by
The University of Alabama has long been known for its esteemed football team. That’s what winning 6 national championships in the last 15 or so years does to a program (16 in total when you count the Bear Bryant years).
But dare I say the “tide” is finally turning (pun fully intended). Not even hyperbole, Alabama basketball is starting to take the shine after recent success on the court. As it stands, the team is ranked in the top-25 nationally. They are only one game behind Florida in the SEC rankings and are almost sure to get a top-3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
But once March Madness betting begins, many locals in Alabama will not have an “easy” outlet for wagering. Yes, there are popular offshore sportsbooks and even prediction markets (more on that later), but neither has much name recognition in the state. Not like popular sports betting apps, at least.
That could be changing, however. It’s a new year and a new legislative session. And for once, there seems to be some momentum to legalize sports betting in Alabama. Keep reading, and we’ll tell you what’s going on inside the state!
Senate Bill Would Legalize Betting Statewide
All credit goes to State Sen. Merika Coleman-Evans, who is taking the lead on legalization efforts this year. She introduced SB 257, a proposed constitutional amendment that would let voters decide on a full slate of gaming options — not just online sports betting, but also a state lottery and commercial casinos. The bill would also create a new statewide gaming regulator and pave the way for Alabama to enter into a formal tribal compact.
Because gambling expansion requires a constitutional amendment in Alabama, lawmakers can’t just pass a bill and call it a day. Even if the Legislature signs off, it still has to go before voters statewide. The last time this happened was in 1999, when voters shot down a lottery.
As it stands, Alabama is one of the most anti-legal betting states in the country. We mean, that lottery vote is a direct reflection of that. Only four other states — Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah — don’t have a lottery so Bama is in unique company. The state doesn’t have a casino or sports betting of any kind either.
That’s what makes this proposal so unique. It could change everything almost overnight. Let’s say the Legislature passes SB 257, voters would see a statewide referendum asking whether to:
- Authorize lottery and gambling
- Create a state gaming commission
- Prohibit future local-only gaming amendments
- Allow a tribal compact (with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for Class III gaming)
Right now, SB 257 is light on a lot of details. There are no tax rates spelled out. No limits on how many licenses would be issued. No revenue split breakdown. No list of where casinos would go. All of that would be decided later. The bill simply lays the legal groundwork and gives the green light to go.
Opposition Against Legalization Remains Strong
Look, putting together a bill is a great first step, but is there enough support for this thing? So far, we know of six Alabama Democrats who want voters to have a say. But the proposal needs much more than that to have a shot in the Senate, let alone the House.
History is not kind to such a type of bills. While the House actually got one sports betting bill across the finish line in 2024, only to die quietly in the Senate. After that collapse, House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels made it pretty clear: if gambling is ever going to pass in Alabama, the push has to come from the Senate side next time.
That’s easier said than done. Sen. Greg Albritton tried to move sports betting back in 2022 and admitted last year the votes still weren’t there. Fast forward to now, and it doesn’t sound any different.
Republican Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger already labeled a similar effort dead in 2025. He hasn’t changed his tune, if recent quotes in local media are to be believed. Here’s what he said recently to local news:
“In the Senate – and I’ll speak for our colleagues up there right now – I’m not sure the votes are there,” Gudger said. “And I’m not bringing something that’s going to suck all the oxygen out of the room unless we know we have the votes.”
Prediction Markets Are Filling The Gap
While all this is going on, a non-regulated entity is offering betting to Alabama residents. We’re talking about prediction markets, of course. Though technically speaking, they are regulated at the federal level (it’s legal for now). That means they also work in Alabama.
So far, all the big players offer prediction markets in Alabama. Heavyweight Kalshi is here, and soon too will be Polymarket once they enter the U.S. market. Then several sportsbooks have come out with prediction products — DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics, to name a few. All three have given access to Alabama users.
If anything, these platforms are just putting pressure on Alabama lawmakers to get this sorted out. Legalize it and regulate it… or let prediction markets sneak into your state and offer it via a back door.
Online betting sites 