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It’s no secret that people are transitioning to mobile gambling, which is why most states are pushing mobile gambling regulations. But that’s not the case with Alabama.

Mobile gambling is quite popular in the United States, and there are already 38 states that legalized online gambling such as casino apps. But in Alabama, the gambling scene has been a hot potato for decades, and just when things start to clear out, we get another setback pushing the legislation of online casinos even further away.

So, at the moment, online gambling in Alabama isn’t legal. Yes, quite unfortunate. There are no legal online gambling casinos, and the only option for people to enjoy such games is to play sweepstakes and social casinos.

But in terms of real-money casinos, Alabama still feels like an empty desert. But does the rise of mobile gambling and the billion-dollar industry that they are missing out on will change their mind?

Alabama’s Online Gambling Climate

Here’s the deal, Alabama’s gambling scene has been stuck in neutral for quite a while. You have three tribal casinos run by the Poarch Band of Creek Island – Wild Creek in Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka, which offer electronic bingo machines just because they are on federal land.

Beyond that, the place feels like an empty desert. There is no state lottery, no legal sports betting, and no slots or any kind of casino games.

Last year, there was a bill (HB 151) that tried to change that, proposing 10 casinos, a lottery and sports betting, but it was stopped by the Senate, which later died by one vote on May 9, 2024, after lawmakers stripped down everything apart from the state lottery.

So, online gambling is still a no-go under state law, although it is a known secret that most of gambling enthusiasts have already been playing casino games at offshore apps, which are basically in the legal gray zone. This doesn’t mean that you’ll get into trouble, but since they are unregulated, they come with a risk factor where if you do manage to lose your money, no authority will be able to take it back.

But will this change in the future? Well, the situation isn’t moving in any direction at the moment, and since there are no new laws on the horizon (Governor Kay Ivey’s not calling a special session), this means that mobile casino apps aren’t legal here yet, and won’t be anytime soon.

Why Apps Are Everywhere Else

It is no secret that mobile gambling is on the rise, and it is a big trend everywhere except Alabama, and a few other stubborn states. To be honest, it is hard to understand these lawmakers.

Players who want to play online casino games are already doing that in offshore casino apps, which means that Alabama is losing money. And we are talking about a LOT of money!

By 2025, mobile gambling’s raked in over 70% of online betting revenue nationwide—think $10 billion-plus—thanks to smartphones packing 5G speeds (up to 100 Mbps) and crisp screens that make slots pop like they’re in your living room.

Everyone wants in on the action and other places like New Jersey have accumulated $1.3 billion in mobile bets this year alone.

For Alabama, where the nearest casino might be a two-hour drive, that accessibility’s a siren call—especially for the 60% of us with smartphones glued to our hands.

The Offshore Loophole

Here’s where it gets real for us: even without legal apps, Alabamians are gaming. Offshore casino apps—based in places like Panama or Malta—aren’t blocked here, and they’re pulling folks in.

No hard stats (Alabama doesn’t track this), but nationwide, offshore gambling’s a $50 billion shadow market in 2025, with maybe 5% of that from states like ours with no legal options.

You sign up, deposit $20 via Bitcoin (no bank flags), and play slots with a 96% payout rate or blackjack at a 0.5% house edge—all unregulated, meaning no safety net if they don’t pay out. It’s a risk—your $100 win could vanish—but it’s proof we’re hungry for mobile action.

Many people choose an instant withdrawal casino in offshore companies just because they provide many benefits and they usually use cryptocurrencies, which makes it easier to bypass the legal grey area.

Could Apps Crack Alabama’s Resistance?

So, could casino apps be our future? Maybe—if the legislature budges. That 2024 bill’s failure showed the split: the House wanted casinos and apps (passing it 67-31), but the Senate balked, fearing addiction and moral rot—1.6% of Americans have gambling issues, and Alabama’s rural stretches worry about that hitting home.

Yet the revenue’s tempting: New Jersey’s $6.3 billion in 2024  gambling revenue could fund Alabama schools (we’re 45th in education spending) or fix I-65’s potholes. A legal app market could mean $200 million a year here, based on population (5 million) and betting trends elsewhere.

Plus, the Poarch Creeks, already running bingo, could pivot to mobile with their know-how—they’re building resorts in Illinois now! If lawmakers let tribes or locals license apps, it’d be a game-changer—keeping cash in-state, not leaking to Mississippi’s slots.

Who knows, things can instantly change in the future, and all it needs is one law to be passed by the lawmakers.