Online Horse Race Betting in Alabama — Best Apps & Promos
Horse racing betting in Alabama 2026 — best sites, racing apps, bonuses and promo codes.
Alabama is an online-only horse racing state.
Online horse race betting in Alabama is legal and available to anyone 21 or older through licensed advance-deposit (ADW) racebooks — AmWager, TwinSpires, DRF Bets and 1/ST BET all accept Alabama bettors and cover every major US, UK and international track from a single account. The catch is local: Alabama has had no live horse racing since 1995, and Birmingham Race Course now operates purely as a simulcast venue.
That makes an ADW app the only practical way to bet the horses in Alabama, whether it’s a daily card at Churchill Downs or the Kentucky Derby itself. Alabama has no legal sports betting, so a horse racing racebook is also the only regulated online wagering option in the state.
Facts: ADW legal (21+ in AL); Birmingham Race Course = simulcast only, no live racing since 1995; no legal sports betting. Operators: AmWager, TwinSpires, DRF Bets, NYRA Bets, 123Bet, 1/ST BET, DayAtTheTrack.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Alabama (2026)
All major US Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) apps operate in Alabama. Each lets you bet every Alabama track plus US, UK and international racing from one account. Minimum age 18.
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★ TOP PICK
AmWager
★ 4.8 / 5Alabama hasn’t had a live Thoroughbred track since 1995, so an ADW is the only way to play the horses — and AmWager brings 250+ tracks worldwide to the state’s 19-and-up players. The draw is the rebate: 6–8% back on every wager, win or lose, with HD streaming and a fast cashier.
$50 DEPOSIT MATCH 6-8% REBATES LIVE STREAMING 250+ TRACKSSign up at AmWager → Bonus: 100% deposit match up to $5018+. New AmWager customers only. Limit one signup bonus per person. Match applies to first deposit only, up to $50. To unlock the full bonus, deposit $50 and place qualifying wagers totaling $50 within 30 days. Cancelled or refunded bets don't count. Bonus credited in single deposit within 7 business days of meeting requirements. Bonus credits are non-withdrawable; winnings are cash and withdrawable. Unused bonus expires after 30 days. · Full AmWager review -
TwinSpires
★ 4.5 / 5Best for: Triple Crown. Churchill Downs Inc.’s TwinSpires gives Alabama bettors (19+) the full national simulcast menu and the deepest Triple Crown coverage on the market — valuable in a state with no live racing of its own.
Bonus: $200 bonus after $500 in wagers · Min age 18 -
1/ST BET
★ 4.4 / 5Best for: West Coast tracks. 1/ST BET brings The Stronach Group’s premium platform to Alabama (19+), pairing its flagships — Santa Anita, Gulfstream and Pimlico — with the full national card menu. One of the slickest interfaces in racing.
Bonus: Choice of three options up to $500 · Min age 18 -
DRF Bets
★ 4.3 / 5Best for: Handicapping data. DRF Bets gives Alabama handicappers (19+) unlimited DRF Classic past performances and Beyer Speed Figures with a funded account, across the national cards — the data edge wherever you’re betting.
Bonus: 100% deposit match up to $200 · Min age 18 -
NYRA Bets
$200 in cash rewards after $400 in wagers
Best Alabama Horse Race Betting Apps: Coverage, Rebates & Bonuses
Choosing the best horse racing betting site in Alabama comes down to track coverage, rebates and streaming. The top online horse race betting apps — AmWager, TwinSpires and DRF Bets — carry 250+ US and international tracks in HD, pay cashback on every wager (AmWager runs 6–8% rebates, win or lose), and bundle handicapping data like DRF Classic past performances and Beyer Speed Figures. Every Alabama-legal racebook offers a new-customer welcome bonus, from AmWager’s 100% deposit match up to $50 to DRF Bets’ 100% match up to $200. Because all are ADW operators, you fund the account once and bet from your phone anywhere inside state lines.
Alabama’s four racetracks — addresses & live cards
Birmingham Race Course
1000 John Rogers Dr, Birmingham, AL 35210
Opened 1987 as the Birmingham Turf Club; ran live thoroughbreds until 1995 and greyhounds until 2020. Today a simulcast and casino venue only — no live racing.
Greene County Entertainment Center
524 Hwy 11 N, Eutaw, AL 35462
Formerly GreeneTrack. Offers pari-mutuel simulcast wagering on racing from across the country.
VictoryLand
8680 County Road 40, Shorter, AL 36075
Macon County venue offering horse and greyhound simulcast wagering.
Mobile Greyhound Park
7101 Theodore Dawes Rd, Theodore, AL 36582
Full-time simulcast facility on the Gulf Coast; in-person pari-mutuel age here is 18.
Signature stakes races at Alabama’s tracks
Beyond the everyday cards, each Alabama track hosts at least one feature stakes race that draws statewide attention — most are bettable through every ADW listed above.
The National Calendar
Alabama has no in-state stakes races, but every Alabama-legal ADW carries the full US calendar — the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont) and the Breeders’ Cup — plus 250+ tracks worldwide.
How Alabama compares to neighboring states
| Border state | Online sports | Online casino | Notable racing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | Tribal (Hard Rock) since 2023 | No | Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs |
| Georgia | No legal sports betting | No | No tracks |
| Mississippi | Retail sportsbooks only (casinos) | No | No thoroughbred tracks |
| Tennessee | Online-only since 2020 | No | No tracks |
Who regulates horse racing in Alabama
Alabama regulates pari-mutuel horse racing through a single dedicated board. There is no legal sports betting in the state, so no sportsbook regulator exists.
County Racing Commissions (no statewide body)
Alabama has no statewide racing commission. Pari-mutuel wagering is authorized locally through county racing commissions (Birmingham, Macon County and others) created by constitutional amendment. Online ADW betting is permitted under the federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 — Alabama has never outlawed it. Live racing ceased in 1995, so the remaining venues operate as simulcast facilities only.
Alabama horse betting — frequently asked questions
Is online horse racing betting legal in Alabama?
Yes. Betting on horses through licensed ADW apps is legal under the federal Interstate Horseracing Act, which Alabama has never outlawed. You must be 19 or older to bet online — Alabama and Texas are the only states above the usual 18.
Are there any racetracks in Alabama?
No active ones. Live horse racing ended at Birmingham Race Course in 1995. Four venues — Birmingham Race Course, Greene County, VictoryLand and Mobile Greyhound Park — still offer pari-mutuel simulcast wagering in person, but all live racing you bet on happens out of state.
What's the best horse racing app in Alabama?
Our editors rate AmWager the top choice for Alabama bettors — it covers 250+ tracks worldwide, pays 6–8% rebates on every wager, and runs a 100% deposit match up to $50 for new accounts. Sign up at AmWager. TwinSpires, DRF Bets, NYRA Bets and 1/ST BET also accept Alabama bettors. Note that FanDuel Racing is not available in Alabama.
Is sports betting legal in Alabama?
No. Alabama has no legal retail or online sportsbooks. A 2024 gambling bill passed the House but died in the Senate, and 2025–2026 efforts failed against the state’s constitutional ban on gambling. Horse racing ADWs and daily fantasy sports are the only legal online betting options.
Can I bet the Kentucky Derby from Alabama?
Yes. Every Alabama-legal ADW carries Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup wagering, with ante-post markets typically opening in late November.
What's the minimum age to bet on horses in Alabama?
19 for online ADW wagering. In-person pari-mutuel at a simulcast venue is generally 18 (19 at Birmingham Race Course). Geolocation verifies you’re inside Alabama before an online bet is accepted.
Bet responsibly
18+ for pari-mutuel horse racing. Gambling can be addictive. Help available 24/7 in Alabama:
- Alabama Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER (free, 24/7)
- National helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER
- www.ncpgambling.org — voluntary exclusion, self-help tools
- National Council on Problem Gambling
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Try the Predictor →Guides for Horse Betting
All Guides →New to horse betting in Alabama? Explore our guides for clear answers to the most common questions — explained by veteran horse racing commentator Mike Brunker of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.