• Is Sports Gambling Legal In Alabama
• Is Poker Legal In Alabama

For poker gaming, the minimum legal age for Alabama players is 21. There are multiple online poker rooms that accept players as young as 18. Please keep in mind that just because you can play poker online at offshore gambling sites at age 18 does not mean that AL’s state gambling laws are. Playing poker is legal in Alabama if a state-approved and state-licensed gambling facility offers poker games for real money. Currently, no licensed gambling establishment in Alabama offers live poker games for real money. The only way for players to play poker legally is to take part in a.

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2. 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.

Alabama‘s definition of gambling, like a lot of states, is pretty broad, and includes all betting on games of chance:

“(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.” (1)

The definition of ‘contests of chance” is also similar to that provided in many other states, and is written to explicitly include games where there is also an element of skill involved, such as with poker and other games that feature both elements of chance and skill:

“(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.” (2)

So with the game of poker, the outcome does depend to a material degree upon an element of chance, at least as far as the outcome of the wagers are concerned. The element of chance here is the fall of the cards of course, and although there is also an element of skill involved, this does not save it from being included in the definition.

So while we may read comments about how there may be some uncertainty to these laws, there is none, as these laws have been carefully written to remove any doubt whatsoever of whether wagering on poker is considered gambling or not, and it clearly is included in the definition.

Prohibitions Against Gambling In Alabama

Now that we have defined what gambling is in Alabama, it is time to look at what the law says about it. While there are various offenses listed in the criminal code related to gambling, as poker players, it is only the offense of gambling itself that we need be concerned about, termed “simple gambling” in Alabama:

“(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.” (3)

So we know from (b) that social gambling is permitted, although the law here does not define what social gambling means, unlike some other states which have clearly defined it. This is a clear oversight as it does leave the door open when it comes to whether or not a particular form of gambling would be understood to be social or not.

The stipulation that this would have to be in a private setting would rule out some forms, those occurring in a non private setting, but presumably people could create private social clubs which would be members only, where the players could engage in social gambling, and as long as the owners didn’t derive any profit from the game directly, this could be argued to be social gambling.

It may also be the case that online poker could be seen as social gambling as well, since it does occur in a private setting, and while it may be argued that it is a commercial venture, there is no mention in the law that that would be a disqualifying condition, which is why other states have explicitly mentioned that no one other than the players are permitted to profit.

They may have thought that the other provisions of the law pertaining to running gambling establishments would cover this, but online the establishments are of course outside the state and not subject to Alabama law.

So a claim of social gambling constitutes a possible defense at least where internet poker is concerned, although no one has ever been charged with this so it has not been put to the test.

Playing Poker In Alabama

Alabama does not have any live poker rooms, so players are limited to playing in social games and on the internet. Players may also travel to neighboring states to access live poker, in Mississippi and Florida, and there are several located close to the state borders (4).

Alabama does have three Indian casinos which operate, although none offer poker or table games at all. (5) This is a fairly conservative state where gambling is concerned and there has been a fierce battle ongoing with electronic bingo halls, where the state has sought to shut these down and the matter had to be referred to the state Supreme Court on two different occasions.

So it’s not likely that they will allow even live poker rooms anytime soon, let alone internet poker, given the vendetta the state has on even bingo halls. It may be that Alabama may offer regulated online poker some day, but that day is in the distant future at best.

However, Alabama residents who wish to play online poker have full access to all of the online poker sites that offer play to Americans in general. Whether or not online poker is legal in Alabama, and this is one of the states where the law isn’t as clear on this as it could be, no one is being charged for it, and Alabama is notorious for its anti gambling raids on poker rooms as well as other gambling establishments. It is very difficult to come up with warrants to raid people’s private homes for allegedly gambling on the internet though, and this is the main reason why this has never happened not only in Alabama but anywhere in the country.

Our two top recommended poker rooms for players from Alabama are America’s Cardroom and Carbon Poker. Both are very good poker rooms, click on our links to check them out further.

References:

(1) The Code of Alabama 1975, 13A-12-20, Definitions

(2) ibid.

(3) Code of Alabama 1975, 13A-10-21, Simple Gambling

(4) All Online and Live Poker Rooms in Alabama

(5) List of Casinos in Alabama

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Since the poker boom between 2003 and 2006, there has been an increased number of Alabama residents who have become interested in playing poker legally online, which definitely helped Alabama online poker gain momentum as well as fuel the growth of the United States online gambling market in general. We have also noticed that with this increased number of players who are seeking out legal Alabama online gambling options, there hasn’t been an equal increase in information sources. This leads us to believe that more and more Alabamians are searching for and failing to find the information they need to seek out legal and reputable online poker rooms, so we have created this guide to solve that problem.

Here you will find a guide for everything you need to start laying down real bets over the internet. This guide is made from information that has been compiled over the course of a long career in the online gambling industry and has within it information you need to understand in order to ensure you are staying within legal limits based on US federal gambling laws. We will not only cover the specifics of the legalities on a federal and state level in the US but also the different gambling outlets available to you as an Alabama resident. You can also find some information on the promotions that these websites offer and the games that they feature.

Are Online Poker Sites Legal In Alabama?

If you don’t live in any of the three states that have managed to pass legislation to specifically make online poker rooms legal (Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware), then you won’t find your state to be home to online poker rooms that wish to operate within legal jurisdictions. There are, however, no state or federal laws that prohibit anyone from the state of Alabama from placing bets online at legally sanctioned online poker rooms. So, you cannot open and operate an online gambling business within the state of AL but you are more than welcome to participate at any of the legally licensed and appropriated regulated offshore poker sites on the internet without fear of legal ramification.

There are three main laws that impact online gambling in the US and none of them have any implications directed at the customer in any way. The same concept applies to Alabama online casinos and Alabama online sports betting. With more and more states actively discussing online gambling benefits, it is not outside the realm of possibilities that AL will someday embrace state regulated online gambling in the future as well. To learn more about the states regulations on the matter, visit our page covering Alabama online gambling laws. To learn more about the federal laws that are in place, visit our page covering USA online gambling laws.

Legally Licensed Online Poker Sites Accepting Alabama Players

All of the recommended sites in this guide come from years of use and firsthand experience from a team of specialists. That team of specialists is really just a group of dudes and ladies who really enjoy gambling online. They started as just fans and consumers like you. The group of individuals who chose these websites for us have been in the industry for over 20 years and have successfully crossed over from the title of “group of dudes and ladies who like online gambling” to legitimate “industry insiders with years of connections and experience.” Each of these poker sites have been professionally vetted to operate in completely legal jurisdictions and with up-to-date compliance certification and regulation. Their reputations have been checked through numerous public reviews online and through personal experience, with each of them to be found financially responsible and easy to deal with in troubleshooting account problems. Here are our favorite places for Alabama residents to play poker online.

Other Alabama Gambling Pages

What Games Can I Play At Alabama Online Poker Rooms?

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Alabama

The internet poker rooms that are available to Alabama residents have several games available. The game selection will vary from brand to brand. The typical variations of poker offered online are Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha H/L, 32 Card Draw, Americana, and 7 Card Stud Poker. Some sites also offer some specialty online poker games, such as Caribbean poker, HORSE and others.

Most top-flight websites offer a downloadable client to offer better access and technical reliability to their games. The software client houses all the major program functions and graphics locally on your machine so your internet connection will only be bothered with gaming and financial information exchange. Because the complexity of online poker exceeds that of most standard casino games, a more robust engine that includes downloadable software is required. This is due to the fact that advanced player tools are utilized and you are playing against other live players rather than against a machine.

Can I Play For Free At Alabama Online Poker Sites?

You sure can. There are a few different ways to do this. Some poker sites will have an option for ‘free play’ mode in which they issue you valueless chips to use to play their games. Its a great way to get used to playing online, learn a new game or experiment with new betting strategies without risking any of your hard earned cash. Another option for playing poker online for free is through Freeroll Tournaments. These tournaments are found at all of the prominent poker sites, and allow you to participate in the games with no entrance fee. The nice thing about freerolls is that often there is prize money to be won, so you have a chance to play poker for free and actually win something. Other ways to play for free include any special promos that offer ‘no deposit bonuses’. In this case, the poker site would provide you with free money or ‘chips’ to use to play online poker and if you meet the wagering requirements, then the winnings associated with this free play are yours to keep.

Are There Online Poker Bonuses For Alabama Players?

The promotions and bonuses that are offered at these recommended sites are available for everyone! Each of the sites have a different inherent take on promotions but everyone in the industry (or at least anyone who deserves your patronage) will offer you some sort of “Welcome Bonus” that will match some percentage of your initial deposit into their wallet systems and provide that for you in bonus cash to gamble with. You will discover in your search for a reputable provider of online poker that the promotions packages differ slightly from site to site. Some websites may offer healthy welcome bonuses and lack in bonuses for preexisting members while others have the opposite approach.

Can I Play Real Money Poker Games From My Mobile Phone?

Yes, mobile poker is available through the premium online poker sites featured on this page. There are two primary types of applications available: mobile optimized browser based applications and downloadable apps. The first type is web based and doesn’t not require any type of download. You simply place the provided link to the web based application on the home page of your device and use it for one step access to the poker platform. Downloadable applications have come a long way and now provide the opportunity to engage in interactive, live poker gaming in real time in a poker room filled with other live players. These downloadable apps are streamlined and sophisticated, so they take up minimal space on your device.

What Are The Age Requirements For Playing Poker Online In AL?

The minimum legal gambling age in Alabama varies depending on which type of betting is in question. For poker gaming, the minimum legal age for Alabama players is 21. There are multiple online poker rooms that accept players as young as 18. Please keep in mind that just because you can play poker online at offshore gambling sites at age 18 does not mean that AL’s state gambling laws are null and void. You still have to be at least 21 years old to participate in a real money poker game taking place within state borders.

Alabama’s Views on Poker Gambling From The Beginning

Is Poker Legal In Alabama

Alabama seems to have split ways with its neighbor, Mississippi, somewhere in the late 1800’s on the issue of gambling at the state level. In 1901 Alabama declared all games where you stand to gain financially that are based on chance instead of skill, officially defined as gambling and are outlawed as such. They went on to clarify that horse and dog racing was based in skill and was therefore still legal. That idea was further clarified in 1971 when the AL Supreme Court ruled that pari-mutuel betting, or the act of placing bets against other players instead of “the house” at dog tracks and horse tracks was legal based on the same distinction of chance vs skill. It wasn’t until 1988 that native Americans were even allowed to open up casinos in their lands within the state of Alabama.

Throughout the timeline of gambling related acts and laws passed in the state legislature, the general idea of gambling money on games based on chance instead of skill has not changed. It seems that the state defines what games are actually based primarily in chance instead of skill and have teetered back and forth on the issue of bingo in the last few years. It has been legalized and then criminalized again in various ways to leave the common gambler looking for an alternative. Although it doesn’t seem likely the state will change its 116 year stance on gambling, there are legally sanctioned online options available to anyone from Alabama who wishes to use them.