Casinos in Alabama

Home to four casinos in Alabama, three of them are on beautiful Native American Indian reservations, while the other is located in Cottonwood. At Victoryland, Shorter, players can find a horse or dog racing track more commonly known as racino. Although the track doesn’t offer live racing, it does broadcast simulcasts of races from other parts of the country.

Unfortunately, not all forms of gambling are legal in Alabama. However, these well-regulated casinos offer a vast selection of games including bingo and progressive jackpots. All the casinos in the state have bingo halls where players can have a pleasant gaming experience. Among the most common slots, players can find the old classics like Bells Gone Wild, So Hot, and Cherries on Fire. Also, there’s always something new and exciting to play, as the casino providers are constantly adding new games to entice more players. Read on to find out more about the casinos and the gambling regulations in this state.

Are there casinos in Alabama?

Yes, Alabama is home to four casinos in Alabama and one racino – two are commercial and three are American Indian casinos. While the American Indian casinos are gambling facilities built on tribal land, they are owned and run by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Instead, Houston County Economic Development owns and operates the commercial casino in Cottonwood while the racino at Victoryland is owned by Milton McGregor.

The Native American casino hotels have a special history since they have given great value to native communities in terms of wealth and job creation. Over the years, they have built a great reputation for providing a truly excellent gambling experience.

What different type of casino is there in Alabama?

Alabama generally only permits casinos to run on Native American reservations with the exception of the Cottonwood casino and the Victoryland racino. Although the state does not allow casinos to offer table games, players will find the best multi-coin, multi-line, as well as an impressive selection of slots. Bingo is also well catered for in this state.

History of casinos in Alabama

Located in the Bible Belt of America this is a conservative state, so it has been slow to allow gambling. However, this began to change in the 1980s. At that time, the Poach Band of Creek Indians were federally recognized as being the only Native American Tribe in Alabama. This recognition enabled the tribe to open its first electronic bingo hall in Escambia County in 1985. Since then, they have opened 3 casinos. Table games are not permitted at the casinos, as the state only allows Class II gambling. However, there is a huge selection of slot machines and bingo halls.

Full list of Alabama casino

As you can see, Alabama has one of the toughest gambling laws in the United States. Here is the list of casinos available in the state and their locations.

  • Wind Creek Atmore 303 Poarch Rd, Atmore, 36502
  • Victoryland, Shorter, 8680 Co Rd 40, Shorter, AL 36075
  • Wind Creek Montgomery 1801 Eddie L Tullis Rd, Montgomery, 36117
  • Center Stage Bingo 11295 US-231, Cottonwood, 36320
  • Wind Creek Wetumpka 100 River Oaks Dr, Wetumpka, 36092

Best casinos in Alabama

Although there isn’t a large number of casinos in Alabama, the ones that are there cater well to players. The best casino really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to play slots and electronic bingo, then Cottonwood is a great choice for you. However, if you’re after a vast selection of slots, then it’s the Wind Creek Wetumpka. It has over 2500 slots on the casino floor. This casino in Alabama also offers hotel and dining facilities, so you can extend your stay. The Wind Creek Montgomery has a smaller selection of slots but also has hotel and dining facilities. Overall, you should be able to find a casino to suit your needs in this state.

No, online casino gambling is not legal in Alabama. An alternative is social casinos, which offer popular casino games like video poker, slot games, and blackjack. Social casinos are free to play, with no cash exchanged.

The games are available through Facebook apps or on social casino websites. In addition, Alabama permits online pari-mutuel horse racing and Daily Fantasy Sports betting via advance deposit gaming platforms.

Gambling laws in Alabama

Under Alabama, gambling law table games are prohibited. In 1901, the AL law defined gambling as any game for monetary profits that implies an element of luck. For many years, the state has used this loose interpretation to outlaw certain kinds of gambling. Interestingly, horse and dog racing are excluded from the definition, with the argument that racing is a game of skill and not luck.

Bingo and many raffle games are legal since they fall under charitable gaming laws. In March 2020, one of Alabama’s legislators introduced a lottery bill to create a paper lottery.

The plan would allow funds to be used towards problem gambling programs, a college scholarship program, and a pre-kindergarten program.

Quick facts about gambling in Alabama

Here are some quick facts about gambling in this state.

  • 1901 -The Constitution of Alabama states that all gambling activities are illegal
  • 1971 – gambling is ruled as constitutional by the Alabama Supreme Court. This is because they are not purely games of chance, as the race depends on the skill of the horse or dog
  • 1980 – Limited charitable bingo is allowed in Jefferson County
  • 1988 – The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allows casinos to be held on Native American land
  • 2003 – An amendment in the State Constitution allows the Victoryland Racino to be opened in Shorter

Taxation of gambling winning

In Alabama, at the present time, winnings are subject to personal income tax. The rate of tax will depend on how the player won. However, the payable tax is up to the highest threshold of 5%. This will be taken off alongside a 24% federal tax rate.

The future of gambling in Alabama

In 1999, a lottery proposal put forward by Don Siegelman was voted against by state representatives. Since then, any attempt to legalize gambling or open a lottery has hit many brick walls. Some groups are opposed to all gambling, while others cannot agree on how to deal with the proceeds or who should operate the slot machines.

Proposals for a state lottery in Alabama have been drawn up, but it is unlikely that anything will move forward in 2022. The proposal would see the authorization of a state lottery, alongside several betting establishments, 8 full-service casinos with table games as well as slot games, and a few smaller venues. Although the proposal has received a lot of support, it has also received a lot of opposition. Therefore, the future of gambling in Alabama is uncertain. Both sides of the argument have strong opinions and the debate is far from settled.

Summary of casinos in Alabama

In conclusion, although Alabama doesn’t have a lot of brick-and-mortar casinos to choose from, the ones it does have offer plenty of variety. The three largest casinos are on Native American reservations, so they are surrounded by nature, which can make your stay even more enjoyable.

Players will find a good number of slots to choose from, including the old classics and many new titles. Bingo halls also offer something different and give players the chance to win progressive jackpots and big payouts. The combination of gaming options and pleasant surroundings, make these casino hotels something special.