Besides having legal on-property betting on horse racing, dog racing or jai-alai, these casinos are almost identical to most other land-based casinos. However, depending on the laws of the states where they are located, some may not offer live table games, or may only have slot machines. The gambling laws in Alabama have made it so that land-based gambling is essentially barred. There are Indian casinos, but the non-Indian bingo casinos have all been shut down.

This is a list of casinos in Alabama.

List of casinos[edit]

History[edit]

Legality of electronic bingo[edit]

Alabama has had many 'electronic bingo' parlors which feature slot machines that are or are similar to Class II gaming machines. The legality of these vary from county to county, and are in a near-constant state of flux. In particular, most such parlors were closed through the efforts of an anti-gambling task force put in place by Gov. Bob Riley early in 2010. But in March 2010, the Alabama Supreme Court determined that Riley did not have the authority to convene such a task force, but that power rested with Attorney GeneralTroy King. Shortly after the task force was sidelined, e-bingo parlors reopened in cities which had previously enacted ordinances permitting and regulating such halls. Additionally, Victoryland also reopened after a brief closure. (Greenetrack and the three Poarch Band of Indians gaming facilities did not close.)

At one time, several counties in Alabama featured numerous e-bingo halls, most notably Walker County, with halls large and small mostly concentrated along the former U.S. Highway 78 between Jasper and the Jefferson County line, ranging in size from converted small storefronts to large halls with hundreds of machines. But a ruling in a lawsuit by the Walker County sheriff determined that the machines in the county's halls were illegal, and the halls were forced to close. District attorneys in Jefferson County used that ruling to justify their order of closure for halls in that county. However, several large halls in Fairfield remained open because the city had passed specific ordinances permitting them. Those halls closed during the governor's task force raids in January 2010, but reopened on March 12, 2010 when the task force was invalidated. They again closed briefly in April 2010, as a part of the ongoing controversy over their legality and a dispute over jurisdiction between Riley and King.

In late May 2010, in yet another legal action in the anti-gambling feud between Riley and King, the Alabama Supreme Court determined that Riley had the ultimate authority to appoint an anti-gambling task force. Riley then announced plans to reactivate the task force, and the district attorney in the Bessemer Cutoff area of Jefferson County (including Fairfield) advised halls there to shut down immediately, or risk having their machines seized. King announced he would no longer interfere with the governor's efforts. Halls began closures on May 24, 2010. Victoryland and Greenetrack remained open for the time being. Poarch Creek operations were not affected, as the state has no jurisdiction over them.

Fairfield legalized large electronic bingo halls in mid-2009, with certain requirements for minimum number of gaming machines. Bamaco Bingo opened in September 2009 with more than 800 machines installed and announced plans for up to 5,000 machines. Two other large e-bingo halls, Bingo Fantastico and World Bingo, later opened adjacent to Bamaco, followed by Legacy Bingo in March 2010. All except Bingo Fantastico occupied empty 'big box' retail stores; Bingo Fantastico replaced a roller skating rink. Three other small bingo halls, including one that shared space with an automotive repair shop, were also located in Fairfield. The city received a permit fee of $100 per machine per month, and bingo was a major tax source for the city.

Bessemer, Alabama had some e-bingo halls in place, but their legality was in question due to a dispute between the city council, which voted to allow the halls, and the mayor, who opposed gambling. Those halls remained closed after the task force invalidation. Other smaller halls were located in cities and unincorporated areas near Bessemer; they also closed later.

Two other large e-bingo halls, Country Crossing in Dothan and White Hall Gaming Center between Selma and Montgomery, were shut down by the task force.

Throughout the controversy, the Poarch Creek band's operations not only continued, they expanded. Facilities in Wetumpka, Atmore and suburban Montgomery added to their gaming floors, and the Wetumpka and Atmore facilities added new high-rise hotels.

In July 2010, after all legal avenues were exhausted, state police and the task force shut down machines at Greenetrack in Eutaw, Alabama, then later at Victoryland. And on October 4, 2010, federal prosecutors filed charges against and arrested Victoryland owner Milton McGregor and several members of the Alabama State Senate in a corruption investigation regarding the entire affair.^[1]

In 2016, after winning a ruling in a federal court against the state, Victoryland reopened its electronic bingo floor on September 14, 2016.^[2]

The legal gambling age in Alabama is 21+ for poker, for the Poarch Band of Creek tribal casinos, and for the electronic bingo parlours. ^[3]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^Byerele, Dana (2010-10-04). 'VictoryLand owner, state senators arrested'. The Tuscaloosa News.
2. ^Moon, Josh (September 14, 2016). ''Victoryland reopens to large crowd''. Montgomery Advertiser.
3. ^''USA Gambling Guide - detailed breakdown, state by state''. March 2, 2021.

External links[edit]

• Media related to Casinos in Alabama at Wikimedia Commons

TYPES OF CASINOS IN ALABAMA

Alabama only allows casinos to be operated on Native American reservations and those casinos are not allowed to have table games. The Indian casinos in Alabama exclusively offer Class II video gaming machines. Class II video gaming machines are devices that look similar to slot machines, but in actuality these machines are bingo games and the spinning reels, are deemed for “entertainment purposes” only.

The minimum age to gamble at casinos in Alabama is 21 and all Alabama casinos are open 24 hours.

Shown below is a list of all Alabama casinos. Click on a name to see a page of detailed information about that particular Alabama casino.

Want to See a Map of all casinos in Alabama?

Visit our Alabama casinos map page to see a detailed map showing all casinos in that state.

Gambling Laws in Alabama

Under Alabama law tables games are not legal. This drives most of the gambling population to cross the Mississippi to a neighboring state where table games are available. In 1901 Alabama law defined gambling as “any game for financial gain that implies an element of chance.” For years Alabama has used this loose interpretation as a means to outlaw many popular gambling games. Interestingly enough though, racing dogs and horses are exempt from the definition, with the argument being that races are actually a game of skill and not chance.

Bingo and various raffle games are legal as they fall under charitable gaming laws through a very strict license that implies specific conditions be met. At this time however, no one in Alabama has been tried or charged for participating in any online gambling. Alabama also does hold a state lottery, nor do they participate in any national programs of a similar nature.

Options For Gambling in Alabama

Alabama’s ban on gambling dates as far back as the 19th century, where gambling was predominantly done on steamboats. Even today, years later, there has been little to no change to the existing legislative ban on gambling. Under Alabama state law playing in home games as well as social gambling settings can still be considered illegal, as can friendly bets in office pools. Alabama gambling laws have some of the harshest penalties. Simple gambling is a misdemeanor that could get you up to three months in jail, and a $500 fine for each infraction. In Alabama even having a device for gambling is a felony. If convicted, you would lose your voting and gun ownership rights and be liable to pay $15,000 in fines.

Gambling venues within Alabama often include restaurants with buffets, as well as live entertainment. Some places offer resort-style amenities as well as areas to allow for sports betting alongside betting on dog and horse races.

There are two casinos within 15 miles of Albama’s capital city of Montgomery: Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka & Wind Creek Casino Montgomery. There are no casinos located within Birmingham, Alabama. Nor, are there casinos located in Mobile, Alabama. The closest casino would be Wind Creek Casino Atmore which is approximately, 50 miles northeast of downtown Mobile.

Slot Machine Payback Percentages at Alabama Indian Casinos

According to the latest edition of the American Casino Guide book, no public information is available regarding what slot machines pay back to the public in Alabama. Unlike the casinos in Alabama, in many states the slot machine payback statistics for that particular state’s casinos are released as a matter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for casinos in all U.S. states.

Planning a Visit to Alabama Casinos?

For more information on visiting casinos in Alabama, or for general tourism information, call the Alabama Tourism Department at (800) 252-2262, or visit their website at: https://alabama.travel

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TOP THINGS TO DO IN ALABAMA

Alabama is a southern state filled with many attractions suitable for tourists seeking eventful vacation as well as lots of opportunities where you can just sit back and relax. The state has a rich cultural heritage and history and is home to many landmarks of the American Civil Rights Movement, as well as natural attractions like mesmerizing sandy beaches, state parks, and nature reserves that you will surely love.

U.S. Space and Rocket Center

This museum is located in Huntsville and it is a great place for tourists that love space travel history or science. The center features the US space program and several exhibits that you can visit. It is regarded to be the largest space Museum on the earth and it is filled with artifacts that are associated with space exploration. You should make sure not to miss exhibits on the Space Shuttle program, Apollo program, and Army aircraft and rocketry.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka.

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

The USS Alabama is a retired World War ll-era battleship docket at Memorial Park in Mobile and can be found along the waterfront. This is a great place to go if you love history and the military. The Memorial includes a number of ships and submarine that were used during the Second World War. A tour of the Alabama includes access to many parts of the ship including the mess hall, captain’s cabin, turrets, and bridge. You are also going to see numerous aircraft here like an A-12 Black Bird spy plane, B-52 bomber and military equipment like weapons and tanks.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel – Atmore.

Birmingham Zoo

The Birmingham zoo covers about 122 acres of land, and attracts over 470,000 tourists every year. The zoo dates to 1955 when a few exotic animals were kept at a firehouse. It now houses over 200 species and 800 individual animals. Some of the best exhibits are the primate building, Flamingo Lagoon, predator building, Kangaroo Kontry, sea lions splash show, and an alligator swamp. If you are lucky to come here during spring and summer, you can also try out camel rides.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Alabama

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka.

Casinos In Alabama And Mississippi

Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum

This house was constructed in 1939 by Frank Lloyd Wright for Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum in Florence, Alabama. It is constructed with brick, cypress, and glass and displays some of the original Wright designed furniture. You will be mesmerized by the design of this home which has a Usonian design and features a multi-level roof, plus board and batten walls. The Rosenbaums owned the house till 1999 when it was bought and restored by the City of Florence.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka.

Botanical Gardens

Is Gambling Legal In Alabama

This garden can be found close to the US Space and Rocket Center and it attracts about 208,000 tourists annually. The garden is open year-round but you will have to pay a fee before you can enter the gardens. Features include a biblical garden, day lily garden, butterfly house, nature garden, fern glade, nature trail, and herb garden. The best way to explore the garden is by strolling around the garden while enjoying the scenery.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka.

Montgomery Museum of Fine Art

This museum houses a large permanent collection that focuses on American art. Some of the top works you can see here include watercolors, engravings, etchings, woodcuts, drawings, etc. At the museum, you will find artworks from prominent American artists like Winslow Homer and John Marin, you will also find extensive exhibit dedicated to regional art and folk artists, you are also going to find African art collections here. Admission to the museum is free. It is family-friendly and hosts educational programs for both children and adults.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery

Is Online Gambling Legal In Alabama

Point Mallard Park

This is a public park located in Decatur. It covers 500 acres of land and is a year-round tourist destination. The park is adjacent to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge which you should also try to visit while in the state. The park includes the Blackburn Aquatic Center which is open seasonally and includes one of the first wave pools built in the United States. The waterpark is filled with numerous attractions like the diving pool, Pro Bowl, Sky Pond, varieties of large slides, duck pond, three flume slides, and so on. The park is also family-friendly as there are varieties of children’s activity area including: playgrounds, an indoor ice-skating rink, a sand beach, and concessions.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka.

What is the gambling age in Alabama?

How many casinos are in Alabama?

There are currently 3 casinos located in Alabama. • Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Atmore • Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery • Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka.