Section 13A-12-20
Definitions.
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 therefore, 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;
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 there from 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.

Section 13A-12-21
Simple gambling.
(a) A person commits the crime of simple gambling if he knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity as a player.
(b) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that a person charged with being a player was engaged in a social game in a private place. The burden of injecting the issue is on the defendant, but this does not shift the burden of proof.
(c) Simple gambling is a Class C misdemeanor.

Section 13A-12-22
Promoting gambling.
(a) A person commits the crime of promoting gambling if he knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity otherwise than as a player.
(b) Promoting gambling is a Class A misdemeanor.

Section 13A-12-23
Conspiracy to promote gambling.
(a) A person commits the crime of conspiracy to promote gambling if he conspires to advance or profit from gambling activity otherwise than as a player.
(b) "Conspire" means to engage in activity constituting a criminal conspiracy as defined in Section 13A-4-3.
(c) Conspiracy to promote gambling is a Class A misdemeanor.

Section 13A-12-24
Possession of gambling records in the first degree.
(a) A person commits the crime of possession of gambling records in the first degree if with knowledge of the contents thereof, he possesses any writing, paper, instrument or article:
(1) Of a kind commonly used in the operation or promotion of a bookmaking scheme or enterprise, and constituting, reflecting or representing more than five bets, or more than $500.00; or
(2) Of a kind commonly used in the operation, promotion or playing of a lottery or mutuel scheme or enterprise, and constituting, reflecting or representing more than five plays or chances therein.
(b) Possession of gambling records in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

Section 13A-12-25
Possession of gambling records in the second degree.
(a) A person commits the crime of possession of gambling records in the second degree if with knowledge of the contents thereof, he possesses any writing, paper, instrument or article:
(1) Of a kind commonly and peculiarly used in the operation or promotion of a bookmaking scheme or enterprise; or
(2) Of a kind commonly and peculiarly used in the operation, promotion or playing of a lottery or mutuel scheme or enterprise.
(b) Possession of gambling records in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

Section 13A-12-26
Defense to prosecution for possession of gambling records.
A person does not commit the crime of possession of gambling records in either degree if the writing, paper, instrument or article possessed by the defendant is neither used nor intended to be used in the operation or promotion of a bookmaking scheme or enterprise, or in the operation, promotion or playing of a lottery or mutuel scheme or enterprise. The burden of injecting the issue is on the defendant, but this does not shift the burden of proof.

Section 13A-12-27
Possession of gambling device.
(a) A person commits the crime of possession of a gambling device if with knowledge of the character thereof he manufactures, sells, transports, places or possesses, or conducts or negotiates any transaction affecting or designed to affect ownership, custody or use of:
(1) A slot machine; or
(2) Any other gambling device, with the intention that it be used in the advancement of unlawful gambling activity.
(b) Possession of a gambling device is a Class A misdemeanor.

Section 13A-12-28
Prima facie proof of gambling offenses.
(a) Proof of possession of any gambling device, as defined by subdivision (5) of Section 13A-12-20 or any gambling record specified in Sections 13A-12-24 and 13A-12-25 is prima facie evidence of possession thereof with knowledge of its character or contents.
(b) In any prosecution under this article in which it is necessary to prove the occurrence of a sporting event, (1) a published report of its occurrence in any daily newspaper, magazine or other periodically printed publication of general circulation, or (2) evidence that a description of some aspect of the event was written, printed or otherwise noted at the place in which a violation of this chapter is alleged to have been committed, shall be admissible in evidence and shall constitute prima facie proof of the occurrence of the event.

Section 13A-12-29
Lottery occurring outside state no defense to prosecution under Section 13A-12-22.
It is no defense under Section 13A-12-22 relating to a lottery that the lottery itself is drawn or conducted outside Alabama and is not in violation of the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is drawn or conducted.

Section 13A-12-30
Forfeiture of gambling devices and gambling proceeds.
(a) Any gambling device or gambling record possessed or used in violation of this article is forfeited to the state, and shall by court order be destroyed or otherwise disposed of as the court directs.
(b) Any vehicle possessed or used in violation of this article may be forfeited to the state and disposed of by court order as authorized by law.
(c) Money used as bets or stakes in gambling activity in violation of this article is forfeited to the state and by court order shall be transmitted to the general fund of the state.

Section 13A-12-31
Legalized pari-mutuel betting not affected.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to pari- mutuel betting at race meetings authorized by statute. All presently effective state statutes and laws and locally adopted ordinances and laws pursuant thereto legalizing, authorizing or allowing greyhound races and betting or wagering thereon are hereby expressly and specifically preserved, saved and excepted from any repealer provisions contained anywhere in the Criminal Code.