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Best Online Poker Sites in Alabama 2026
The Heart of Dixie has the most constraining gambling laws. It has a near-total ban on almost all kinds of online gambling activities and comes with harsh penalties. Playing real-money poker in Alabama online or in land-based casinos is considered an illegal gaming activity. However, many gamblers in the state find alternative ways to engage in online poker games. In this guide, we throw a light on the best poker sites for Alabama poker players, where you are allowed to play without limitations.
Top Alabama poker sites: where to play in 2026
Even though there are no legal online poker rooms in Alabama, you can choose from a few offshore platforms. We’ve filtered all accessible options based on their security, fairness, and game quality, and made a list of reliable websites that have been operating in the US for a long time.
| AL poker site | Bonuses | Rakeback |
|---|---|---|
| BetOnline Poker | 100% up to $1,000 | VIP |
| ACR Poker | 100% up to $2,000 | 27% flat or up to 65% |
| Ignition Poker | up to $3,000 | up to 20% |
| CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | 33%+ |
| Everygame Poker | 200% up to $1,000 | 36% |
BetOnline Poker
With no regulation of online poker in Alabama, BetOnline remains one of the most trusted poker rooms for local players. The site has been operating for over 20 years and has a reputation for being a stable platform with good traffic.
BetOnline Poker offers:
- a large number of multi-table tournaments with prize pools up to $150K, classic SnG and Windfall lottery Spins,
- tables for different types of poker (NLH 6-, 9-max, PLO, PLO5, PLO6).
- several regular races and a first deposit bonus of $100 up to $1,000,
- a rakeback deal for WPD players,
- deposits/withdrawals in cryptocurrencies (16 coins),
All this is especially relevant for players from states with an uncertain legal status of online poker.
The interface of the poker room application is intuitive, players have access to a built-in HUD and a large number of additional settings.
CoinPoker
CoinPoker is the largest crypto online poker room and an excellent choice for poker enthusiasts from Alabama. Thanks to the use of blockchain technology, CoinPoker offers a high level of security and fairness.
CoinPoker has hundreds of players at peak times. The most popular tables are 7-max Hold'em with stakes up to $200/$400.
Alabama residents can get extra profit from playing at CoinPoker using the following bonuses:
- First deposit bonus of 150% up to $2,000 with an incredible 50% rakeback!
- Omaha and Hold'em Daily Leaderboard with ₮2,000 in prizes.
- ₮5,000 МТТ Weekly leaderboard.
- Weekly fixed rakeback of 33%.
- VIP deal upon registration from our site.
Everygame Poker
Everygame (former Intertops) is one of the oldest poker rooms accepting players from the USA. The network is known for its soft lineups of players who came to poker from betting and casinos.
The room offers daily tournaments with guarantees of up to $25,000 and holds satellites to WSOP events with a small number of participants.
Bonuses:
- First deposit bonus 200% up to $1,000
- Fixed daily 36% rakeback
- Weekly $4,000 rake race
The interface of the Everygame Poker application looks a little archaic, but the software
works stably and supports all popular trackers.
Deposits onto an account and withdrawal of funds are possible through cryptocurrency and others, which is important for players from the state with limited opportunities for online gambling.
Online poker in Alabama
In contrast to other US states like New Jersey, Nevada, and West Virginia, where online poker is legalized, Alabama is in a grey zone. It hasn't regulated online poker for decades, and chances are it won't, at least soon.
Before the state comes up with any clear laws allowing online gaming, you can play poker only on the offshore sites we listed above. These poker rooms have operated for over 20 years, allowing Alabama grinders to join the fun as a part of the global community. They are reliable and have the trust of both novice and seasoned players.
A good alternative to playing at offshore sites is sweepstakes poker rooms, or you can consider moving to another state where online poker is already legalized.
Is online poker legal in Alabama?
Being the most conservative state in the US, Alabama allows only two kinds of betting activities: horse and greyhound racing. All other forms of land-based gambling are against the law, including poker. Gambling in Alabama is regulated by two primary laws:
- Alabama Criminal Code (Title 13A, Chapter 12): All activities where a person risks money or something valuable as a result of a game of chance or a sports event are fully prohibited. This definition is valid for poker, too.
- Alabama Constitution (Section 65): This law prohibits most types of gaming, including poker, except those explicitly authorized by the state regulations.
These laws refer to offline gambling activities and are mainly focused on operators rather than individual players. Thus, there are no separate, clear regulations that target online poker.
Although setting up an online poker room in Alabama is likely to bring legal issues, engaging in real-money poker on an offshore site is considered a legal grey area and may not result in any consequences for players. These platforms aren’t under the Alabama regulations, which means you’re basically on your own when playing. No laws will restrict your activities, but the state won’t help you in case of disputes with the website.
| Type of Gambling | Is Eligible? |
|---|---|
| Online poker sites | ✅ Only offshore poker sites |
| Land-based poker rooms | ❌ No |
| Sports Betting | ❌ No (all forms illegal) |
| Casino (land-based) | ❌ No |
| State Lottery & scratch-offs | ❌ No |
| Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) | ❌ No |
| Horse betting (pari-mutuel) | ❌ No |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) | ✅ Yes |
| Bingo & charitable gaming | ✅ Yes (regulated for nonprofits) |
| Tribal gaming (on reservations) | ✅ Yes (compact gaming only, not traditional casinos) |
Sweepstakes poker
Sweepstakes poker is a game you play with free coins. The idea behind it is to utilize a legal loophole that allows poker as long as it doesn’t directly involve real money betting. To play sweepstakes poker, you use two types of virtual money. The first one is non-cashable Gold Coins, used to play purely for fun. The second type is Sweepstakes Coins, which you can bet during tournaments and cash games and redeem for money or gift cards. You can’t purchase these coins directly — they come as free bonuses or together with Gold Coin bundles.
It’s quite easy to get started with sweepstakes poker. Once you sign up on your chosen platform, you can claim your first no-deposit bonus. This bonus gives you some free Sweeps Coins and/or Gold Coins to get started on the site.
When will online poker be legal in Alabama?
Online poker is illegal in Alabama as of 2026, so you can't find any regulated poker rooms or sites in the state. There are no pieces of legislation up for a vote to legalize poker, either. This means it’s highly unlikely that Alabama legislators will put forward a gambling bill soon. Even if they do, any step toward poker legalization will require a statewide referendum with both a constitutional amendment and legislative action.
Payment methods on AL online poker sites
Offshore poker sites accepting players from Alabama feature a variety of payment methods, including e-wallets and credit/debit cards. The available options differ from platform to platform. However, because Alabama restricts any deposits or transactions linked to gambling activities, the only reliable and convenient payment gateway for netizens to make deposits or withdrawals is cryptocurrency.
Tokens like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether let you make gaming transfers anonymously and without limitations. Plus, they’re not connected to central financial institutions and, thus, are accessible globally.
Live poker in Alabama
The short answer is no. Running an illegal poker game, both in public or private rooms, falls under "promoting gambling" and is a class A misdemeanor under Section 13A-12-22. The law defines gambling as an activity that includes an element of luck, and poker fits this definition well. If a person organizes a poker match or tournament and gets an entry fee, it can be considered a promotion of gambling.
However, there are cases when poker games organized in private rooms won't be unlawful. This refers to all games where the entry is free and no profits are involved in the process.
To sum up, the situation with live poker in Alabama is kind of in the middle. You can't organize or take part in poker matches where rewards and profits are involved. Instead, you can play poker for fun without any prizes or fees being charged.
Alabama's poker and gambling history
Unlike Mississippi, Alabama adhered to a more conservative approach when dealing with gambling, and this is reflected in its regulations.
The first notes on Alabama’s official stance on casino games go back to 1901, when it declared a complete prohibition. This wasn't changed until 1971 when dog and horse races became legal, as they were defined as a game of skill and a game of luck. Therefore, the Alabama Supreme Court decided that horse and dog racing aren’t against the law. Because of that, race betting became legal, and four greyhound tracks opened in Birmingham, Mobile, Eutaw, and Shorter.
In 1980, charitable bingo was partly legalized through a constitutional amendment, but only in Jefferson County. Later, in 1988, according to the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the state legalized tribal casinos with bingo games. This means no blackjack, poker, or other table games were allowed.
In 2003, a new state constitutional amendment allowed VictoryLand racetrack in Macon County to offer electronic bingo on a large scale. However, it had to close in 2010 after a statewide push against bingo. VictoryLand reopened again in 2013 to focus on simulcast horse racing but shut down later that year after a state attorney general raid.
Next, Alabama was on the brink of approving a state lottery in 2015 with the suggestion of State Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh, who brought forward 11,000 new jobs and $400 million in annual revenue as an argument. But the State Senate declined this bill. As of now, there are no new bills or changes in the existing gambling laws.
Best poker players in Alabama
- Shannon Shorr - $15,651,884
- Hoyt Corkins - $6,092,620
- Donovan Dean - $2,256,738
- Sandeep Pulusani - $1,992,347
- Mark Davis - $1,800,597
The undisputed leader of the Alabama All Time Money List is Shannon Shorr with almost $16M in live tournament winnings (his biggest win was $960,690, for 1st place in the Bellagio Cup II tournament for $10K).
At the age of 19, Shannon won a satellite to the offline series in the Aussie Millions in Australia. This trip greatly influenced his fate. Shorr took 4th place in the Main Event and won $199K.
Although the player has been traveling to the World Series since 2006 without a break. He won two bracelets 10 days apart online in 2023 alone:
- $2K WSOP Online NLH 6-Max ($89,1K)
- $1K NLHE Freezeout ($35,5K).
Hoyt Corkins is the second-highest earner in Alabama with $6,092,620 in prize money. His biggest win was $1,089,200 for winning the 2003 World Poker Finals. He has two WSOP bracelets and three WPT finals. His career began in the late 1990s and rose to fame after winning the World Poker Finals. Corkins has retired from active play in recent years, but remains a significant figure in the poker community.
Conclusion
Considering the current situation with Alabama gambling regulations, we can say it’s one of the strictest states. There’s no legal framework allowing online poker, and the only way players in Alabama can engage in real-money poker is via offshore rooms or sweepstakes websites. Time will tell whether the situation will change in the near future.
Responsible gambling
Playing online poker at offshore casino sites should be a fun experience, not a cause for financial or emotional problems. Follow the general responsible gaming rules and tips to avoid excessive gaming. Set deposit and time limits, take regular breaks, balance your playing time and daily schedule, and play only with money you can afford to lose. Also, if you notice any signs of addiction, seek professional help and self-exclude yourself from all casino platforms:
Problem Gambling Help in Alabama
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