On this page I will touch on sports betting regulation in Alabama and Georgia, look at the three most popular NBA bets and explain where you can bet.
Where To Bet
Sports betting is not legal in Alabama or Georgia. Licensed sportsbooks in neighboring states are an option if you travel there, since you must be physically located in a legal state to place a bet.
Other options include prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, daily fantasy sports apps where they are available, and offshore sportsbooks, which accept US customers but are not licensed or regulated by any state. Our guide to sports betting in the USA breaks down every option.
Sports Betting in Alabama and Georgia
At this time it is not legal to operate a sportsbook in either Alabama or Georgia.
Although betting is not regulated in Alabama or Georgia, analysts agree that bettors from both States are able to place bets at online betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside of the United States, and accept US players.
In Alabama there have been multiple attempts to legalize sports betting, including comprehensive packages aimed at establishing a state lottery that gained traction, but ultimately failed in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Alabama is one of the last states in the US without a lottery, so establishing a state lottery is likely the first step toward regulated sports betting in Alabama.
Georgia is in a similar situation with no progress having been made towards regulated sports betting, despite multiple efforts. Two sports betting bills were introduced in the 2025 legislative session, but the Senate Resolution 131 was voted against, while the Senate Bill 208, which would authorize and provide regulation and taxation of sports betting in the state, is still alive.
Popular NBA Bets
There are three NBA wagers that take the vast majority of the betting handle on NBA games. These include the spread, money line (to win) and total (over/under).
Below I will use a Orlando Magic vs Philadelphia 76ers game from early in the season to explain the three popular NBA betting options.
Spread
The point spread is probably the most popular NBA bet. The oddsmaker will set a “spread” in order to even out the game. The favorite will have to win by more than the point spread for a spread bet on the favorite to be graded a winner, while the underdog must either win the game outright or lose by fewer points than the spread.
In this example the Orlando Magic are 5.5 point favorites, as indicated by the -5.5. A spread bet on the Magic will be graded a winner if Orlando wins the game by 6 or more points. The 76ers are 5.5 point underdogs (+5.5) and spread bets on the 76ers will payout if they win the game outright or lose by 5 or fewer points.
To Win
Another popular bet is simply wagering on which team will win the game. The money line odds determine the risk vs reward of a bet on either team based on their perceived chances of winning the game.
As we mentioned before, the Magic are favorites to win the game. Their money line odds to win the game outright are -210, which means you would win $100 for every $210 bet on the Magic money line.
The 76ers are underdogs and you would win $175 for every $100 risked betting on the Sixers to win the game outright.
Total
The oddsmaker will set a “total” and you can bet on whether the number of points scored by both teams combined will be over or under the total.
In this example the total is set at 227 points. Over bets would be graded winners if 228 or more points are scored by both teams, while under bets would win if 226 or fewer points are scored in the game. Game Total bets would push if exactly 227 points are scored.
NBA Betting From Alabama or Georgia – Guide
The process is similar on every regulated platform. Follow these three steps to get started.
Step 1. Pick Your Betting Option
From Alabama and Georgia, where there are no licensed sportsbooks, prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket and daily fantasy apps are the main options for NBA games. If you travel, licensed sportsbooks in nearby Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina take bets while you are inside those states.
Step 2. Sign Up and Fund Your Account
Open an account with the platform you picked and complete its identity check, which usually asks for the last four digits of your Social Security number. Then make a deposit, most commonly with a debit card or bank transfer, and check how withdrawals work before you send any money.
Step 3. Place Your NBA Bets
Open the NBA section and look for the NBA odds. Pick a market such as the point spread, money line or total, add it to your bet slip, and review the payout before confirming. Only bet what you can afford to lose, and use the deposit limits most regulated platforms offer. Free, confidential help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.
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