While there are many federal laws that hold an influence over gambling across the whole nation, many states also have enacted their own local legislations. The federal policies that govern them all are clear in that the business of gambling is outlawed vehemently while the mere participation or simple act of placing a bet is not. There is much room left by these federal regulations that allow states to either widen or narrow these federal policies, as Alabama is one such state that has done so. This page is intended for those in the heart of Dixie looking to familiarize themselves with local laws so that they may safely and legally wager with legal gambling sites for Alabama residents without worry or concern.
As federal laws make it clear that the overall business of gambling is outright illegal, states like Alabama have taken it a few steps further to ensure that regulation is in action on their local region. Legislation frowns upon gambling in the Heart of Dixie and we will go over a few of the more important points of the State’s constitution in regards to gambling.
13A-12-20(4) - Defines the term 'gambling' and what it means in the eyes of Alabama's legislature. Current legislation bans 'gambling' on land, and Alabama has no state licensed gambling facilities. There is no clear punishment listed in the legislation however meaning that this act is not criminalized.
13A-12-27 - As is the case with federal laws, this particular clause appears to go after those looking to be in the business of gambling. Possessing a gambling device such as a slot machine or a ball jumbler will result in a $6,000 fine and up to a year in jail. It would be wise never to possess any sort of instrument that you could use to conduct a gambling operation.
13A-12-20(1) - The advancement of gambling is the Alabama equivalent of ‘Commercial Gambling’ and is a major offense in the heart of Dixie. Again, the state follows the federal guideline of cracking down on the business of gambling or facilitating bets for profit.
13A-12-21 - A person commits the crime of simple gambling if he knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity as a player. This is perhaps the most important passage for casual gamblers in the state of Alabama as it describes the participants of gambling, not the facilitators. Although this is included in the constitution, we feel the intent of the law is more important, and when it comes to complex legal documents, actions speak louder than words. The actions tell us this: no Alabama resident has ever been prosecuted for taking part in gambling. These laws exist as a deterrent for illicit casinos, law enforcement agencies will not go door to door to prevent players from gambling online.
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Wire Act – Before diving into local Alabama gambling laws, it is important to first look at the regulations that govern the entire nation. The Federal Wire Act is perhaps the most well known piece of gambling legislation that prohibits transmission of gambling information through any wire communication means between states. This law intends to root out organized crime and put the brakes on corruption by going after the business of gambling and those who facilitate bets for profit. The law does not hinder the average citizen from the simple act of placing a bet, however.
PASPA – The Wire Act often pairs with the strong language of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) passed in 1992 to nail down the specific industry of sports betting. These laws have all but erased most venues to place a bet in the United States with only a handful of locations exempt such as Las Vegas or legal online gambling sites located outside of federal jurisdiction.
UIGEA – The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) also joins the list of important federal laws that one must be aware of before choosing to gamble. The UIGEA targets organized crime as well while having a specific influence on online banking transactions of a gambling enterprise. Again, this does not target someone wishing to place a bet with some of the best gambling sites that accept Alabama players, but only those who facilitate them.
While there are few places to wager in the heart of Dixie, the state still has a set determined minimum age to engage in legal Alabama gambling that is 19 years of age or older. People of all ages are welcome to play Bingo for a charitable cause and all those who reside in Alabama who desire to place bets online are able to do so aged 18 years of age or older.
In short, federal laws do not allow for the business of gambling taking place on U.S. soil but do allow the average citizen to place a bet provided they do not stand to turn a profit other than personal winnings.
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