Alabama Online Poker is available & absolutely Legal in 2023

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. 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.

1

IGNITION

BONUS:

150% up to $1,500

★★★★★

4.5 / 5

BEST AL ONLINE POKER SITE WITH THE MOST TRAFFIC

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO

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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, Limit Omaha 8, 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.

VISIT IGNITION POKER NOW

2

SB POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

BEST AL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BAD BEAT JACKPOT

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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Sportsbetting.ag is well-known for its variety of gambling lineups, which incorporate poker but also casino games, sportsbooks, racebooks, and more. Sportsbetting.ag 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.

VISIT SB POKER NOW

3

BETONLINE

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

BEST AL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR MOBILE USERS

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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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.

VISIT BETONLINE NOW

4

BOVADA

BONUS:

100% up to $500

★★★★★

4.2 / 5

BEST AL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BETTING ON SPORTS

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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Bovada offers all of the same poker tables and games as Ignition because the sites are sisters on the Pai Wang Luo network of sites. 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.

VISIT BOVADA NOW

5

AMERICAS CARDROOM

BONUS:

100% up to $2,000

★★★★★

4.0 / 5

BEST AL ONLINE POKER SITE WITH FREE BANKROLL OFFER

NETWORK:

WINNING

FREE

$10

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Americas Cardroom 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

Americas Cardroom supports all Windows 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.

VISIT AMERICAS CARDROOM NOW

6

COIN POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $700

★★★★★

3.9 / 5

BEST AL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR CRYPTO GAMING

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

30% RAKEBACK

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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, 5 Card Omaha, and Open Face Chinese. 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 30% rakeback if you keep a balance of the proprietary CHP token.

VISIT COIN POKER NOW

7

EVERYGAME

BONUS:

200% up to $1,000

★★★★★

3.8 / 5

BEST AL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR RAKEBACK

NETWORK:

HORIZON

EXTRAS

CASINOS, SPORTSBOOK

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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 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.

VISIT EVERYGAME NOW

8

SWCPOKER

BONUS:

NONE

★★★★★

3.6 / 5

BEST AL ONLINE SITE FOR # OF POKER VARIANTS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

FREEROLLS

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SwCPoker operates its cashier functions and all gameplay in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. 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 their volume of play.

VISIT SWCPOKER

9

NITROBETTING

BONUS:

100% up to 25 mBTC

★★★★★

3.3 / 5

BEST AL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BITCOINERS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

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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.

VISIT NITROBETTING NOW

How to Choose the Best Alabama Poker Site for Your Style of Play

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.

How Do I Receive Payouts and Withdrawals in Alabama?

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.

Alternatives to Registering Your Account in the State of Alabama

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.

Facts About Alabama's Poker Industry

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.

The Legality of Playing Online Poker in Alabama

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.

Land-Based Gambling

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.

State Regulation

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.

History of Poker in Alabama

Map of Mobile Bay, 1861

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. Below, you will find a detailed timeline covering the history of the major gambling-related events in Alabama.

Other Types of Gambling in Alabama

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.

Online Casinos

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:

1. Cafe Casino - PRB Exclusive 350% up to $5,000 BTC Bonus

2. Wild Casino - $9,000 in Bonuses on Your First 5 Deposits

3. Ignition Casino - 150% up to $1,500 on Your Bitcoin Deposit

You can explore other reliable options with this list of trusted US online casinos.

Online Sportsbooks

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:

1. Bovada Sports - 75% up to $750 Bitcoin Sports Bonus

2. Sportsbetting.ag - 100% up to $1,000 + 35% up to $350 Reloads (With BTC)

3. Everygame Sports - Up to $250 Bonus on Three Deposits and Monthly Promos

To read more about these and other sports betting sites, check out this list of reputable internet sportsbooks for Americans.

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!