Introduction to Alabama Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018
Alabama slot machine casino gambling consists only of Class II gaming machines. In Alabama, these machines have the appearance of slot machines, but are not of the style seen elsewhere.
In actuality, these machines are single player bingo games where each machine’s spinning reels are for “entertainment purposes only”.
There are three American Indian tribal casinos and one pari-mutual facility racino offering Class II bingo-style slots in Alabama.
There are no legal limits on theoretical payout returns at Alabama tribal casinos. Also, the tribal casinos of Alabama are not required to provide actual payback return statistics about their gaming machines.
This post continues the weekly blog series Online Resource: State-By-State Slots Gambling Summaries, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambling enthusiasts to success. Each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Alabama*
The minimum gambling age in Alabama depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: N/A
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Alabama’s bingo-style slots are rapid pace machines with whirling displays and chimes resemble slot machines. Casino owners argue these machines are allowed by state laws.
In 2016, the Alabama Supreme Court twice ruled that electronic bingo is illegal in the state. The most recent Supreme Court decisions were made in December of 2016. In part, they reversed a lower court judgment siding with a casino.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws apply to various forms of gambling. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Alabama
Private ownership of a traditional Class III slot machine in Alabama is illegal. However, it is legal to privately own a Class II or bingo-style gaming machine.
Gaming Control Board in Alabama
Alabama has not yet established a state gaming commission.
The tribal casinos are regulated through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, a federal law.
Alabama has not yet negotiated a state-tribal compact with the federally-recognized Poarch Band of Creek Indians to allow for Class III Vegas-style gaming within existing American Indian tribal casinos in Alabama.
The pari-mutuel wagering facilities are regulated by state law.
Casinos in Alabama
There are three American Indian tribal casinos and one non-tribal racino in Alabama.
Alabama’s largest casino is Quincy’s 777 Casino and Victoryland Greyhound Park in Shorter, having 3,200 gaming machines and 0 table games.
The second largest casino is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka in Wetumpka, having 2,520 gaming machines and 0 table games.
List of Casinos in Alabama
Alabama has one racino. This racino is a dog racing pari-mutuel wagering facility with simulcast betting as well as a separate casino with slot machines:
- Quincy’s 777 Casino at Victoryland Greyhound Park in Shorter, located 25 miles east of Montgomery.
List of Tribal Casinos in Alabama
Alabama has three tribal casinos:
- Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Atmore in Atmore, located 50 miles northeast of Mobile.
- Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka in Wetumpka, located 20 miles northeast of Montgomery.
- Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery in Montgomery.
These three tribal casinos are operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. They have offered Class II bingo gaming since 1988. The tribe’s reservation is located in Atmore.
The tribe is one of the most successful in the country at Class II gaming, said Robert McGhee in 2015, vice chair of tribal council for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, in this mid-2015 article.
Per the IGRA of 1988, Class III Vegas-style gaming at Indian casinos requires a state-tribal compact be negotiated between the state and a federally-recognized tribe within that state, then approved by the U.S. Department of Interior.
Alabama and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians have yet to negotiate such a compact.
Other Gambling Establishments
There is no state lottery available in Alabama. At the time of this writing, there is no law prohibiting online gambling in Alabama.
As an alternative to enjoying Alabama slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state.
Alabama is bordered by:
- North: Tennessee Slots.
- East: Georgia Slots.
- South: Florida Slots.
- West: Mississippi Slots.
Each of the links above will take you to my state-specific blog for that bordering state to Alabama.
Payout Returns in Alabama
There are no legal limits on theoretical payout returns for the Class II bingo-style gaming machines available at Alabama tribal casinos.
Alabama’s tribal casinos are not required to provide actual payback return statistics about their gaming machines.
Summary of Alabama Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018
For those of us that are interested in slot machine gambling, there really isn’t any such thing as Alabama slot machine casino gambling. Slots consist only of Class II bingo-style slot machines, where the reels are for entertainment purposes only.
Class II bingo-style machines are offered at three American Indian casinos and one pari-mutual facility racino. There are no legal limits on payout returns, nor are payout statistics publicly available from any of the gambling establishments.
Annual Progress in Alabama Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In October 2016, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley created a new commission to study gambling and make recommendations to the Alabama legislature. This 7-member commission is called the Alabama Advisory Council on Gaming.
In January 2017, the Montgomery Advertiser reported a delay on the Alabama gambling report being produced by the Alabama Advisory Council on Gaming. Since then, there has been no known progress in establishing an Alabama State Gaming Commission.
Alabama and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians have yet to negotiate a state-tribal compact to allow for Class III Vegas-style gaming in Alabama.
2017 Archive: Alabama Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2017 – For those of us interested in slot machine gambling, there really isn’t any such thing as Alabama slot machine casino gambling. A great debate is underway in this state. Whether slot machine gambling, not to mention table games, will fall or rise in the great state of Alabama is, at this time, in flux.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
- 11 Things You Need To Know About American Indian Tribal Casinos – Tribal gaming is involved, even sophisticated, in terms of legal, regulatory, political, and economic factors. It’s one of the least understood segments of the U.S. gaming industry. This summary article on American Indian tribal casinos helps slot machine casino gamblers better understand the tribal casinos they visit.
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Series: Online Resource: State-By-State Slots Gambling Summaries – Now in its second year, this series is an online resource dedicated to slot machine casino gambling enthusiasts. It provides 56 weekly, detailed gambling summarizes covering each U.S. state, territory, and the federal district to capture dynamic changes occurring of late in the U.S. gaming/gambling industry specific to slots play.
- Previous: Wyoming Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018 – Wyoming slot machine casino gambling consists of 4 tribal casinos offering Class III slot machines and Class II bingo, a popular pastime here. No legal limits exist for payback returns, nor are actuals publicly reported. Historic horse races are now available on OTB gaming machines that only look like slot machines.
- Next: Alaska Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018 – Alaska slot machine casino gambling simply does not exist, as there are no casinos located in Alaska having electronic gaming machines. However, there are a few pull-tab “casinos” and community bingo halls as well as a few visiting cruise ships. The nearest Canadian casino is 50 miles from Ketchikan, and has slot machines!