Horse racing is the one sport Alabamians can bet on with real money from home. Alabama has no law that licenses online racebooks, but none that bans them either, and national advance deposit wagering (ADW) operators licensed in other states, including our partner AmWager, accept Alabama residents. Here is how it works, what the law does and doesn’t say, and where to bet.
Alabama’s constitution bans lotteries and games of chance, but pari-mutuel wagering on races has long been treated differently, and local laws authorize it in a handful of counties. That is why Birmingham Racecourse can take bets on the Kentucky Derby while there is still no legal way to bet on an Iron Bowl.
In this article 12 sections
- Alabama horse betting: the key facts
- Is online horse betting legal in Alabama?
- Horse betting sites that accept Alabama
- Where to bet on horses in person
- How ADW betting works for Alabama players
- What Alabamians can bet on
- Types of horse racing bets
- Taxes on horse racing winnings in Alabama
- Other gambling in Alabama
- Responsible gambling
- Alabama horse racing in 2027
- Racing
Alabama horse betting: the key facts
| Quick facts | Alabama |
|---|---|
| Online horse betting | Available through out-of-state licensed ADW racebooks |
| State ADW law | None; Alabama neither licenses nor bans ADWs |
| In-person betting | Simulcast pari-mutuel wagering at licensed tracks |
| Live racing | None since 1995 |
| ADWs accepting Alabama | AmWager, DRF Bets, NYRA Bets |
| Not available | FanDuel Racing (TVG) |
| AmWager minimum age | 21+ |
| Sports betting | Not legal |
| State tax on winnings | Alabama income tax, 2% to 5% |
| Problem gambling help | 1-800-GAMBLER |
Is online horse betting legal in Alabama?
It sits in a gray zone, and it helps to be precise about why. Alabama law allows pari-mutuel wagering only at licensed facilities in specific counties, and it has never passed a statute addressing advance deposit wagering. There is no Alabama racing commission that licenses online racebooks, and no state agency that oversees them.
What fills the gap is federal law and out-of-state licensing. The Interstate Horseracing Act lets pari-mutuel bets cross state lines, and ADW operators hold licenses from racing regulators elsewhere, Oregon in AmWager’s case. Several of them list Alabama as an eligible state and accept residents. Others decline: FanDuel Racing, for example, does not offer its racebook in Alabama because the state has no regulatory framework for ADWs.
We know of no case in which Alabama has prosecuted a resident for betting on races through a licensed ADW. But because no Alabama regulator stands behind these accounts, any dispute goes to the operator and its home-state regulator, not to Montgomery. Choose a racebook licensed in a US racing state, and avoid offshore sites that also offer sports betting or casino games.
Horse betting sites that accept Alabama
AmWager is our racing partner and lists Alabama among the 30 states where it takes wagers. It is a racing-only platform covering tracks across North America and abroad, with free past performances and live video on many races. Every account holder must be 21 or older, and AmWager is licensed by the Oregon Racing Commission, with customer funds held in separate custodial accounts.
Read our AmWager review Visit AmWager →
Two more national racebooks accept Alabama residents:
- DRF Bets: Daily Racing Form’s racebook lists Alabama among the states with full account wagering.
- NYRA Bets: the New York Racing Association’s platform takes Alabama customers but requires them to be 21 or older, above its usual minimum of 18.
TVG and FanDuel Racing do not serve Alabama. Eligible-state lists change, so check each operator’s terms before you sign up.
Where to bet on horses in person
Alabama has not hosted live thoroughbred racing since Birmingham Racecourse ran its last meet in 1995. Simulcast betting continues at the state’s licensed tracks:
- Birmingham Racecourse, Birmingham: bought by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ Wind Creek Hospitality from the McGregor family in a sale completed on April 2, 2025. It keeps its pari-mutuel wagering and historical horse racing games, and the tribe plans a destination resort.
- Greenetrack, Eutaw: a former greyhound track in Greene County with simulcast wagering.
- VictoryLand, Shorter: the Macon County track, also owned by the McGregor family.
- Mobile Greyhound Park, Theodore: simulcast wagering for the Gulf Coast.
Age rules at the tracks are set locally: 19 in some counties and 18 in others.
How ADW betting works for Alabama players
An ADW account is a prepaid betting wallet. You fund it first, then bet from your balance into the same pools as fans at the host track:
- Check that you meet the operator’s age rule (21 at AmWager and NYRA Bets in Alabama).
- Register with your legal name, Alabama address and date of birth so identity checks clear.
- Deposit by bank transfer, debit card or another listed method.
- Choose a track, race and bet type, then confirm the ticket.
- Winnings land in your balance once the race is declared official.
What Alabamians can bet on
The national calendar is open from an Alabama ADW account. The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May is the biggest betting day of the year, followed by the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, which returns to the rebuilt Belmont Park in 2027. Regional favorites are close at hand: the Fair Grounds in New Orleans every winter, Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, from January to May, and Keeneland’s spring and fall meets in Lexington. The Breeders’ Cup closes the season each fall.
Types of horse racing bets
Pari-mutuel bets come in three families:
- Straight bets: Win, Place (first or second) and Show (top three).
- Exotics: Exacta (first two in order), Trifecta (first three) and Superfecta (first four), which you can box to cover any order.
- Multi-race bets: Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6.
A quick example: a $1 trifecta box on three horses costs $6 and pays if those three fill the top three spots in any order. The payout depends on the size of the pool, so you only know it when the race is official.
Taxes on horse racing winnings in Alabama
Racing winnings are taxable income at Alabama’s state rates of 2% to 5%, wherever the bet was placed. Federally, a W-2G can be issued on big pari-mutuel payouts, and withholding generally applies when a payout exceeds $5,000 and is at least 300 times the stake. From the 2026 tax year, only 90% of gambling losses are deductible, and never more than your winnings. Keep a record of every ticket.
Other gambling in Alabama
Alabama has no lottery, no sports betting and no commercial casinos. The Poarch Creek tribe’s Wind Creek casinos in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery offer electronic bingo machines, and daily fantasy sports are legal under a 2019 law. Our Alabama gambling guide covers the full picture, including the bills that died in the 2026 session.
Responsible gambling
Set a budget before the first race and stick to it. ADW accounts offer deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion. Free, confidential help is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER. Our responsible gambling guide has more.
Alabama horse racing in 2027
Birmingham Racecourse’s next chapter
Wind Creek has promised a destination resort at Birmingham Racecourse. Alabama horsemen hope the new owners can bring live racing back, though no plan has been announced.
A state framework for ADWs?
A 2024 proposal for an Alabama Racing Commission went nowhere. A law licensing ADWs would bring more operators, including FanDuel Racing, into the state.
Belmont Stakes returns to Belmont Park
The Belmont Stakes moves back to the rebuilt Belmont Park in 2027, and the Breeders’ Cup is held there that fall.
Is it legal to bet on horses online in Alabama?
Alabama has no law that licenses or bans online racebooks. National ADW operators licensed in other states, such as AmWager, accept Alabama residents, and we know of no prosecutions of bettors.
Which horse betting apps work in Alabama?
AmWager, DRF Bets and NYRA Bets accept Alabama customers. FanDuel Racing (TVG) does not.
What is the age to bet on horses online in Alabama?
AmWager and NYRA Bets require Alabama customers to be 21 or older.
Can I bet on the Kentucky Derby from Alabama?
Yes, through an ADW that accepts Alabama, or in person at Birmingham Racecourse and the state’s other simulcast tracks.
Is there live horse racing in Alabama?
No. Birmingham Racecourse ended live thoroughbred racing in 1995.
Can I bet on sports in Alabama?
No. Sports betting is not legal in Alabama, online or in person.
