Reviews Of Local Casinos In Alabama
If you prefer traditional Las Vegas-style casino games when you gamble, Alabama is – frankly – probably not the place to do it. Sure, there are gambling venues in the state, but our reviews of local casinos in AL show that these destinations are basically glorified arcades. Pursuant to Alabama gambling laws, these venues are unable to offer the real-money slots, table games, and live-dealer action you probably expect.
But don’t throw out that Alabama casino map just yet. While in-person gambling in Alabama is limited to Class II tribal games and you might prefer casinos near Alabama over casinos in Alabama, the Yellowhammer State has domestic options that are – if not “real” gambling – still more than suitable for a fun and profitable night on the town. Read on to discover what you should expect from the local AL brick-and-mortar casino scene.
Does Alabama Have 18+ Casinos?
Most legal gambling states don’t, and AL doesn’t, either. And remember, there aren’t even any actual casinos in Alabama – at least, not of the kind you probably imagine when you think of the word “casino.” Instead of Vegas-style casino resorts, Alabama casino resorts are more like adult arcades with real-money payouts.
You won’t find the typical slots, dice, and card games you expect, but you’ll find plenty of VLTs, EGMs, HHRs, and simulcast horse racing betting. You’ll also find a host of premier restaurants and bars, along with first-rate concerts, comedy shows, and the like.
At most AL casino venues, the minimum age to enter and play is actually 21, despite these not being “real” casinos. This is because such venues serve alcohol, and having a hard minimum age of 21 is easier to manage logistically and legally. Exceptions are usually made for parimutel wagering, though age limits are 18+ in some counties and 19+ in others.
Of course, most of the best online AL casinos operating offshore set their minimum membership ages to just 18 and older, so that takes a lot of uncertainty out of the equation. Plus, you’ll get better games and gambling markets when you play online, too.
Alabama Class II Casinos Explained
Alabama casinos are exclusively operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Because the United States IGRA law allows any federally recognized Indian tribe to operate Class II casinos regardless of individual state laws, the AL Creek were able to open their gambling houses without state approval or interference.
However, such venues are limited to Class II-rated games. Real Vegas-style gambling – i.e. proper house-banked slots, table games, video poker, etc. – are designed as Class III operations when run by Indian tribes, and those classic casino game types do require explicit state legalization.
Because 18+ slots and 18+ table games are not legal per AL betting laws, these tribal venues cannot offer those kinds of gambling amusements. However, the moment AL does legalize any of these games, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians will be empowered – via AL tribal compact – to host them.
Right now, per the IGRA, Class II AL casinos are limited to the following:
- Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs)
- Electronic Gambling Machines (EGMs)
- Historical Horse Racing Machines (HHRs aka Instant Racing)
- Bingo + Electronic Bingo
- Pull Tabs + Electronic Pull Tabs
- Punch Cards + Electronic Punch Cards
- Tip Jars + Electronic Tip Jars
- Raffles + Electronic Raffles
At most Class II venues, VLTs and EGMs are the most popular amusements, as these are what separate Class II tribal casinos from Class I tribal casinos (which cannot offer electronic games).
VLTs and EGMs are designed to look and feel like electronic slots, electronic blackjack, electronic roulette, video poker, etc. However, they are structured differently and are – in actual fact – basic lottery-style raffle games merely disguised as slots and other casino classics.
HHR machines are similarly presented as slots, but they’re actually depicting random – albeit “historical” – horse racing outcomes. Players don’t know the dates, tracks, or horses themselves, but all race outcomes reflect actual past horse racing results from around America.
Class II Indian Casinos In Alabama
All three of the Class II AL casinos are Wind Creek facilities. These Wind Creek casinos in Alabama are considered to be the flagship properties of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, though the tribe operates several Wind Creek venues in other states (and even internationally).
All three AL Wind Creek casinos are largely similar to one another in terms of games, entertainment, dining, lodgings, and amenities, so the major deciding factor for you is likely going to be your proximity to the facilities in question.
Wind Creek Atmore – Atmore, AL
- 303 Poarch Rd.
- Atmore, AL 26502
- (866) 946-3360
- Minimum Age: 21+
The Wind Creek Atmore – serving southern Alabama – is the premier AL casino near Mobile, as the Alabama city is just under 54 miles (about 45 minutes) away from the gaming venue. With 1700+ VLTs and EGMs, there’s plenty of action to enjoy on the gaming floor, and six restaurants and eateries punctuate the experience.
The Wind Creek Atmore location also hosts a 237-room AAA Four-Diamond hotel. Additional amenities include a golf course, bowling alley, an all-ages arcade, a nightly entertainment venue, and the Wind Creek Cinema movie theater.
Wind Creek Montgomery – Montgomery, AL
- 1801 Eddie L Tullis Rd.
- Montgomery, AL 36117
- (866) 946-3360
- Minimum Age: 21+
The Wind Creek Montgomery, as you might expect, is the best Alabama casino in Montgomery and serves central AL gamblers. With 2200+ VLTs and EMGs, there’s plenty of room on the large gaming floor to spread out and enjoy the bright lights. And when all that winning works up your appetite, you can eat out and jam out at B.B. King’s Blues Club.
The Montgomery Wind Creek hotel is AAA Four-Diamond rated and features 123 luxury rooms and suites. The venue also features an excellent golf course, a high-end salon, a classic men’s barbershop, a massive pool, and a fitness center.
Wind Creek Wetumpka – Wetumpka, AL
- 100 River Oaks Dr.
- Wetumpka, AL 36092
- (866) 946-3360
- Minimum Age: 21+
The Wind Creek Wetumpka is the best Alabama casino near Montgomery that’s not actually in Montgomery itself. Situated to the north of the Wind Creek Montgomery property, the Wetumpka venue is a bit smaller but makes a very cozy gaming destination for residents of northern AL who want to come in from the cold.
The Wetumpka casino in AL features over 2000 VLT and EGM electronic gaming machines, a 283-room AAA Four-Diamond hotel, the luxury Spa Reserve, the Oasis Pool and Bar, a fitness center, five different eateries (including the upscale Fire Steakhouse), and a live entertainment venue.
Alabama Racino Venues
In addition to the above Class II AL casino resort destinations, there are also three “racinos” in Alabama. A racino is typically a non-operational greyhound racing facility that’s been retrofitted or renovated to offer VLTs, EGMs, and HHRs in place of dog racing.
In many states, active and defunct horse tracks have also been converted to racinos, although AL’s racinos are all former greyhound betting venues. There are no active horse tracks in Alabama.
Mobile Greyhound Park – Theodore, AL
- 7101 Old Pascagoula Rd
- Theodore, AL 36582
- (251) 653-5000
- Minimum Age: 18+ (parimutuel)
777 Birmingham Race Course Casino – Birmingham, AL
- 1000 John Rogers Dr.
- Birmingham, AL 35235
- (205) 838-7500
- Minimum Age: 19+ (parimutuel)
777 Victoryland Casino – Shorter, AL
- 8680 Co Rd. 40
- Shorter, AL 36075
- (334) 727-0540
- Minimum Age: 19+ (parimutuel)
Do Brick-And-Mortar AL Casinos Offer Online Gambling?
No. Online gambling for players aged 18 and up – particularly 18+ online iGaming (as opposed to 18+ online sports betting) – is unavailable in all US states, including AL.
The few US gambling states that do offer real-money online casino games in their domestic gambling apps all require players to be at least 21 years of age, and that rule is likely to remain in place for all states that roll out legal iGaming in the future. While local US sports gambling is often available for players at just 18 years old, casino gambling is still viewed as more of a 21+ thing.
However, if you sign up with any of the mobile 18+ online AL casinos reviewed here, you can legally and safely play all the real-money gambling games wish. Many of the best AL online casinos also offer sports betting, so you can bet on Alabama football and other local teams and sports.
Legal 18+ Online Casinos In Alabama For 2024
If you live in the Heart of Dixie, you don’t have to be heartbroken over the lack of online casinos in your state. That’s because even though AL casinos are limited to in-person Class II venues, you can play Class III-style real-money games when you join any of the most trusted AL casinos we recommend.
These destinations feature all the electronic casino games and live-dealer casino games you could hope for, from 18+ online slots and 18+ online blackjack to online roulette (American + European), online keno, online baccarat, live-dealer 21, live roulette, and more.
Signing up is 100% legal and free, and you can make online gambling deposits using credit cards, debit cards, bank wires, cashier checks, and even cryptocurrencies.
Our preferred methods of deposit are to use crypto coins, as Bitcoin casino gambling, Ethereum casino gambling, and other kinds of crypto casino gambling come with the smallest fees, biggest bonuses, enhanced rewards, and access to same-day online casino payouts.
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