Best Sweepstakes Casinos in Alabama
One thing Alabamians have on their side is the availability of sweepstakes. Online sweepstakes casinos are legal as long as they stick to the government’s rules. Players who are 19 years old can join the platform and play various casino-like games, such as slots, table games or even live casino titles.
The reason sweepstakes gaming platforms are considered legal in Alabama is that they don’t use real money. Instead, in these social casinos, you play with virtual currencies—Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. You can claim these currencies via bonuses and use them to enjoy playing games on the site. Note that Gold Coins are only used for free play, while Sweeps Coins can be used to redeem cash prizes - if you win, of course.
Top options for Alabama sweepstakes:
Because sweepstakes sites need to comply with the alternative method of entrance policy, they must provide free bonuses for all players. A sign-up deal with both GC and SC is standard on all these sites, while some may also offer daily bonuses. Players can also join VIP Clubs, participate in tournaments, refer friends, and more.
If you’re from Alabama and want to partake in this pastime, we advise you to start with WOW Vegas, Real Prize, Fortune Coins, Stake.US, or Zula.
Alabama Sweepstakes Casinos
Unlike other states that have been (and still are) more lenient toward online casino gambling, Alabama still hasn’t joined those that have a regulated online gambling market. Currently, this State bans all types of this pastime entertainment, excluding sweepstakes casinos. Why?
That being said, the Cotton State has also set some rules for when a platform can be considered a legal sweepstakes casino. Below, we’ll go over the legal framework for sweepstakes casinos in Alabama, their history, and the current top choices for players.
Alabama Sweepstakes Laws
In Alabama, gambling is illegal. The Criminal Code imposes a $6,000 fine or a year in jail if a person possesses a gambling device. Casinos (online and offline) are not allowed, although the legally recognized Poarch Band of Creek Indians tribe operates three brick-and-mortar casinos. Plus, horse racing, dog racing, off-track betting, and pari-mutuel betting are allowed under certain criteria.
As for sweepstakes, for this type of entertainment to be legal in Alabama, it must differentiate itself from a lottery. According to the law, a lottery is defined as a promotion with elements of:
● Valued prizes
● Random choice of winners
● Consideration
As long as the online sweepstakes casino doesn’t have one of these elements, it can’t be considered a lottery. The ban goes as deep as Alabama’s Constitution of 1901, which stated, “The legislature shall have no power to authorize lotteries or gift enterprises for any purposes, and shall pass laws to prohibit the sale in this state of lottery or gift enterprise tickets… and all acts, or parts of acts heretofore passed by the legislature of this state… are hereby avoided.”
There are further consumer protection laws that limit sweepstakes. Namely, in the Cotton State, it’s illegal to sell a service via mail, stating the recipient is a winner of said service. Moreover, every sweepstakes operator (both online and offline) must be entirely transparent and disclose the rules and eligibility criteria.
As for players in Alabama, online sweepstakes casinos can be entered only by residents who are 19 years old. This places Alabama outside the general norm, where players need 18 years to participate in this casino-style entertainment.
Historical Background of Alabama Sweepstakes
To trace the history of sweepstakes in this state, we must go over the general gambling steps that have led to today. Starting in 1901, the state’s constitution banned all forms of gambling. A year later, dog and horse racing were excluded. The next step took 72 years. In 1980, the Yellowhammer State brought charitable bingo to the table.
Fast forward to 1998, Former Gov. Don Siegelman tried to create a state lottery, but the voters shut the idea down via referendum. The crackdown didn’t stop there. In 2013, there was an attempt to close the three casinos run by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians tribe. However, this initiative failed.
As for sweepstakes, they were rarely in the spotlight of this scene. Just like today, forms of it existed as long as they couldn’t be linked to lotteries or other illegal gambling types. Today, online sweepstakes are widely enjoyed in Alabama and are considered one of the few legal pastimes for people who enjoy some thrill when playing their favorite casino-like games online.
Are sweepstakes social casinos legal in Alabama?
Yes, sweepstakes social casinos are legal in Alabama as long as they don’t have the traits of a lottery. Moreover, every sweepstakes casino must adhere to consumer protection laws, and players must be 19 years of age to be allowed entrance.
Can I win real money playing at Alabama social sweepstake casinos?
No, players in Alabama social sweepstakes casinos can’t win real money. However, you can play with Sweeps Coins, and if you win, you are eligible for prize redemptions.
Can I claim bonuses for Alabama sweepstakes casinos?
No, you can’t claim real-money bonuses in any sweepstakes casino in the Cotton State. You can, however, claim sign-up and daily bonuses that offer Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, join tournaments, and more.
