Is Poker Legal In Alabama
- Is Live Poker Legal In Alabama
- Is Sports Gambling Legal In Alabama
- States Where Poker Is Legal
- States Where Online Poker Is Legal
- Is Online Poker Legal In Alabama
Poker in Alabama As there are no distinction between poker and other table games like Blackjack in the eyes of the law, poker is not legal under Alabama law. You can play poker at home with friends, which are known as “social poker games”, which is defined as. Are Home Poker Games Legal in Alabama? I’m going to give you the ‘good’ news upfront. Home poker games do appear to be okay. There are rules you need to follow, though. The biggest rule is you cannot accept money from people to play in your home games – like a tournament fee. There are no legal casinos – using the typical definition of the term – in Alabama and therefore no poker tables or tournaments for Alabama residents to play at or in. There are a handful of so-called casinos operating on tribal land but table games are still banned which means poker is a non-starter. Currently, the state of Alabama doesn’t include any law regarding online poker sites. Therefore, it’s not illegal to play at these establishments, but these sites also won’t be licensed in the state of Alabama.
By Is Live Poker Legal In Alabama
Last Updated October 9, 2020
Poker players in Alabama generally have a lot of questions when it comes to the gambling laws of their state, especially whether it’s legal to play online poker in Alabama and where you can play. In this guide to gambling in Alabama, we’re going to cover legal online poker options in AL and then survey a host of interesting facts and resources related to gambling in the state of Alabama.
Update as of 2019
This section is an updated version of the original article. While the the information on this page is correct, some new legislation might be in effect since this page was originally written. We’ve left the orginal article in tact below the new information.
Is Sports Gambling Legal In Alabama
| Type/Code | Summary |
|---|---|
| State Code Section(s) | 13A.12.20-30; 13A.12.90-92; 34.6.12-13 |
| Definition of Gambling | 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. |
| Definition of Contest of Chance | 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. (Poker is not specified.) |
| Online Poker/Gambling | There have been no serious attempts to legalize and regulate online poker or internet casino games for players in Alabama. |
| Live Poker | No live poker is permitted in tribal casinos, which means no established poker rooms exist in Alabama. |
| Casinos | One tribe operates several casinos in the state per IGRA, but there are no other casinos in Alabama. |
| Sports Betting | Alabama is not yet prepared to consider a sports betting bill. |
| DFS | Lawmakers considered S.325 to legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports in 2018, but the bill never went to the floor for a vote. |
| Other Forms of Gambling | Live greyhound racing is legal but horseracing is not. Pari-mutuel betting is allowed on dog and horse racing but only via state-licensed operations. Social games are legal in private homes with stipulations. |
Alabama State Lottery Bill
In May 2015, Alabama State Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh pushed for a state lottery. Del Marsh and other proponents argued that a state lottery would be worth $400 million a year to the Alabama Treasury. The Tourism & Marketing Committee approved the bill by a 5-3 vote. The same bill would have allowed the state’s 4 racetracks to have casino gaming. Sen. Bill Beasley, a Democrat from Clayton, called for a voice vote on the bill.
The next month, the State Senate killed the bill by Del Marsh in a wider vote. This led Former Auburn University football coach Pat Dye and former Alabama Power Co. President Charles McCrary to join the Alabama Jobs Coalition, which pushed for a state lottery and racino gambling. Pat Dye and Charles McCrary claimed not only that the bill would generate $400 million in state revenues each year, but it also would create 11,000 new permanent jobs.
Over the course of the summer of 2015, the Alabama Jobs Coalition continued to publicize the bill. In September 2015, Huntsville Sen. Paul Sanford asked the Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee to consider a lottery bill which would approve a state lottery. Under terms of the bill, Alabama would join the Powerball and Mega Million multi-state lottery associations. Del Marsh declined to have the committee vote on the bill, effectively ending any chance of a lottery bill being passed in 2015.
States Where Poker Is Legal
In February 2016, the Alabama House Economic Development and Tourism Committee voted to approve a lottery bill which was supported by Rep. Alan Harper, R-Northport. This bill would approve a state lottery and participation in the multi-state lottery associations. Funds would be shared between the Education Trust Fund and the General Fund. This stripped-down version of the bill is still being discussed. In Alabama’s upper house, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said he would need to see how the funds were allotted before he would say whether he would support the bill or not.
If passed, Alan Harper’s bill would place a lottery referendum on the November 2016 ballot. The likelihood of a lottery passing in Alabama is small, because the state’s leaders have been against such a bill traditionally. Politicians like Rich Wingo and Paul Hicks opposed the bill on social conservative grounds, saying God would not support the state, if gambling were passed. Arnold Mooney opposed the bill on economic conservative grounds, saying such a fundraising method is regressive and it would grow the size of government.
Top Online Poker Sites in Alabama
States Where Online Poker Is Legal
With a number of sites to choose from, Alabamians have their pick of the litter when it comes to online poker rooms. Based on bonus value and room conditions, we’ve selected the top rooms for Alabama online poker players and listed them here.
All Poker and Gambling Laws by State
Is Online Poker Legal In Alabama
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