Alabama is a state located in the south-eastern part of the United States of America. It is known among the residents as well as tourists for its offerings in sports, entertainment, and outdoor activities. You’ll also find some charming towns, several miles of white-sand beaches, and beautiful parks in Alabama.
Some deeply held religious views exist across the region. Despite this, the state allows tribal land-based casino establishments with limited options in games. They include bingo machines and slots-style games. In addition to the games, such establishments feature live music and other events.
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Alabama’s gambling history
There’s a long history that Alabama shares with Mississippi, which is its neighboring state. Steamboat casinos ride along the Mississippi River, giving locals the chance to play table games in them. However, things are quite different in Alabama. Here the gaming laws are very strict. Thus, the residents have no other option but to take a more conservative route.
They participate in most of the games of chance with a great degree of caution. Established at the beginning of the 20th century, the state constitution has certain prohibitions on gambling. It prohibits any game played for financial gain that has an element of chance. This clearly shows that even a game like poker or blackjack can be illegal.
The reason for this is a certain degree of chance involved in such games. Considering this fact, you’ll find it ironical that horse and dog racing is legal in the state. They come under the pari-mutuel betting games, which means that they’re considered as sports. According to the state’s law, these games involve skill and not chance. People participating in them can choose to watch them on television or place wagers.
As the federal laws allow sovereignty of tribal nations, the casino establishments on their land are legal. The games in these casinos are restricted to bingo and slots-style machines. The laws have largely remained unchanged since 1901. This is why the neighboring state, Mississippi, remains a more popular gambling destination than Alabama.
Gambling laws in the state
In a general sense, Alabama considers gambling as an illegal activity. Even if the tribal casinos have the permission to operate with sovereignty, they can’t offer table or specialty games. The examples are roulette and blackjack that are traditional casino games. According to the laws of the state, they can have video gaming machines. The condition is that they must fall under a restrictive gaming license.
The minimum age of people visiting these casinos in Alabama must be 21 years. Most of these venues remain open 24 hours a day. There’s no presence of a state lottery in this state. Alabama doesn’t participate in a wagering program of the state, which is similar in nature. The bingo and raffle games are legal as long as they fall under the category of charitable events.
Online gambling is also illegal in the state technically. Despite this, many of the state residents participate in the activity. The Poarch Band of Creek Native Americans run a few tribal casinos. Among them are the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Wetumpka, Wind Creek Montgomery, and Wind Creek Atmore.