Bingo in Alabama: Laws, Halls & Online Bingo (2026 Guide)

Is bingo legal in Alabama?

Only in certain places. Alabama’s constitution bans lotteries, and the state’s courts treat bingo as a lottery, so charity bingo is legal only where voters approved a local constitutional amendment for that county or city.

Many counties have passed these local amendments over the decades, each with its own rules. Some put the county commission in charge, some the sheriff, and in Jefferson County the Alabama Supreme Court held that the town where the game is played holds regulatory power. That patchwork is why there is no single statewide bingo license in Alabama.

What every amendment has in common is paper bingo for nonprofits. Electronic bingo is another matter. The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled several times that electronic bingo machines are slot machines, and the Attorney General’s office has gone to court to close electronic bingo halls in several counties.

How old do you have to be to play bingo in Alabama?

There’s no single answer, because each local amendment sets its own rules. St. Clair County’s amendment, for example, says no one under 19 may play unless a parent or guardian is with them, and no one under 19 may help run a game.

If you’re going to a church or civic game, ask the organizer. At tribal casinos, the age is set by the casino.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Alabama?

No. Alabama has no lottery, no commercial casinos and no law authorizing any online gambling. Real-money bingo sites that accept Alabama players are operating without a license.

Free bingo apps are fine. See our online bingo guide for how free, sweepstakes and real-money apps differ. If gambling stops being fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Alabama?

Unsettled. No Alabama law bans sweepstakes casinos by name, and most major brands still accept players here. But a string of lawsuits filed in Alabama courts, including a new batch reported in January 2026, argues that sites such as Stake, VGW’s brands and High 5 are illegal gambling. None had produced a ruling against the operators at last report.

The Attorney General has a long record of treating sweepstakes-style gaming machines as illegal slot machines, though we found no AG action against online sweepstakes casinos as of October 2026. Our sweepstakes bingo explainer explains how these sites work and the risks to your balance if a state cracks down.

Where can you play bingo in Alabama?

The biggest bingo operation is tribal. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians runs Wind Creek casinos in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery, and their gaming floors are built on electronic bingo games, which federal law treats as Class II bingo on tribal land. These are machine games, not a caller and daubers.

For traditional paper bingo, look for church, VFW and civic games in counties that allow them. The Wind Creek properties are in the table below.

How to run a charity bingo game in Alabama

Start by finding out whether your county or city allows bingo at all, then follow that amendment’s rules:

1. Check your local amendment. Search the Alabama Constitution’s local provisions for your county, or ask the county commission or sheriff’s office.
2. Confirm your group qualifies. Most amendments limit bingo to charitable, religious, educational or civic nonprofits, and some require the group to have existed for a set time. St. Clair County, for example, requires at least 24 months.
3. Get the local permit. Depending on the county, that may come from the sheriff, the county commission or the city.
4. Use paper cards and a live caller. Electronic machines are off-limits outside tribal land.
5. Keep records of receipts, prizes and where the money went.

Our bingo fundraiser guide covers the practical side of planning a night. Heading west? Compare the rules in Mississippi.