PlayPennsylvania has contacted poker room reps for Hollywood Casino, Wind Creek Casino, and Presque Isle Downs Casino but they had no concrete plans to share. We will continue to update you here as more rooms open or set a date for reopening. Live Poker is back at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Wind Creek Casino.
Alabama gambling was one of the first to appear among the states in the south. There are currently only three Alabama casinos that operate today. It started with the formation of the Alabama Racing Commission in 1971. Regulations set forth by the commission permitted municipalities with 300,000 or more residents to hold referendums to determine whether racing should be permitted within the county or city. This law applies to greyhounds and horses. There are currently two greyhound tracks in operation. Off-track betting is also permitted.
Bingo is legal if the proceeds go towards charity. It must also be approved through a local referendum. The emergence of auto-daubing brought a new bingo element to Alabama. Slot machines that used bingo algorithms started appearing in the late 1990’s.
| Alabama Casinos & Gambling | |
|---|---|
| Alabama Legal Gambling Age | 18-21* |
| Number of Casinos | 3 |
| Estimated Casino Revenue | Unknown |
| Smoking ban | No ban |
| Can You Gamble Online in Alabama? | Yes |
| Alabama Online Gambling | Racing Only |
| *Only people 21 or older can enter casinos where alcohol is served. | |
Alabama is one of just six states without a state lottery. Those looking to buy lotto tickets for interstate drawings may go to Georgia, Tennessee, or Florida to do so.
Paying Gambling Taxes in Alabama
Is your gambling income taxable? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying taxes on your gambling winnings straight from a Certified Public Accountant. For more information please visit our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.
Alabama Casinos Map & Guide
- Creek Casino Montgomery
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Types of Alabama Online Gambling Allowed
The only form of online gambling legal in Alabama is off-track betting. This includes greyhounds and horses. The state permits skill games to be played for money. Daily fantasy sports sites that include DraftKings and FanDuel feel that their product falls under these laws. Alabama lawmakers and the state attorney general have yet to issue any opinion to the contrary.
Types of Live Alabama Gambling
There are three forms of live legalized gambling in Alabama.
Greyhound Racing
The oldest is greyhound racing. It dates back to 1973 when the first race with pari-mutuel betting at the Mobile Greyhound Park. There were four greyhound tracks in Alabama at one time. Only two operate today. Those tracks are the Mobile Greyhound Park and Birmingham Race Track.
Horseracing
Horseracing is also legal in Alabama. The Birmingham Race Track operated horse racing from 1984 to 1992. The track ran into financial difficulties and ended horseracing. No track offered thoroughbred betting since then.
Video Bingo
Video bingo found a way through a back-door in the early 2000’s. The operators cited the legalization of auto-daubing, meaning a machine is able to cover the numbers called. This translation permitted video bingo displayed in a slot format, or so the operators thought. Alabama state law enforcement raided VictoryLand in Shorter and other facilities after threatening to shut the businesses down.
All tracks ceased video bingo operations in the state. Three reservations launched video bingo while the state raided the tracks. Creek Casino Montgomery, Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka, and Wind Creek Casino Atmore continue offering these games under the same premise the tracks did. No gaming pact has been created. Despite only offering video bingo and slot machines, they still refer to themselves as Alabama casinos.
Alabama Gambling Laws
Alabama gambling laws are specific to the betting options offered. Racing is permitted in cities with a population of at least 300,000 people. Local voters must approve the measure. Betting is permitted on greyhounds and horses. Wagers can be made on live races, at off-track betting facilities and over the Internet.
Bingo is legal in Alabama. Proceeds must go to charities. Gaming operators assert that video bingo is legal in Alabama. These are machines that mimic slots but display symbols based on a bingo drawing. The state’s attorney general disagrees. The case is being heard by the Alabama Supreme Court.
The state’s tribes feel that video bingo is legal in Alabama. Three Tribal Alabama casinos operate the devices.
The state does not receive any benefit from gambling. The only taxes from racing fund the commission that regulates it. Bingo profits benefit charities. The reservations do not have a gaming pact with the state.
The minimum Alabama gambling age is 19 years old for all forms of gambling.
List of Alabama Casinos
Creek Casino Montgomery, Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka, and Wind Creek Casino Atmore are the three Alabama casinos in the state. Mobile Greyhound Park and Birmingham Race Track offer live and simulcast racing. VictoryLand offers off-track betting but no live races. Charities throughout the state offer live bingo sessions. You can find the casinos, locations, and websites, as well as use our Alabama casinos map for more detailed information.
Alabama Casinos and Locations
| Casino | Size | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Creek Casino Atmore | 1,600 Slot Machines | 303 Poarch Road | www.windcreekatmore.com |
| Wind Creek Casino Montgomery | 2,100 Slot Machines | 1801 Eddie Tullis Drive | www.windcreekmontgomery.com |
| Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka | 2,500 Slot Machines | 100 River Oaks Drive | www.windcreekwetumpka.com |
History of Alabama Gambling
| Alabama Regulated Gambling | |
|---|---|
| Greyhound Racing | 1973 |
| Bingo | 1993 |
| Video Bingo | 2003 |
Bingo also requires a local referendum, as required by the state’s charitable gaming law passed in 1993. More than half of the counties in Alabama have approved charitable bingo.
There is no law the governs the use of video bingo machines by Tribal Alabama casinos. This is a grey area in the gambling laws of Alabama.
Alabama Casinos & Gambling FAQ
When did greyhound racing become legal in Alabama?
The Alabama Racing Commission was organized in 1971. The first race under its regulations was held in 1973.
1993, but it requires a local referendum.
Yes, but no tracks operate today.
Yes. Two tracks still operate today.
What two greyhound tracks are still open in Alabama?
Montgomery Greyhound Park and Birmingham Race Track still hold live greyhound races.
Yes. Simulcast betting on horses and dogs are legal.
Is mobile and internet betting on racing legal in Alabama?
What companies accept online horse betting in Alabama?
TVG, BetAmerica and TwinSpires are among the companies that accept wagers from Alabamans.
There is still a legal fight to determine that answer. Video bingo is currently spread at the state’s three tribal casinos.
It is currently open for simulcast betting on dogs and horses Wednesday through Monday. Its Quincy’s 777 Casino is closed pending a ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court. VictoryLand no longer offers live races.
Alabama tribes believe that video bingo is legal in the state. Attorney General Luther Strange attempted to shut the gaming on reservations down but his actions were rejected by federal courts and the U.S. Department of the Interior. No gaming pact has been created between with the governor.
The minimum Alabama gambling age is 19 years old for all forms of betting.
Four live poker rooms are now open in Pennsylvania. The rooms where you can find live poker right now are:
- The Meadows
- Mount Airy Casino
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
These five live poker rooms are currently closed:
- Parx (opening Dec. 15)
- Hollywood Casino
- Presque Isle Downs
- Wind Creek Casino
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia (reopened but closed again on Nov. 20)
In the New Year, players will also have another live poker option in Philadelphia. Live! Casino and Hotel in Philly will open in early 2021, and a 29-table poker room should open with it, pending COVID-19 restrictions.
We will continue to update casino and poker room closings and reopening plans in this second wave at our live updates page here.
Parx poker room reopening in mid-December
Pennsylvania’s largest poker room announced a date for its long-awaited return. Parx Poker Room will reopen on Dec. 15 at 9.m. with all of its usual games and be open 24 hours. The news came via Parx’s website.
What’s up at Wind Creek’s poker room?
With 26 tables, Wind Creek Casino has one of the larger poker rooms in PA. A representative from Wind Creek told PlayPennsylvania they had no update on when the poker room would open.
A Wind Creek employee provided an update on some of the happenings at Wind Creek including the poker room. Read the full story here.
PA poker rooms opening one by one
Other poker rooms in Pennsylvania could be reopening any day. According to a spokesperson for the PGCB, casinos submit plans and safety protocols for review. Once they receive final approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), they can reopen.
It’s positive news for poker players who have been waiting a long time to get back to live games. Casinos in Pennsylvania started shutting down to slow the spread of coronavirus in mid-March. They did not begin to welcome back guests until June, and poker rooms were not open due to the social nature of the game.
PlayPennsylvania has contacted poker room reps for Hollywood Casino, Wind Creek Casino, and Presque Isle Downs Casino but they had no concrete plans to share.
We will continue to update you here as more rooms open or set a date for reopening.
Live Poker returned to Rivers Philadelphia but closed again
Rivers Casino Philadelphia reopened its poker room on Oct. 23. It did so with approval for up to 14 tables with a capacity of 100 guests. Under normal circumstances, the room has 28 tables and offers a variety of poker games but now the action returned with primarily No Limit Texas Hold’em cash games.
According to a recent press release, in addition to the existing casino-wide safety measures, the following precautions are in effect for the poker room (when it is open):
- Masks must be worn at all times
- Poker dealers will wear both a mask and a face shield
- Each poker table in play will have plexiglass dividers, separating players and the dealer
- A maximum of seven players allowed per table
- Frequent and thorough cleaning of all cards, chips and surfaces
- Only sanitized chips bought from the poker room cage will be used in play
- No food, beverage or smoking is permitted in the poker room or anywhere on the Rivers Casino gaming floor
Peter Longi, assistant general manager at Rivers Casino Philadelphia, commented:
“Poker players are excited to be back at the tables, enjoying the game they love. Our reopening was carefully planned with the safety of our team and guests being the primary concern. We’re eager to welcome back our poker team.”
To assist with social distancing, players are encouraged to call the poker room at 215-717-3883 to put their name on the waiting list when the room reopens. Guests can also check the Bravo Poker Live online or the website’s mobile app for the Rivers Casino poker room up-to-the-minute game status. In addition, players will have a chance to win their share of the $100,000 Bad Beat Jackpot. The minimum qualifying hand is quad 2s.
Rivers had to close its poker room once again along with the rest of the casino until at least Jan. 1, 2021.
Here’s a look at a poker table at Rivers Philadelphia:
Players pine for poker
When the PGCB released its casino reopening protocols in late May, part of them stated that poker rooms were not authorized to operate due to players’ handling of cards and chips. They also said poker room operations would be re-examined based on changes in the CDC’s and PA Department of Health’s guidance.
On June 9, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh was the first to welcome back visitors. When asked when poker rooms would return, PGCB Director of Communication Doug Harbach said poker rooms present a different type of challenge since people are sitting close together in a room. He said at the time:
“The casinos want to walk before they run and make sure they are getting the venue open and then move on to opening up other areas once they know the protocols are working well.”
PokerStars, the state’s lone online poker site, has posted healthy numbers in PA, but players are still pining for in-person play.
Harbach gave this update to PlayPennsylvania in late August about poker rooms in Pennsylvania:
“There has been no alteration to the casino reopening protocols released by the Gaming Control Board in May in which poker rooms were not authorized to operate. At the same time, this guideline can be reexamined based on health experts’ guidance. Should casinos wish to explore reopening a casino room, it would need to provide plans to do so safely, which would be reviewed by the board on a case-by-case basis.”
Poker is back in New Jersey, too
New Jersey also had a long poker pause. The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa reopened its poker room, the largest in the state, on Oct. 21. The room is operating with 30 socially distanced tables. It’s about a third of the room’s 85 tables when operating at full capacity.
The Bellagio in Las Vegas opened its poker room in June. Nevada state guidelines mandated five-handed play in rooms without dividers or plexiglass partitions. However, the Bellagio’s request for six-handed poker games with partitions was approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Other poker rooms in Nevada have also reopened with virus protocols in place.
When will poker rooms in Pennsylvania reopen?
Play Pennsylvania will continue to provide updates here as more casinos announce plans and reopen live poker.
Hollywood Casino live poker update
Currently closed.
Information about Hollywood Casino Poker Room:
- 17 tables
- Monday nights, $200 high hand, every 30 minutes; Wednesdays and Thursdays, $200 high hand, every 30 minutes; Fridays, $500 high hand, every 30 minutes; Sundays, hourly high hand prizes.
- Bad Beat Jackpot
- Weekly Rack Back Bonus
The Meadows live poker update
The Meadows poker room opened on Oct. 23 with daily hours of 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Welcome back Poker Players! pic.twitter.com/9X66QuZqXp
— Meadows Casino (@MeadowsCasino) October 23, 2020
Information about The Meadows Poker Room:
- 14 tables
- Live games such as Texas hold’em and Omaha every day
- Progressive bad beat
Mount Airy Casino live poker update
Mount Airy’s poker room reopened on Oct. 16 and is open 24 hours.
Information about Mount Airy Casino Poker Room:
- 12 tables
- Games such as Texas hold’em, Omaha and stud
Mohegan Sun Pocono live poker update
Mohegan Sun Pocono’s poker room reopened on Oct. 16.
Information about Mohegan Sun Pocono Poker Room:
- Eight tables
- Daily tournaments feature no-limit Texas hold’em and Bounty tournaments
- Offering a Bad Beat Jackpot for BOTH cash and tournament play
- Each day, $25 added to the Royal Flush Jackpot for each of the four suites
Parx live poker update
Parx sent out an email in mid-November saying they were finalizing plans but hoped to re-open poker “before the end of December.”
Information about the Parx Casino Poker Room:
- 80 tables — the most in PA
- The room offers a variety of no-limit hold’em games (from $1-$2 up to $10-$25), limit hold’em ($3-6 up to $30-$60), pot-limit Omaha, Omaha eight or better and a variety of mixed and draw games
- Weekly tournaments. Major tournament: Parx Big Stax
Presque Isle Downs live poker update
The poker room is currently closed.
Information about Presque Isle Downs Poker Room:
- Seven tables
- Games like hold’em and Omaha. Also offering multitable and single-table tournaments (sit and go’s)
Rivers Casino Philadelphia live poker update
Rivers Philadelphia reopened poker on Oct. 23. But it is closed once again as of Nov. 20 along with the casino to comply with city orders. It could reopen as soon as Jan. 1.
Cards are in the air! Welcome back players! $200 high hands are on every hour 24/7 all of October! Call 215-717-3883 to reserve your seat. pic.twitter.com/MwcxTABsNM
— Rivers Philadelphia Poker Room (@riverspokerphl) October 23, 2020
Information about Rivers Casino Philadelphia Poker Room:
- 28 tables
- Rivers offers a wide variety of poker games, including, but not limited, to Texas hold’em, Omaha-high, Omaha-hi/lo split eight or better, seven-card stud high, seven-card stud low, seven-card stud hi/lo split and seven-card stud hi/lo split eight or better.
- Poker promotions and tournaments listed on site when available.
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh live poker update
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh opened on Nov. 11. And beginning Nov. 16, Rivers Pittsburgh will operate 24/7, according to their twitter.
We are excited to announce that the Poker Room will be opening on Wednesday, November 11th at 4PM. We can’t wait to welcome you back!
Learn more about what you can expect and current hours: https://t.co/heQ3qJyQbV
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler pic.twitter.com/FjgJY2cC7v
— Rivers Casino Pittsburgh (@WinBigRivers) November 10, 2020
Information about Rivers Casino Pittsburgh Poker Room:
Wind Creek Casino Poker Live Free
- 30 tables
- Poker promotions and tournaments listed on site when available
Wind Creek Bethlehem live poker update
Wind Creek poker room remains closed.
Information about Wind Creek Bethlehem Poker Room:
- 26 tables
- Variety of games such as limit and no-limit Texas hold ’em, stud and Omaha. Limits starting at $3 and $6
- Automated shufflers on every poker game
- Bad Beat Jackpot available daily
- Massage service
Lady Luck Nemacolin and Valley Forge do not have poker rooms. PlayPennsylvania exclusively reported that Harrah’s Philadelphia closed its WSOP-branded room in August.
Wind Creek Casino Poker Live Stream
More online poker operators coming to PA
PokerStars arrived in Pennsylvania in November 2019 and has been the state’s only operator for 11 months. Partypoker was rumored to be coming in the early fall, but like most party plans in 2020, it hasn’t happened.
Last week, the PGCB approved Caesars‘ online poker partner 888 Holdings for an interactive gaming manufacturer license. 888 Poker was the No. 1 poker website in the country last year. It has a self-branded poker platform, and its software powers World Series of Poker (WSOP) online and mobile sites.
It seems only a matter of time before both partypoker and WSOP.com make their way to PA.
Health and safety at PA casinos
Here are a few things you should know in case you have not been to a casino since they reopened. Per the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, all casinos in the state must follow the COVID-19 Casino Reopening Protocols, which detail the minimum safety and health-related requirements that are mandatory before reopening.
Casinos may also choose to have additional measures, such as temperature checks at the entrance.
Key points to remember are:
- Casinos can reopen at 50% capacity. (Rivers Casino Philadelphia is open at 25%.)
- Employees and guests must wear masks.
- There must be markings on the floor to promote social distancing.
- Enhanced cleaning is required throughout the facility.
Wind Creek Casino Poker Live Cam
In addition, there is a current pause on smoking at casinos, no drink service on the gaming floor and no sitting at the bar.
Be sure to check back often as we continue to post updates on PA poker room reopenings here.
Wind Creek Casino Poker Live Streaming
Lead image of Meadows poker room via AP Photo/Keith Srakocic.