by
Reviewed by
Fact checked by
Legal Sports Betting in Arizona
Sports betting is legal in Arizona. Arizona gambling laws changed in April of 2021 after an extensive legal battle for sports wagering. Ultimately, betting was legalized, but it still does not live in the state.
Sports betting is went live on September 9, 2021, for week one of the NFL seasons. The AZ legislature had this date in mind during the legislative process because football is the most wagered sport in the United States.
There are a wealth of great offshore bookmakers available to sports bettors in the state of Arizona, as well as the following legal bookmakers:
| Sportsbook | Available in Arizona |
| FanDuel | ✅ |
| DraftKings | ✅ |
| Caesars | ✅ |
| FoxBet | ❌ |
| BetRivers | ✅ |
| BetMGM | ✅ |
| PointsBet | ✅ |
| Unibet | ✅ |
If people cannot wait for legal Arizona sports betting, they can place bets through offshore sportsbooks. The other option for bettors is to travel to one of Arizona’s border states, like Nevada or Colorado, which have vast legal wagering markets.
Arizona Sports Betting – Recent Updates
- February 7, 2024 — Arizona sports betting handle reaches a new record high at $713.5 million in November, marking a 10% month-over-month increase and a 15.5% rise from November 2022.
- February 5, 2024 — Bet365 goes live in Arizona, bringing the total number of online sportsbooks in the state to 17.
- January 18, 2024 — The Arizona Department of Gaming announces the reopening of the sports betting license application process on February 16. One license will be in partnership with a tribe, and at least one other will be designated for a sports franchise.
- December 28, 2023 — The state reveals that Arizona sports betting handle rose to $648.2 million in October, reflecting a 6.2% increase from September and marking the second-highest monthly total in the history of legal betting in the state.
- November 29, 2023 — Kindred, the parent company for Unibet, declares plans to exit North American markets by the end of Q2 in 2024.
Sports Betting to Start during the Football Season
When sports betting is enacted before football season, you will never want to play on offshore sportsbooks again. However, the simplicity of legal books will make gambling in Arizona entertaining and straightforward.
Arizona’s gambling market is controlled by multiple tribes that operate casinos in the state. The disagreements between the tribe and the government were why the implementation of sports betting was so delayed.
Governor Doug Ducey was able to negotiate an updated gaming compact with the tribes that set some of the premises around sports betting. When this was passed, the state legislature quickly went to work to form updated Arizona gambling laws.
Bills Failed in 2018
Legislators attempted to pass bills in 2018, but nothing came to fruition until the compact was signed. In 2021, the AZ legislature used HB 2772 and SB 1797 as vehicles to legalize sports wagering.
The bills brought sports wagering to the forefront of the gambling market, but they also legalized daily fantasy sports, which were previously outlawed in Arizona. It took three months for the negotiation process to finalizing, but the AZ market became much more open than expected.
Originally, sports betting was supposed to have a limited framework in the state. The tribes were expected to control the market, but the compact gave the legislature power to widen the reach of wagering.
The Framework of Arizona Sports Betting
When sports betting launches in Arizona, online and retail wagering will be accessible for people in the state. You will not have to be a resident of the state to legalize sports betting. However, you must be within state borders to place a bet and register for an account.
Your device will utilize its GPS tracking software to determine if you are in a legal area. The minimum age to place a bet in the state is 21 years old.
The current sports betting law allows for 20 sports betting licenses to be distributed in the state. The permits will be split between the professional sports teams and the tribal casinos in the state. An important thing to note is that a professional team cannot directly operate a sportsbook.
The sports betting company handles the day-to-day operations. However, professional sports teams will financially benefit from the arrangement.
These conglomerates must partner with a sports betting operator like DraftKings or FanDuel. Many of these deals have already been created in Arizona.
Phoenix Suns Have a Deal with FanDuel
The Phoenix Suns of the NBA partnered with FanDuel, and DraftKings formed a relationship with TPC Scottsdale after Governor Ducey signed the bill.
TPC Scottsdale is the home course for the PGA Tour Waste Management Phoenix Open. The Arizona Diamondbacks followed by joining forces with BetMGM.
DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM are three of the best sports betting operators in the nation. The announcement of these three companies securing market access has put Arizona on the map for sports betting.
The number of sports teams, betting providers, and casinos in the state will make Arizona sports betting massive throughout the United States.
OffShore Sportsbooks’ Reputation
Offshore sportsbooks like Bovada, XBet, BetOnline, GTBets, MyBookie, and BetUS have long years of reputation. They are reliable, fast, and honest. They offer thousands of betting lines from American, European, and non-marquee sports. They also offer prop bets, futures, entertainment odds, and political odds. Their racebooks are also amazing covering every race from every major racetrack in the world.
Five Reasons to Bet on Sports in Arizona
Online sports betting in Arizona is going to be substantial. Arizona gambling laws have created a market that will make wagering enjoyable for frequent and casual bettors. The team at My Top Sportsbooks has studied the developing market in the state.
There are plenty of reasons to wager in Arizona. Although, a few details stand out above the rest for why you should bet on sports in the state.
Numerous Betting Options
The Arizona sports betting framework will allow up to 20 sports betting providers in the state. The lucrative nature of betting will entice many providers to flock to the state to seek licensure. Additionally, new sportsbooks are being created because of sports wagering’s momentum in the United States.
In Arizona, multiple sportsbooks have already secured market access in the state. DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM, which have already gained access to the state, are excellent platforms. You will never get bored or be dissatisfied with one of these options.
DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM have led the sports betting charge throughout the nation, along with a few other industry leaders. The announcement of these platforms in the state has already caused a heightened level of gambling excitement in the state.
Other sportsbooks like PointsBet, Unibet, 888 Sportsbook, and theScore Bet are excited to apply for licensure in the state. The fact that up to 20 books will operate in the state is exciting for bettors.
You can register in all sportsbooks
Having options is a way to help you win on sports wagering. You will have the opportunity to register for all sportsbooks in the state if you wish. This will allow you to line shop between platforms and seek out multiple bonuses.
Some sportsbooks are known for having superior odds, but they may not have the best bonuses. The vast sports betting framework in AZ will help you win frequently. Winning is the goal of sports betting, so AZ will be an excellent location for you to wager.
Offshore sportsbooks are still available in the state. As we told you previously, you can collect all bonuses and search for the best odds in all bookies.
Bonus Opportunities
A great sportsbook is judged on many factors, but a primary focus is bonuses. Bonuses are critical in sports betting because everyone likes to utilize house money. In Arizona, there will be a multitude of promotions that will involve free bets.
DraftKings and FanDuel are two of the best companies in the industry for providing bonus opportunities. These books have massive welcome bonuses that include deposit matches and risk-free bets. Also, DraftKings and FanDuel have recurring promotions throughout the year, which give you a great chance to win on sports.
Nobody has ever lost betting with house money, which makes Arizona a promising market in the future.
Sports Teams
It’s tough to find many states that have a better sports atmosphere than Arizona. AZ has a professional sports franchise in all of the four major leagues. This list includes the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Arizona Coyotes (NHL), and Phoenix Suns (NBA).
In sports betting, there is nothing like wagering on your hometown team to win. When they do prosper for one of your wagers, it’s exhilarating. You will be able to bet from the sports venues in the state, which will add an extra element of excitement to games.
Another benefit of Arizona’s professional sports franchises is that sportsbooks will cater bonuses to these teams. For example, if the Cardinals have a big prime-time game, DraftKings may cater a local bonus for Arizona bettors.
Some states do not have this luxury because there are no professional sports teams. However, since AZ has four major sports franchises, there will never be a boring time for athletics during the year.
Safety
Offshore sportsbooks are relatively safe, but no states monitor these bets. Legal sports betting in the United States is also safe. You will never have to worry about personal information being stolen because of the stringent regulations in the state.
The security measures that sportsbooks establish can be frustrating. It may take an extra minute to log in to your account, but it’s worth it because your information will stay safe.
Whether you are a high roller or low-risk bettor, you want your money to be protected. Safety will never be an issue on the sportsbook.
Customer Service
You will rarely have issues using the sportsbooks in Arizona, but the customer service from the companies is elite. In addition, the sportsbooks in the state have multiple ways to contact them, so you have your questions answered quickly.
You can reach out to the platforms by phone, email, text, live chat, and a variety of different options. Every sportsbook has different ways to solve issues, but they all have reliable service because it’s necessary to stay in business.
List of Casinos in Arizona
Arizona houses plenty of retail casinos. The sportsbooks we recommend here also have online casinos.
- Apache Gold Casino Resort
- Apache Sky Casino
- BlueWater Resort and Casino
- Bucky’s Casino
- Casino Arizona
- Casino del Sol
- Casino of the Sun
- Cliff Castle Casino
- Cocopah Resort Casino
- Desert Diamond Casino
- Desert Diamond Casino
- Desert Diamond Casino–West Valley
- Desert Diamond Hotel & Casino
- We-Ko-PA Casino & Resort
- Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
- Hon-Dah Resort Casino
- Lone Butte Casino
- Mazatzal Casino
- Paradise Casino
- Spirit Mountain Casino
- Twin Arrows Casino Resort
- Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino
- Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
- Yavapai Casino
Arizona Sports Betting Timeline
2023
Arizona’s Diverse Sports Betting Landscape with Fanatics Absent
Summary: Arizona’s sports betting scene features major players like DraftKings and FanDuel alongside local sportsbooks such as Desert Diamond and Sahara Bets. Notably, Desert Diamond has surpassed national brands like BetRivers and Barstool Sportsbook. However, the state is yet to see Fanatics Sportsbook due to licensing issues related to their acquisition of PointsBet. Despite this, Arizona operators have collectively handled almost $13 billion in wagers through October 2023.
2022
Sports betting underway
In 2022, sports betting in Arizona experienced remarkable success, attracting significant engagement and generating substantial revenue.
2021
Success!
Negotiations early in the year set things up for quick success! Governor Ducey signs sports betting into law in April and the first sportsbooks launch as quickly as September. This includes online and mobile sports betting.
2020
A Repeat of 2019
The same two legislative members introduce their bills. In the Senate the bill only gets a second reading while in the House it moves through two committees before stalling.
2019
Two Bills Stall
A bill in the State Senate and House each were introduced by Senator Sonny Borrelli and Representative Steve Pierce. These bills would have legalized retail sports betting, but not online. Neither gained much momentum.
