Birmingham Sportsbooks
Even though Birmingham is the largest and most recognizable city in Alabama, there are actually no forthcoming Birmingham sportsbooks that will be located inside the city limits. However, due to the popularity of gambling and sports betting in the state (particularly given the dominance of the mighty Crimson Tide, on whom AL residents place over $1 billion in bets each season), it’s very likely that the casinos nearest to Birmingham will offer sportsbooks eventually.
Both of these locales – Victoryland (a commercial venue) and the Wind Creek Wetumpka (a tribal casino) – will be the first two locations that offer sports betting in Alabama, should legislators move forward with regulations. It all comes down to how much the Poarch Band of Creek Indians are willing to renegotiate their tribal compacts with the state but, in the meantime, utilize offshore betting sites that accept Alabama residents. These safe and reliable bookmakers will keep you happy when gambling in Birmingham.
Is Sports Betting Currently Legal In Birmingham, Alabama?
Land-based sports betting is currently not legal in Birmingham, Alabama, or anywhere else in the state. That said, it is entirely within the purview of the AL government to institute sports betting rules and regulations now that the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992) has been overturned by the Supreme Court. Given Alabama’s conservative approach to gambling in general, of course, it will likely be quite some time before proper brick-and-mortar sports betting comes to the state.
Fortunately, for those Alabama residents who wish to bet on the Alabama Crimson Tide before these books go live in the state, there are several good options, all of which are readily accessible over the Internet. Offshore sportsbooks – which operate outside of US legal jurisdiction – are available to all AL residents aged 18 and up, and these reputable sites have been serving hundreds of thousands of Alabama sports fans for over 20 years and counting.
By signing up at Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, BetDSI, and/or BookMaker, you are guaranteed to get the freshest lines, the most competitive odds (and you can bet on the Auburn Tigers too), and prompt payouts on all your winnings. Alabama customers who join now can also take advantage of all kinds of valuable bonus offers to boost their bankrolls.
Best Sportsbooks In Birmingham, AL
The above online overseas sports betting sites are the best sportsbooks in Birmingham, AL, and will continue to be into the foreseeable future. Even once Alabama formally legalizes sports betting in Alabama, you’ll still often be better off placing your wagers at Bovada, et al. This is primarily due to the fact that local bets on the Alabama Crimson Tide will have to be weighted heavily by any Alabama-based sportsbook, meaning that the house take will be larger to compensate for the lopsided action. You won’t run into that problem with the overseas options.
However, while convenience is a big selling point in the gambling industry, sometimes you just want to make your sports betting an event unto itself. In this case, the best sportsbooks in Birmingham (or, technically, near Birmingham) will be Victoryland in Shorter, AL, and the Wind Creek Casino in Wetumpka, AL. Victoryland – a racino – is located 115 miles southeast of Birmingham, while the Wind Creek Wetumpka is a little closer at just 90 miles southeast.
Legal Age To Wager On Sports At Birmingham Sportsbooks
There is technically no legal age to wager on sports at Birmingham sportsbooks, but once land-based betting shops open up in the state, the required age to participate in the festivities is either going to be 19 (the current legal age to gamble in the state) or 21 (the age that most states require their sports betting public to be).
However, the legal age to wager online at the sportsbooks mentioned above is only 18, so 18-year-old AL residents can legally place their bets over the Internet without fear of any sort of legal reprisal. Additionally, these sites only require their users to be 18 to use all of their other services, including their casino table games, live poker rooms, and pari-mutuel racebooks.
- Victoryland Sportsbook Review
- https://www.facebook.com/victoryland1984/?rf=138926199483209
- Address: I-85 Exit 22 Shorter, AL 36075
- Phone: 334-727-0540
The Victoryland sportsbook review, when the service finally goes live, should be a good one, and it’s much needed given the current economic state of the racetrack-casino. Victoryland, located 115 miles southeast of Birmingham, has a long, convoluted history in the state, and the venue’s original owner, the late Milton McGregor (who died in 2018), spent his entire life fighting for the right of Alabama residents to legally participate in casino gambling.
After a series of court orders closing Victoryland, allowing it to reopen, closing it again, and reopening it again, the facility was finally determined in 2016 to be a legal operation at the state level. As the only commercial gaming facility on non-reservation Alabama land, Victoryland’s sportsbook is sure to ramp up attendance and be a huge draw to the important historical site that the place has become over the years.
Other things to do at Victoryland include simulcast wagering at their on-site horse track (which does not currently host races but might in the future, especially if sports betting boosts the facility’s revenue appreciably, which it should), and the venue also boasts a 300-room hotel (which is pending its own reopening) as well as some 500 slots and table games on the main casino floor.
- Wind Creek Wetumpka Sportsbook Review
- https://windcreekwetumpka.com/
- Address: 100 River Oaks Dr. Wetumpka, AL 36092
- Phone: 866-946-3360
As one of three casinos in Alabama owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians under their PCI Gaming imprint, the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Wetumpka – located 90 miles southeast of Birmingham (and 20 miles north of Montgomery) is one of the best wagering venues in the state. As such, any Wind Creek Wetumpka sportsbook that hits the scene is already set up to offer the best sports betting action in the state.
Headquartered in Atmore, AL, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians ownership group is ambitious and forward-thinking (as they also operate properties in other locales, including Nevada, Florida, Curacao, and Aruba), and that shows in their flagship Alabama locations like the Wetumpka facility. There, guests will find ample casino options on the floor, with some 2500 games and slots on their 85,000 square feet of gaming space. The hotel itself is luxurious and comfortable, with 283 rooms that have each received the coveted AAA Four Diamond Award.
As for local amusements, Wetumpka has plenty to do. Guests can book a trip over the water via Coosa River Adventures, sightsee at Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson, enjoy the flora at the Jasmine Hill Gardens and Outdoor Museum, and take in the fauna at the nearby Montgomery Zoo. Of course, the main thing is the gambling, but even when the Wind Creek Wetumpka sportsbook gets up and running, these “extracurriculars” could be the difference between a simple trip and the trip of a lifetime.
Things To Do Around Birmingham
If you are just visiting the state, you may be inclined to get more done than just gamble. Consider taking a trip to Tuscaloosa, which is roughly an hour to the west. There you can visit anything related to the Crimson Tide. If that is not your style, try checking out the Birmingham Barons play at Regions Field. These Southern League games are also high intensity and on a beautiful day in Alabama, there is not much better than eating a hotdog, drinking a beer, and betting on all of the Alabama sporting action.