Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 13A-12-20 (2026)

Definitions.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026

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The following definitions apply to this article:

(1) ADVANCE GAMBLING ACTIVITY. A person “advances gambling activity” if he engages in conduct that materially aids any form of gambling activity. Conduct of this nature includes but is not limited to conduct directed toward the creation or establishment of the particular game, contest, scheme, device or activity involved, toward the acquisition or maintenance of premises, paraphernalia, equipment or apparatus therefor, toward the solicitation or inducement of persons to participate therein, toward the actual conduct of the playing phases thereof, toward the arrangement of any of its financial or recording phases or toward any other phase of its operation. A person advances gambling activity if, having substantial proprietary control or other authoritative control over premises being used with his knowledge for purposes of gambling activity, he permits that activity to occur or continue or makes no effort to prevent its occurrence or continuation.

(2) BOOKMAKING. Advancing gambling activity by unlawfully accepting bets from members of the public as a business, rather than in a casual or personal fashion, upon the outcome of future contingent events.

(3) CONTEST OF CHANCE. Any contest, game, gaming scheme or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein.

(4) GAMBLING. A person engages in gambling if he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. Gambling does not include bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts, including but not limited to contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities, and agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health or accident insurance.

(5) GAMBLING DEVICE. Any device, machine, paraphernalia or equipment that is normally used or usable in the playing phases of any gambling activity, whether that activity consists of gambling between persons or gambling by a person involving the playing of a machine. However, lottery tickets, policy slips and other items used in the playing phases of lottery and policy schemes are not gambling devices within this definition.

(6) LOTTERY or POLICY. An unlawful gambling scheme in which:

a. The players pay or agree to pay something of value for chances, represented and differentiated by numbers or by combinations of numbers or by some other medium, one or more of which chances are to be designated by the winning ones; and

b. The winning chances are to be determined by a drawing or by some other fortuitous method; and

c. The holders of the winning chances are to receive something of value.

(7) PARI-MUTUEL, MUTUEL or THE NUMBERS GAME. A form of lottery in which the winning chances or plays are not determined upon the basis of a drawing or other act on the part of persons conducting or connected with the scheme, but upon the basis of the outcome of a future contingent event or events otherwise unrelated to the particular scheme.

(8) PLAYER. A person who engages in any form of gambling solely as a contestant or bettor, without receiving or becoming entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of the particular gambling activity.

(9) PROFIT FROM GAMBLING ACTIVITY. A person “profits from gambling activity” if he accepts or receives money or other property pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person whereby he shares or is to share in the proceeds of gambling activity.

(10) SLOT MACHINE. A gambling device that, as a result of the insertion of a coin or other object, operates, either completely automatically or with the aid of some physical act by the player, in such a manner that, depending upon elements of chance, it may eject something of value. A device so constructed or readily adaptable or convertible to such use is no less a slot machine because it is not in working order or because some mechanical act of manipulation or repair is required to accomplish its adaptation, conversion or workability. Nor is it any less a slot machine because apart from its use or adaptability as such it may also sell or deliver something of value on a basis other than chance.

(11) SOMETHING OF VALUE. Any money or property, any token, object or article exchangeable for money or property or any form of credit or promise directly or indirectly contemplating transfer of money or property or of any interest therein, or involving extension of a service entertainment or a privilege of playing at a game or scheme without charge.

(12) UNLAWFUL. Not specifically authorized by law.

(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §6101.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 27 cases (13 in the last 5 years), 1989–2026 · leading case: Ex Parte Ted's Game Enter., 893 So. 2d 376 (Ala. 2004).

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Ex Parte Ted's Game Enter., 893 So. 2d 376 (Ala. 2004). · cites it 8× “Ted's maintains that coin-operated amusement machines are protected from the criminal gambling statutes of Ala.Code 1975, §§ 13A-12-20 through 13A-12-75, *381 by Ala.”

State v. Greenetrack, Inc., 154 So. 3d 940 (Ala. 2014). · cites it 3× “IV, § 65, and Ala.Code 1975, §§ 13A-12-20 and -27, making it a criminal offense to possess “gambling devices,” including but not limited to “slot machines.”

Opinion of the Justices, 795 So. 2d 630 (Ala. 2001). · cites it 2× “Ala. Code 1975, § 13A-12-20 et seq. But it is emphatically the role of the courts to determine the constitutionality of an act or activity, and that role requires the courts to determine whether the act or activity constitutes a lottery.”

Burnett v. State, 807 So. 2d 573 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “NOTES [1] It is interesting to note that the term "unlawful" is defined in § 13A-12-20, Ala.Code 1975, as "[n]ot specifically authorized by law," and is subsequently used as an adjective to describe gambling activities, not the state of mind of the gambler.”

Redtop Mkt., Inc. Ex Rel. Bolton v. State Ex Rel. Green, 66 So. 3d 204 (Ala. 2010). · cites it 2× “According to the complaint, Green had refused to approve the gaming machines for use as amusement machines and had taken the position that the operation of the machines would violate §§ 13A-12-20 through 13A-12-76, Ala.Code 1975.”

Taylor v. Siegelman, 230 F. Supp. 2d 1284 (N.D. Ala. 2002). · cites it 5× “The plaintiffs “seek a judicial determination of issues, rights and liabilities embodied in an actual and present controversy between the parties involving the constitutional validity and application of ALABAMA CODE §§ 13A-12-20 through 13A-12-54, inclusive, §§ 13A-12-70 through…”

Edwards v. State, 816 So. 2d 92 (Ala. Crim. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “" NOTES [1] It is interesting to note that the term "unlawful" is defined in § 13A-12-20, Ala.Code 1975, as "[n]ot specifically authorized by law," and is subsequently used as an adjective to describe gambling activities, not the state of mind of the gambler.”

Houston Cnty. Econ. Dev. Auth. v. State of Alabama, 168 So. 3d 4 (Ala. 2014). “Next, we turn to HEDA’s argument that its property was exempt from the seizure and forfeiture provisions of Aabama’s generally applicable antigambling laws, § 13A-12-20 et seq., Aa.Code 1975. Amendment No.”

Kevin Sharp Enter., Inc. v. State ex rel. Tyson, 923 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. Civ. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “In making its argument on this issue, KSE concedes that the forfeiture pursuant to § 13A-12-20 is civil in nature. However, KSE predicates its “ex post facto” argument on ex post facto principles, which are based on due-process protections.”

Wade v. State, 986 So. 2d 1212 (Ala. Civ. App. 2007). · cites it 4× “On December 19, 2005, the State filed a petition, pursuant to § 13A-12-20 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, in the Jefferson Circuit Court, Bessemer Division ("the trial court"), seeking to condemn the gaming machines and the cash seized at the Joker's Wild Arcade.”

Greene Cnty. Racing Comm'n v. City of Birmingham, 772 F. Supp. 1207 (N.D. Ala. 1991). “Code §§ 13A-12-20 to -31 (1975). 6 The Greene County Racing Commission and pari-mutuel wagering on greyhound racing were authorized by Act No.”

Rice v. Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (N.D. Ala. 2023). · cites it 2× “” Ala. Code § 13A-12-20(4) (1975). In 1852, the Alabama legislature codified a civil cause of action to recover money paid and lost in gambling endeavors.”

Show all 27 citing cases →

— Ala. Code § 13A-12-20(1) — 1 case

United States v. Land, Wisconsin Cnty., 221 F.3d 1194 (11th Cir. 2000).

— Ala. Code § 13A-12-20(10) — 3 cases

Ex Parte Ted's Game Enter., 893 So. 2d 376 (Ala. 2004). “Ted's maintains that coin-operated amusement machines are protected from the criminal gambling statutes of Ala.Code 1975, §§ 13A-12-20 through 13A-12-75, *381 by Ala.”

Holley v. State, 542 So. 2d 952 (Ala. Crim. App. 1989).

State v. 825 Elec. Gambling Devices, 226 So. 3d 660 (Ala. 2016).

— Ala. Code § 13A-12-20(4) — 12 cases

Wade v. State, 986 So. 2d 1212 (Ala. Civ. App. 2007). “On December 19, 2005, the State filed a petition, pursuant to § 13A-12-20 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, in the Jefferson Circuit Court, Bessemer Division ("the trial court"), seeking to condemn the gaming machines and the cash seized at the Joker's Wild Arcade.”

Rice v. Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (N.D. Ala. 2023). “” Ala. Code § 13A-12-20(4) (1975). In 1852, the Alabama legislature codified a civil cause of action to recover money paid and lost in gambling endeavors.”

Mills v. ZYNGA Inc (N.D. Ala. 2023).

Gann v. Huuuge Inc (N.D. Ala. 2023).

McGee v. Spinx Games LTD (N.D. Ala. 2023).

— Ala. Code § 13A-12-20(5) — 2 cases

Taylor v. Siegelman, 230 F. Supp. 2d 1284 (N.D. Ala. 2002). “The plaintiffs “seek a judicial determination of issues, rights and liabilities embodied in an actual and present controversy between the parties involving the constitutional validity and application of ALABAMA CODE §§ 13A-12-20 through 13A-12-54, inclusive, §§ 13A-12-70 through…”

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