood in 1819, becoming the 22nd state.
During the next few decades, most of the gambling that occurred was in small-scale games in local saloons and taverns. There were a few attempts at regulating them, but this was mostly done locally rather than at a state level. Riverboats started to ply the waters of the rivers that drained into Mobile Bay, and Mobile became a major port city. Gambling flourished particularly in one district known as “Shakespeare's Row,” which contained games like roulette and faro along with prostitution. Toward the end of the 19th century, steam-powered river craft waned in importance as the railroad spread across the nation.
Betting on horse races had always been popular, and a number of tracks opened up. By the 1890s, Birmingham had two race courses: Trotwood Park and the Jockey Club.
However, the 1901 Constitution of Alabama contained a blanket ban on gambling, and so betting on the ponies came to an end. Incidentally, this 1901 constitution – still in effect now though heavily amended – weighs in at 310,296 words, making it the longest constitution active today not just in any U.S. state but anywhere in the world. Among the myriad clauses contained in this document is the following from Section 65, “The legislature shall have no power to authorize lotteries or gift enterprises for any purposes…” Lotteries were widely considered to encompass any type of real money gaming at the time, and so this basically ended all legal gambling within Alabama.
For a while, the options for gambling within The Heart of Dixie were sparse indeed, but they were boosted by the passage of Prohibition in the state in 1915, quite a bit sooner than most of the rest of the country. Speakeasies often contained gambling within them, such as the remarkable establishment that opened up in the DeSoto Caverns about 40 miles southeast of Birmingham. Unfortunately, violence marred this outlet for wagering services, and it was shut down by the authorities. There are still bullet holes in some of the rocks.
When Fort Benning opened in Georgia in 1918, Phenix City just across the border in Alabama saw an opportunity. Young soldiers could be counted on to spend their pay on booze, hookers, and gambling, and so a lucrative market developed. Corrupt businessmen paid off local officials to look the other way as they engaged in these practices. It's reported that almost all of the games were crooked, and if anybody complained, he was roughed up by bouncers and thrown outside.
At times, the military officers at Fort Benning tried to prevent their men from seeking out the entertainments in Phenix City, but it proved impossible to enforce this policy. The illicit trade grew during the '30s and '40s, leading U.S. Secretary of War Henry Stimson to declare Phenix City “the wickedest city in America,” and General George S. Patton allegedly threatened to flatten it with tanks.
Local lawyer Albert Patterson ran for Attorney General of Alabama in 1954, promising to clean Phenix City up, but he was assassinated before the election. If those who conspired to have him killed thought that this would ensure the continued success of their illegal operations, they were mistaken. A wave of public outrage swept the state, and martial law was declared. The state brought in special prosecutors, and hundreds of indictments were filed against corrupt city employees and gambling tycoons.
Albert Patterson's son, John, ran for election in his stead and won. The illicit gambling and prostitution houses that made Phenix City famous were soon closed.
During this same era, the underground Alabama live poker scene was alive and well. Julius “Little Man” Popwell was one of the professional stud poker players who would seek out the biggest games around the state. Eventually, he set up his own gambling shop in the basement of his Shelby County house, which had poker, craps, numbers, and other gaming amusements. So much money was floating around the Alabama poker circuit that it attracted gamblers from other states, like Texan Johnny Moss.
Eventually, the authorities in Montgomery warmed to the idea of very limited forms of cash gaming. Pari-mutuel betting was ruled to be constitutional by the Alabama Supreme Court in 1971. Greyhound racing soon started, and the Birmingham Race Track offered horse races beginning in 1987. However, horse racing didn't attract as much attention as was hoped, and it ended in 1992.
In 1980, the state's constitution was changed to allow counties to promulgate bingo rules. Most of the entities so licensed are nonprofits, but a few commercial bingo halls have appeared. The most famous of them is VictoryLand in Shorter, which used to have thousands of electronic bingo machines. This company has had frequent court battles with the government over whether or not these gaming machines are a legitimate form of bingo under the law. VictoryLand was shut down for a while, but it reopened in September 2016.
In 1985, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians started a bingo parlor in Altmore, and the group has since opened up two more casinos. However, the tribe has not yet signed a compact with Alabama, so it's not able to offer casino table games or poker.
In 2016, the state's attorney general declared Daily Fantasy Sports to be against the law. However, the legislature passed a DFS legalization bill in 2019. Nevertheless, legalized sports betting has not yet arrived in Alabama despite several attempts to pass the needed legislation,
Below, you will find a detailed timeline covering the history of the major gambling-related events in Alabama.
For a state with a historical animosity to gambling and located far away from the country's poker hotspots, Alabama has produced a fair share of notable practitioners of the game. Perhaps the one with the most enduring fame is Hoyt Corkins, born in 1959 in Glenwood.
Hoyt first began studying poker during his teenage years, being instructed in the subtle arts of the pastime by observing home games that his father hosted. First garnering big-time tournament success in 1989 with a fourth-place finish in the World Series of Poker $2,500 PLO event, he followed up by winning his first bracelet a few years later in 1992 in the WSOP $5,000 PLO tournament, taking home the top prize of $96,000.
Corkins then took 11 years off from poker, but he returned with a vengeance in 2003. Proving that he still had what it took to compete against the youngsters then dominating the game, Hoyt prevailed in the $10,200 World Poker Tour Mashantucket NLHE event, picking up a prize of $1,089,200. In 2007, he scooped up his second piece of WSOP gold hardware by winning the $2,500 6-max NLHE tournament for $515,065.
In total, Hoyt Corkins has more than $6 million in live tournament winnings to his name, including more than 50 cashes in WSOP events. The only other Alabama poker player with higher earnings to his credit is Shannon Shorr who has accumulated a hefty $11.1 million in offline tourney cashes.
Shorr was born in Birmingham in 1985 although he now resides in Tuscaloosa. Shannon was an engineering student at the University of Alabama, but he soon fell under the spell of online poker, in which he played up to eight tables at a time. In 2005, he took time off from school to see how far he could go in the world of live poker tournaments.
Because he was underage at the time, he had to go abroad to jurisdictions where he was permitted to compete while between the ages of 18 and 21. This proved only a minor obstacle, and in January 2006, Shannon notched his first major tournament score for around $200k in the $10,500 Main Event of the Crown Australian Poker Championship in Melbourne. Needless to say, Shorr elected to remain on the tournament circuit for a while rather than completing his degree.
Since then, Shannon Shorr has traveled to more than 30 countries, racking up more than 350 cashes in major live tournaments, including over 100 cashes in WSOP bracelet events. However, he has not yet won a WSOP tourney: a target that he will no doubt be gunning for in the upcoming years.
Poker is not the only game you can play while residing in or visiting Alabama. Many of the poker sites referenced above offer additional casino games including slots, table games, and specialty games such as bingo or keno. Many of these sites also offer a sportsbook to wager on the outcome of sporting events.
With just three land-based tribal casinos within the state, it's pretty slim pickings for Alabama casino enthusiasts. That's why many of them head online to offshore casino providers. You can thus play blackjack, roulette, slots, and all your other favorite casino diversions from the comfort of your own home.
You needn't go to all the trouble of researching and evaluating hundreds of operators to find a casino home online because we have done this hard work for you. Below are our top three picks for proven online casinos:
You can explore other reliable options with this list of trusted US online casinos.
Despite several attempts to get the needed legislation passed, there's currently no framework for state-licensed sports betting in Alabama. Therefore, you will need to head online to international sportsbooks if you want to make wagers on the outcomes of sporting events.
Here are our top three offshore sportsbooks for Alabamans:
To read more about these and other sports betting sites, check out this list of reputable internet sportsbooks for Americans.
There are no practical obstacles to playing online poker in Alabama. No laws are enforced against the activity, and there are several top-notch sites that are waiting to serve you. Join up at one of our recommended operators today, and take a seat at exciting Alabama online poker tables.
Online poker in Alabama is a subject that's complex and has a lot of moving parts. If you still have unanswered questions about it, then look below in our FAQ where there's a good chance that you'll find the answers.
No, Alabama has not established any legal framework for the regulation of online poker. What's more, the conservative nature of the state's population makes it highly unlikely that any legislation to change this situation will be passed. Fortunately, there are a number of offshore poker providers that are happy to accept Alabama residents as customers regardless of how the authorities in Montgomery feel about it.
Yes, poker played over the internet is effectively legal in Alabama. Though there are anti-gambling laws that could potentially apply, the truth of the matter is that these laws have never been used to go after online poker players. Therefore, from a legal perspective, you're totally in the clear if you wish to partake in online poker in Alabama.
Yes, PokerStars is offering its services to Alabamans legally. However, these services are limited to play money games, and it's impossible to play at PokerStars for real money in Alabama.
The reason for this lies in Black Friday and the charges levied against PokerStars at that time. In order to clear its name legally, the company pledged to abstain from operating in U.S. markets for real money except it those states where it holds a valid license to offer online gaming. As of May 2023, the states in which PokerStars is permitted to offer its full lineup of products are: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Until PokerStars obtains similar licensure in Alabama, all players from the Yellowhammer State are restricted to games using practice chips. And the prospects of such licensure ever being granted in Alabama are slim to none at least in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you'll have to find another site to play at if you intend to engage in real money online poker while living in Alabama.
Yes, it's legal for Ignition to provide poker games to residents of Alabama. Certain officials in Washington might beg to differ, but the United States government has already been found to be breaking its treaty obligations by seeking to block offshore gaming firms from transacting within its borders. Under well-understood international trade laws, Ignition is within its legal rights to transact in Alabama.
Yes, BetOnline is a legal Alabama internet poker destination. BetOnline is licensed in Panama, and it is therefore subject to the laws of that jurisdiction rather than the laws of the United States. Under Panamanian law, BOL is allowed to do business with customers in many parts of the world, including Alabama.
Global says that it's completely legal in Alabama for convoluted reasons that we don't have the space to go into here. Suffice it to say that we here at ProfRB have our doubts. You can learn more about this topic and everything else relating to the site in our thorough Global Poker review.
Alabama has several minimum gambling ages depending on the type of betting involved. For parimutuel racetrack wagering, the age is either 18 or 19 depending on the county in which the racetrack is located. For charitable bingo, one must be at least 19 to play legally although there's an exception for minors accompanied by a parent or guardian. The theoretical minimum age for casino gaming in Alabama is 19; however, all three tribal casinos in the state have set a higher age of 21 to be able to play.
The situation online is a lot less complex. Almost every online gaming provider accepts customers who are over the age of 18. As long as you're 18 or above, you can sign up and play.
Should you be younger than 18, we advise you to wait until you're of legal age to play before registering any online poker accounts. If you attempt to bypass the rules by giving false personal information to the sites, then you will likely encounter trouble when it's time to verify your account. Should your deception be detected, then your account will likely be terminated and your balance confiscated.
No, setting up an illegal gambling enterprise in Alabama is just asking for trouble. Unlike the state's legal provisions against individual gamblers, which are basically just slaps on the wrist, those dealing with the principals of illicit gaming concerns are a lot more severe.
Any attempts to run an underground Alabama gambling enterprise could trigger federal charges in addition. Just look at what happened in January 2023 when six Alabama individuals (along with five people from other states) were indicted for offenses related to an illegal sports betting scheme. They had to face federal charges related not only to running an illegal sports betting organization but also money laundering and tax evasion.
Alabama online poker sites support a variety of payment channels. Depending on the particular operator, you may have recourse to credit cards, money orders, bank wires, and other deposit and withdrawal options. One thing that all of companies on our recommended list have in common is their acceptance of Bitcoin.
Bitcoin facilitates low-cost, speedy transactions with relative anonymity. Best of all, it lets you evade cumbersome banking regulations and government diktats pertaining to what you do with your own money. We heartily advise our readers to employ BTC or another cryptocurrency for all their online gaming needs.
Lately, several altcoins have also been gaining in popularity among internet poker rooms although none are yet as popular as Bitcoin. Still, you may wish to read up on Bitcoin Cash's use for online poker and gambling as well as Ethereum internet gaming.
Yes, you have to pay taxes in Alabama on your income from online poker just as you would from any other form of personal income. This is true at the federal level too. Both the Alabama Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service expect to receive their cut of whatever online poker winnings you collect.
We strongly advise you to maintain copious records of your online poker wins and losses because offshore sites won't perform this task for you. Then when it's time to file the necessary paperwork, you ought to comply with tax laws and pay whatever you owe. Should you require further assistance with the needed calculations, we urge you to consult with a CPA or qualified tax lawyer.
Yes, mobile poker for Alabama players is a reality in this day and age. Most online poker rooms, like Ignition, Bovada, BetOnline, and SB Poker, provide comprehensive mobile poker solutions that effectively mirror the experience you would have playing on a desktop, and their full range of poker games is available to players on tablets and phones. Other rooms, like Everygame and ACR Poker, host only limited mobile poker clients, which let you participate in a subset of the games that are available to play on a desktop. To access this functionality, you might have to download an app to your device, but at other sites, mobile poker is loadable directly from a website, and no separate app needs to be installed.
Yes, quite a few poker firms now provide Mac-compatible poker software. Even at those sites that don't host a dedicated Mac poker product, you may have success running the Windows poker client on your Mac through emulation software, like Parallels.
Pickings are slim for Alabama gambling, but you can find out more about them with these links:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!
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