As another football season gets rolling and underway this week, the Sports Betting Alliance noted that Alabamians who bet on games are unable to do so in legal markets, causing them to either conduct business in other states or bet in offshore, illegal markets.

Fans locked out of legal betting in their home state don’t stop betting — they turn to illegal offshore markets, losing every protection legal states offer. That shift also costs the state tens of millions of dollars a year in missed revenue.

“Alabamians are already betting on games – they’re just doing it without any of the protections fans in legal states rely on, and without a dollar coming back to Alabama,” said Joe Maloney, President and CEO of the Sports Betting Alliance. “A regulated market gives customers real tools to set limits and manage their play, and it gives the state a revenue stream that funds its priorities. Alabama has neither today. Legalizing sports betting would deliver both.”

In legal, regulated markets, responsible gaming is a massive part of the operation. Member companies invest tens of millions of dollars each year in tools that help customers make informed decisions from their first login. These tools are built into the customer experience, so they are easy to find and easy to use:

•    Onboarding and education so customers know what tools are available from the moment they sign up.
•    Deposit, wager, and time limits that customers set for themselves.
•    Activity and account management tools that track wins, losses, and time spent on the platform.
•    Cooling-off periods that let customers pause play for a set period.
•    Self-exclusion programs that let customers step away for months, years, or permanently.
•    Direct connections to support through organizations that provide treatment, counseling, and help for individuals and families affected by problem gambling.

“The offshore operators serving Alabama bettors offer none of these protections,” a release from SBA claimed.

“They set no limits, run no self-exclusion programs, and answer to no one. They also don’t contribute a dime to state revenue. Neighboring Tennessee, which launched legal online sports betting in 2020, has generated tens of millions of dollars a year in tax revenue, with the largest share directed to public education and a portion supporting mental health programs. In Alabama, that same activity funds offshore operators instead of state priorities.”