DraftKings Alabama Sportsbook: Launch Details and App Review

Saturday Down South

22 February 2024

DraftKings Alabama Sportsbook: Launch Details and App Review

DraftKings Alabama Sportsbook may be coming to the Yellowhammer state soon after members of the Alabama house advanced gambling bills HB 151 and 152 in February 2024.

DraftKings is one of the top sportsbooks in the country and will no doubt be on the list of books to be heading to Alabama should these bills continue moving through to a ballot in November 2024.

For now, potential bettors in Alabama will just have to wait for a verdict in the Alabama senate. Users in states where DraftKings is currently available (such as Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and soon North Carolina) can take a look at DraftKings Sportsbook’s current No-Sweat First Bet up to $1K offer below!

DraftKings Alabama Sportsbook Latest News

There’s still a long way to go before sports betting is legalized in the southern, typically traditional state of Alabama. Similar bills to legalize have been brought to the table in the past, such as in 2019 and 2022, but all have failed at or before even reaching the Alabama State House, all originating in the senate.

But there’s real reason for optimism this time around. The house advanced the bill to the senate, where it is widely believed there will be enough votes to push the bill through to Gov. Kay Ivey, who is a proponent of the bill.

Alabama has made it a priority for money that has been going out of the state to be funneled back into the state. Not to mention, Alabama lawmakers have cited the rise in illegal betting (such as offshore betting) and allowing Alabamians to have their own say on regulated forms of sports betting.

Here’s a look at both bills and their importance in the process of sports betting legalization in Alabama:

HB 151

HB151 is the amendment to Alabama’s state constitution which prohibits sports betting. Overturning it is obviously a necessary step to legalization. This is also the reason for the necessitation of a public vote.

The bill specifically targets retail and online sports betting, as well as state lotteries and casinos. Finally, it will allow Alabama to authorize a gaming contract with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who run the 3 casinos existing in Alabama.

HB 152

HB152 is more geared towards the creation of a state lottery (Alabama is one of just 5 states without a lottery, including Hawaii, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alaska).

Representative Chris Blackshear, who sponsors the bill, stated at a hearing that the state could earn $1.2 billion in revenue should these bills pass, with the majority of that revenue coming from casinos and casino gambling in the state. Sports betting is estimated to account for around $40 million to that number.

What’s next?

Alabama has an eligible gambling population of just under 4 million people as of 2024, just under 80% of the state’s total population. As more and more southern states legalize online sports betting, Alabama looks to be well on its way to becoming the next.

But there are still some steps to take. First off, the bill has to pass the Alabama senate before landing on voter cards in November 2024.

The potential revenue Alabama could gain from the legalization of sports betting is astounding. The bills propose a 17% tax on sports betting (up to 24% for casinos) and, according to the Alabama Governor’s Study Group on Gambling Policy, total annual revenue for the packages legalization could exceed $800 million.

DraftKings Sportsbook Review

The following is Saturday Down South’s full DraftKings Sportsbook review:

User Interface

DraftKings is certainly one of the most popular selections among major U.S. sportsbooks, and the brand boasts an ultra-smooth and impressive mobile sports betting app. The online sportsbook is compatible with both iOS and Android platforms, as well as in a traditional web browser setting.

Bettors can utilize the sliding menu at the top of the screen to quickly flip between different types of bets. Various sports and leagues also have their own respective tabs near the middle of the screen for easy access to odds for upcoming games/matches.

Best of all, DraftKings is constantly updating its app for the most popular sporting event of the week. It’s super easy to find NFL lines, March Madness picks and more when that time of year comes around. If a certain sport isn’t in play that night, it won’t be at the top of your screen.

Here’s a look at DraftKings’s webpage:

Options, Options, Options

DraftKings has a LOT to bet on, folks. And that doesn’t just mean for the most popular sports in the country such as the NFL, NCAAF, NBA and so on.

As you can see in the screenshot above, DraftKings has sections on UFC, Aussie Rules football, Premier League and Serie A Soccer and even the Academy Awards. But that’s far from its full arsenal. Here’s a list of sports you can bet on with DraftKings Sportsbook:

Australian Rules football
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Beach Volleyball
Boxing
Canoeing
Climbing
Cricket
Cycling
Darts
Diving
Equestrian
Fencing
Field hockey
Football
Golf
Gymnastics
Handball
Hockey
Judo
Karate
Lacrosse
MMA
Motorsports
Olympic Specials
Rowing
Rugby league
Rugby union
Sailing
Shooting
Skateboarding
Snooker & Pool
Soccer
Swimming
Table Tennis
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball
Water polo
Weightlifting
Wrestling

Rest assured, whether it’s a future bet, an obscure stat or otherwise, DraftKings probably has a market for it.

Bonuses & Promos

When legalized sports betting is launched in new states across the country, major sportsbooks often provide bonuses and promos at sign-up, to welcome in new bettors with open arms. Alabama is likely to be no exception, whether sports betting is legalized in 2024, 2025 or 2045.

These bonuses are a great way to bring in new users and helps to make the first betting action even more enjoyable. DraftKings has run bonuses of $150, $200 and more in the past, but the sportsbook is currently offering a No-Sweat First Bet up to $1K.

No-Sweat First Bet up to $1,000

DraftKings sportsbook has one of the best welcome offers in the business, no doubt. New users can take advantage of a No-Sweat First Bet up to $1,ooo

The offer works exactly as it sounds. Think of it like a free play when a quarterback gets a defender to jump. If your first bet loses, you get the money back in bonus funds (which are non-withdrawable.) So, if you bet $100 on a specific wager and it loses, you get $100 in bonus bets. Of course, the limit to this is $1K!

Ways to Bet on Sports With DraftKings

If you’re from Alabama and have lived there your whole life, there’s a chance you’re not as up to date on sports betting terms as some other people across the country. We all have to start somewhere, right?

Here’s a brief look at a few of the most popular ways to bet on sports with DraftKings sportsbook, as well as some terms and types of wagers to keep in mind.

Moneyline

The Moneyline bet is one of the most popular bets for new users. Moneyline bets represent the outright winner of the game. You got Alabama or Auburn in the Iron Bowl? Favored teams will have (-) odds, while underdog teams will be represented by (+) odds.

For instance: Even with Nick Saban retired, Alabama football will almost always have a (-).

But let’s play with some hypotheticals. A $100 wager on an Alabama Crimson Tide Moneyline at (+150) odds would return a $150 profit if the Tide win the game. On the other hand, a $150 wager on the Tide Moneyline at (-150) odds would return a $100 profit in the event of an Alabama win.

Point Spread

You can also play the point-spread, which represents the difference (handicap) that the oddsmakers have set between the two teams.

Each team in the contest will either have a (+) points or (-) points. To give an example, if you bet on Auburn -7 vs. Texas A&M, you will need the Tigers to win the game by at least 8 points to cash your bet. DraftKings is essentially saying Auburn is a 7-point favorite over the Aggies, so if Texas A&M loses 30-24 and you bet Auburn -7, you’re out of luck!

On the flip side, if you bet on Auburn +7.5 vs. Georgia, you will need the Tigers to either win the game outright or lose by no more than 7 points to cash your ticket. Point Spread bets that end in a tie are considered a “push” and the user is refunded.

Over/Under Total

For users with less of a rooting interest in either of the 2 teams, the Over/Under Total might be a great way for you to bet. This is especially so if you know the play styles of 2 teams particularly well.

That’s because the Over/Under Total combines the scores of both teams to see whether it falls over or under the pre-game total number set by the oddsmakers. A college basketball game with 2 high-scoring teams (Say, Alabama and Arizona) will usually hover around 160, while a battle between Virginia and Maryland would start around 110-120 or so.

Over/Under Total bets that end in a tie are considered a “push” and the user is refunded.

Player Props

Have a rooting interest in a particular player in the game? Player Props could be a great way for you to bet. That’s because Player Props pertain to only the statistics of individual players (regardless of team win/loss outcome). During football season, some of the popular Player Prop bets include:

First Touchdown scorer
Anytime Touchdown scorer
Passing Touchdowns/yards/completions over/under
Receiving Touchdowns/yards/completions over/under
Rushing Touchdowns/yards/completions over/under
Interceptions over/under
Sacks over/under
Field goals made 0ver/under

Futures

Have a feeling a something is going to work out in a certain way? Futures bets are a very popular bet type to place pre-season, as these odds markets update to reflect the ongoing status of the team/player in question. During football season, some of the popular Futures bet types include:

Team to win the Super Bowl
Team to win Division
Team to win Conference
Team to Make Playoffs
Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Team to win the College Football Playoff
Team to win the SEC
Heisman trophy winner

As with everything, odds are placed on these lines, with the “less likely” line earning bigger odds (duh). So, Alabama to win the national title in 2025 will have less extravagant odds than, say, Mississippi State to win the 2025 championship.

Parlay

It wouldn’t be a betting tutorial without mentioning Parlays. One of the most fun ways to wager, Parlay bets allow users to stack together multiple betting lines onto one ticket for multiplied odds. Two legs, three legs, four legs, and more, craft your wager and potentially win big.

While Parlay betting is very attractive, it also comes with a heightened chance of losing. More risk, more reward! With a Parlay bet, users need to win each individual bet on the ticket in order for the Parlay to cash. If any of the legs on a Parlay bet ends in a tie, that leg is considered a “push” and is voided from the ticket.

So if you bet Auburn to win against Kentucky in basketball, the New York Knicks to beat the Toronto Raptors over in the NBA and Brandon Miller to score over 22.5 points against San Antonio, all 3 have to hit for you to win. And while the odds would normally be pretty typical for any of those bets, you could win some real money with just a $5 wager.

Same-Game Parlay

In addition to traditional Parlays, there has been a recent surge in popularity of the Same Game Parlay. This bet type is pretty self-explanatory, as users have the ability to stack together multiple betting lines from within one game. Then, rather than having to track their numerous wagers across multiple games, users can lock in on just one game.

Deposit/Withdrawal Methods

Below is a helpful table of some of the most popular ways to deposit and withdraw cash from sportsbook apps around the country. When online sports betting is legalized in Alabama, be sure to check back here for reference!

In addition, users in legal states can usually take advantage of other methods such as Play+, VIP Preferred (e-check) or a wire transfer.

Where is DraftKings Sportsbook Available?

DraftKings sportsbook may be coming to Alabama soon, but it has not officially arrived in the Yellowhammer state quite yet. Here’s a list of available states as of 2024: