Alabama

The Alabama Crimson Tide has been one of the best college football programs of the last decade, but unfortunately, in-state fans have been unable to bet on their team due to the state’s sports betting legislation.

If you want to bet in Alabama, you are limited to horse racing. For such a big sports state, this is quite unfortunate for residents of the “Heart of Dixie,” but not all hope should be lost. As sports betting grows in the U.S., it is more likely to become legal. For the time being, AL residents do have the option to download and use basically all daily fantasy sports apps, so there is still a way they can use their fandom to make some money on the prominent DFS products.

Alabama’s mullet toss festival: A surprising candidate for sports betting expansion

Each spring, the Flora-Bama Mullet Toss draws thousands to Alabama’s Gulf Coast for one of the most delightfully outlandish traditions in the South. The event entails hurling a dead mullet across the state line into Florida. What began as a unique coastal celebration has grown into an extravagant festival complete with food, drinks, music, and fierce competition. But as betting continues to expand in the U.S., could this fish-flinging fiesta also reel in wagering?

With structured heats, clear distance measurements, and humorous style points, the Mullet Toss is already primed to hit prop betting markets. Spectators could place wagers on “Longest or Fastest Toss,” among other markets. Now, as intriguing as this idea might be for some, it won’t see the light of day until Alabama gets a sports betting bill into action. 

If Alabama ever opens the door to novelty or tourism-based betting along with sports betting, this iconic beach event could easily generate tens of thousands in seasonal handle. Betting on airborne fish may sound ridiculous, but it could be the perfect introduction to Alabama’s relationship with entertainment and gambling upon a gambling legislation change.

Online sports betting in The Yellowhammer State

As time passes, more and more states are starting to join the rapidly growing list of states with legalized gambling. Alabama has been trying to join that list for quite some time, but they’ve remained unsuccessful. In both 2021 and 2022, the state had gambling bills that gained momentum and made it to the AL Senate floor, but that was as far as they would go, with both failing to be passed.

Additionally, in 2022, Jefferson County, the largest city in Alabama, tried to legalize sports betting strictly in that county through HB 405, but that bill would not even reach the Senate floor. This is not very common when passing gambling bills, so the want for sports betting is undoubtedly present in AL.

That doesn't mean sports betting supporters in the state are stopping, though. According to the Alabama Political Reporter, the 2024 legislation session opened in March, and gambling was one of the topics discussed. Unfortunately, all efforts to advance the betting bills ultimately failed, and the AL residents just have to wait and see what the 2025 year brings to this table.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter has already put together a gambling committee, and his committee created HB 151 and 152, which would legalize sports betting and the lottery. While the state House of Representatives approved both bills, the Senate removed all of the language regarding sports betting, so the bills are now solely about legalizing a state lottery and a few licensed slot parlors.

The state has a few tribal-based casinos, but they do not offer sports betting, nor do they have the option to partner with brand-name sportsbooks for the time being. With that, Daily Fantasy Sports and horse racing remain the only regulated “gambling” options in AL. Like many states without legalized gambling, there are a few illegal gambling operations that the committee mentioned above will also allegedly be addressing.

Sports betting & gambling legislation in AL

Alabama has three tribal casinos and does not have a lottery, but that could change soon. The lottery is the sole purpose of HB 151 and HB 152, which still face some challenges to be passed. The state first tried to establish a lottery in 2021 with a bill that would have also turned the state's racetracks into casinos that offer sports betting, but like most bills, it failed to reach the House floor.

When SB 293 was introduced in 2022, the goal was to limit sports betting to retail casinos and mobile platforms that are directly connected to those casinos. For the time being, it is unclear whether the next gambling-related bill will include these same stipulations, as the two current gambling bills had all literature about sports betting removed.

Another hurdle lawmakers must overcome when creating these bills is that the state constitution directly prohibits gambling, adding to the issue's complexity.

Dixie alley betting: The thrill of gambling on Alabama’s next storm

Alabama is at the center of Dixie Alley, a region famous for its severe tornado activity and unpredictable storms. Although sports betting is still restricted in the state, rumors indicate that locals have discovered a different form of high-stakes gambling—betting on the weather.

In storm-watching communities, some claim that informal bets are placed on where tornadoes will touch down, their wind speeds, or even how long a storm siren will sound. Storm chasers, who track severe weather patterns, are rumored to make side bets on which county will see the next tornado or where a hurricane will land.

The idea of this market would essentially be a combination of the movies “Twister” and “Rounders.” Could tornado betting become the state’s most thrilling underground gambling scene? While it’s hard to imagine a licensed sportsbook would venture into this market, a social sportsbook could certainly try its hand at offering a storm-related market.

Most recent updates from the AL sports betting scene

• April 25, 2025: The Alabama Crimson Tide had two players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. While he was not one of them, Jalen Milroe has opened at (+5000) to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

• April 15, 2025: With two weeks until the NFL Draft, former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is (+125) to be a first-round pick.

• April 8, 2025: Following the completion of the 2024-25 college basketball season, both the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide have opened at (+2500) to win the National Championship.

• April 4, 2025: The Auburn Tigers are listed as (+2.5) point underdogs to Florida heading into the Final Four. The Tigers are (+550) to win the National Championship.

• April 3, 2025: With only 13 legislative days left in Alabama's session, lawmakers are racing against the clock to consider Sen. Greg Albritton's revised proposal to legalize a state lottery, sports betting, and electronic gaming, though the outlook for gambling expansion remains uncertain.

• March 24, 2025: The Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide have both advanced to the Sweet 16. The Crimson Tide are (+1800) to win the National Championship, while Auburn is (+500).

• March 17, 2025: The Auburn Tigers have earned the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. They are (-160) to win their region and (+350) to win the National Championship.

• March 5, 2025: Entering March with two regular-season games left, the Alabama Crimson Tide are (+225) to reach the Final Four and (+1300) to win the National Championship.

• February 26, 2025: With four regular-season games remaining, Auburn Tigers star Johni Broome is (+110) to win the Wooden Award on Caesars Sportsbook.

In-person gambling sites and locations

At this point, there are just three tribal casinos in the state of Alabama, and there isn’t a high likelihood that more would be introduced unless a legalized gambling bill is introduced. These casinos are owned and operated by the Creek Indians, and for the Governor to negotiate with the tribe about advancing these properties, he would need a gambling bill to pass.

Alabama also has four dog tracks scattered around the state. If a bill similar to the one being discussed in 2022 is passed, these facilities would likely offer full casino gaming as well.

From pews to prizes: The rise of bingo betting in Alabama churches

Alabama has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country, yet one form of wagering continues to thrive—church bingo nights. While traditional casinos and sports betting remain illegal, many churches and nonprofit organizations host weekly or monthly bingo games, often featuring cash prizes, gift cards, and other prizes. But how do these events navigate Alabama’s stringent gambling laws?

The simple answer is that it lies in a legal gray area. Under Alabama law, bingo is permitted in certain counties where local amendments have been enacted, typically under the pretense of charitable gaming. However, some argue that church bingo operates just like any other form of gambling, especially when the stakes are high, and players are using real money to purchase large quantities of cards.

There have been occasions where authorities have cracked down on bingo halls, especially when they start to resemble full-fledged casinos with electronic machines. However, many church-run games continue to operate under the radar, creating an unexpected loophole in the state's otherwise strict anti-gambling stance that does not look to be changing anytime soon.

Turning Tuscaloosa’s crawfish boil into a betting bonanza

At Alabama’s spring crawfish boils, whether hosted at college town block parties or food festivals in Mobile or Tuscaloosa, the competition goes beyond who eats the most. With the rise of geofenced, novelty-based micro-betting, these events could become a hotbed for food prop wagers. We’ve already seen people get a ton of joy from betting on how fast people can eat hot dogs, so the state may as well allow people to bet on how many crawfish people can eat in a set amount of time. 

These wagers would be lighthearted and hyper-local, tapping into Alabama’s deep love for food, flavor, and friendly competition. Local vendors could benefit from added exposure (i.e Nathan’s with hot dogs), while event organizers could drive more foot traffic by integrating interactive betting through licensed apps or on-site kiosks—assuming future betting legislation ever takes a step in the right direction.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Betting in states surrounding Alabama is, quite frankly, booming. Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee all have legal retail sports betting and offer the ability to bet on horse racing and participate in Daily Fantasy Sports Games.

Tennessee also has legalized mobile sports betting, so with the surrounding states ramping up their efforts to give their residents the ability to wager legally while also turning a profit, the pressure is growing for Alabama to do the same and eliminate all illegal operations in the state.

What’s next for AL betting apps?

Amid 2025, there was certainly a different feeling and optimism surrounding sports betting. Unfortunately, the state has continued to run into the same issues during this most recent legislative session. Both HB 151 and HB 152 were introduced during the session, and the combination would create a constitutional amendment change and establish a gaming commission for retail and mobile betting.

While these bills made it through the House, they are only continuing through with the Senate with sports betting and iGaming removed from the bills.

If these bills were passed, a lottery would still be created, and gaming compacts could be renegotiated. However, Alabama residents would have to wait to discuss sports betting again.

Potential sports betting revenue impact on Alabama's economy

We have no revenue data for Alabama since gambling isn’t legalized. In 2020, Gov. Kay Ivey ran a study on gambling, and the results showed that Alabama could potentially make $800 million a year through casinos, the lottery, and sports betting.

Compared to its surrounding states, Tennessee has seen over $16.9 billion worth of placed bets (handle) and gained $303 million in tax income since the state permitted sports wagering. In terms of their population, the closest comparable state with legalized gambling to Alabama is Louisiana. While Louisiana does not have numbers as strong as Tennesee, they still do well on a monthly basis, as they've made over $1 billion in revenue from over $8.9 billion in handle since legalizing sports betting.

Alabama could have very different results from the states mentioned above, but with multiple sportsbook apps and casinos expected to be added to the state if they even legalize sports betting, the state should at least have comparable numbers to Louisiana over time.

Gas station chicken wars: A tasty opportunity for Alabama sports betting expansion

In rural Alabama, gas station fried chicken is a symbol of the culture, and it could also become an unexpected source of state revenue if sports betting is ever legalized. By offering novelty betting markets like taste tests or food-eating contests, Alabama could tap into regional pride while potentially fueling the state’s betting handle.

If even 0.25% of an estimated $800 million annual sports betting handle came from food-themed wagers like this, that’s $2 million in bets. Multiply that by multiple novelty events statewide, and the numbers grow quickly. These low-stakes, high-engagement markets could diversify Alabama’s potential betting portfolio and boost rural tourism and economic activity. If Alabama wants to maximize tax income and quickly evolve its gambling model once a sports betting bill is signed, embracing hyper-local, culturally rooted competitions like gas station chicken wars could be a surprisingly profitable step forward.