Arizona Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers 2023

Wave the checkered flag, the race for legal sports betting in Arizona is finished. On April 12, 2021, the Arizona state senate passed HB 2772 by a 23-6 margin, approving both online and retail sports betting in the state.

There was a lot of uncertainty in the build-up, but ultimately it all came together pretty quickly. An ally of the effort, Gov. Doug Ducey put pen to paper just a few days later on April 15. The first legal, regulated wagers in the state were placed on September 9, 2021, with a variety of popular nationwide bookmakers hitting the market.

Curious about Arizona mobile sportsbooks? Keep reading – we’ll catch you up on everything there is to know about Arizona’s new legislation and the kind of market that is available now in the state. We’ll talk about the September ’21 launch, how it became legal, which sportsbooks you can bet with, eligibility requirements, promotions, and more.

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Professional Arizona Sports Teams

The odds are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. – Updated October 3, 2023

What’s happening now in Arizona

Headlines

• Arizona Department of Gaming grants bet365 Sportsbook sports betting license as 17th operator in the state.
• WynnBET has closed up shop in Arizona.
• The Cardinals fall to the San Francisco 49ers, 35-16, to fall to 1-3 on the season. (10/03)
• The Diamondbacks lose to the Houston Astros, 8-1, in the final game of the regular season. (10/03)

Upcoming games/events

• The Diamondbacks secured the third and final wild card spot in the NL. This means they’ll travel to Milwaukee in a best-of-three series starting tonight at 5:00 PM MST to take on the Brewers. (10/03)
• The Cardinals will attempt to get to 2-3 this upcoming Sunday against the ailing Cincinnati Bengals at State Farm Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:05 PM MST. (10/03)

Key Arizona sports betting info

Now that Arizona sports betting is live, let’s dig into core details that shape the state’s market. Let’s start with who can bet:

Eligibility

Arizona sports betting, both online and retail, is available to anyone over the age of 21. Wyoming, New Hampshire, and Kentucky are the only states that set 18 as the legal age to bet on sports. Arizona held steady with the status quo of 21. It’s the same age restriction that exists for the majority of gambling throughout the country, including Arizona’s existing tribal casinos.

So, what else? All legal Arizona online sports bets need to be placed inside the state. To bet with an AZ book, you must be in Arizona. Let’s say you venture up to the northeast corner of the state and visit the four corners – the only place in the country where four states touch. If you’re standing in Arizona you’re good to go. Place your bets. Cross into New Mexico? No dice. Shift into Colorado? Yeah, you can bet in Colorado, but you’ll need to use a Colorado online sportsbook, not one licensed in Arizona. Finally, Utah … this may come as a surprise but no, you can’t bet in Utah. If you’re not standing in a legal-to-bet state, you’re out of luck.

Arizona online sportsbooks use geolocation tech that utilize your mobile device’s internal GPS chip to pinpoint your location. If your phone knows where you are while using Google Maps, it can also place you and confirm your location for sports betting. If you’re betting on a computer, a separate plug-in download is required. Don’t fret though, this technology is utilized in every state that has regulated iGaming. From the user’s perspective, it’s easy to use, and gets the job done.

Arizona sports betting law

What exactly is in Arizona’s sports betting law? Let’s recap.

• 20 total sports betting licenses were made available
  • Up to 10 can be associated with professional sports franchises or facilities
  • Up to 10 can be associated with federally recognized tribes located in-state
  • Each license allows brick-and-mortar betting and two online skins (or “brands”)
  • Each pro sports team is allowed one primary sportsbook on-premises, and a second “adjacent” location close by
• Betting on college sports, including Arizona college sports, is permitted. Fans of the University of Arizona Wildcats and the Arizona State Sun Devils can rejoice.
• College prop bets on individual performances are not permitted. For example, a Wildcats player to score 12+ points in a basketball game.
  • Conversely, you can bet on seasonal performance and awards, like the Heisman Trophy.
• The Arizona Department of Gaming serves as the regulatory body for sports betting.
  • The tax rate is set at 10% for online wagers and 8% for retail bets.
  • An “event wagering license” initial cost is $750,000 plus a $100,000 application fee followed by an annual renewal fee of $150,000.
  • Limited operator licenses such as retail-only horse tracks have a significantly lower set of fees with only $25,000 for the initial fee, a $5,000 application fee, and a $5,000 annual renewal.
• As of August 1, 2023, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has confirmed it will open up a month-long window for sportsbooks to claim the final three spots for unclaimed sports betting licenses.

Arizona online sportsbooks

Arizona sports betting is now live and bettors in-state have a wealth of options to choose from. There’s been plenty of activity in the Grand Canyon State as bookmakers look to secure their piece of the pie. Many of the industry’s top operators have found a way in. Here are the books currently available in the state:

FanDuel Sportsbook – Phoenix Suns

The NBA‘s Phoenix Suns agreed to a partnership with the daily fantasy sports and sports betting giant FanDuel. FanDuel Sportsbook now accepts online bets from users throughout Arizona, and it also operates a retail sportsbook in-person at the Footprint Center (formerly the Phoenix Suns Arena). The 18,000+ capacity arena is conveniently located right in downtown Phoenix and is one of the first in-arena betting venues in the country. FanDuel was among the first bookmakers to be approved for event wagering and DFS by the Arizona Department of Gaming and debuted its product in the state on September 9, 2021.

BetMGM – Arizona Cardinals, Gila River

The highest-profile franchise in the state, the NFL’s Cardinals, has found a sports betting partner to match their ambitions. BetMGM secured Arizona sports betting market access with two top-tier partners, the Arizona Cardinals and the Gila River Tribe. Arizona sportsbooks are required to partner with either a professional team or a tribe – BetMGM has done both. As a result, BetMGM-branded sportsbooks are available at the Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium, in addition to each of Gila Rivers’ in-state casinos.

BetMGM was the third sports betting operation to receive its event wagering license from the AZ Department of Gaming and officially launched on September 9, 2021.

DraftKings Sportsbook – PGA, TPC Scottsdale

One of the year’s most exciting PGA Tour stops is getting even better. DraftKings and the Professional Golfers’ Association have teamed up in Arizona to provide online sports betting and a memorable “19th Hole” style retail betting facility at TPC Scottsdale. In the DraftKings press release, they referred to it as both a “first-of-its-kind” and a “one-of-a-kind” sports betting experience.

TPC Scottsdale hosts the annual Waste Management Phoenix Open each February. The iconic 16th hole is known as the loudest hole in all of golf. The hole is encompassed by stadium-like grandstands, and more than 20,000 raucous golf supporters gather to watch their favorite players. Now, mix in a state-of-the-art sports betting facility, and the patron experience is leveling up once again. DraftKings was among the “Day 1” sportsbooks to launch in Arizona, taking bets on September 9.

Caesars Sportsbook – MLB, Arizona Diamondbacks & Harrah’s Ak-Chin

Caesars has agreed to a 10-year sports betting arrangement with the state’s Major League Baseball franchise, the Arizona Diamondbacks. The MLB deal allows Caesars to offer its online sports betting service, Caesars Sportsbook, to customers throughout the state. There is also a Caesars-branded retail sportsbook at the Diamondbacks’ Chase Field.

The retail sportsbook is open every day for wagers on all sports. It is not just a D-Backs game day service and is conveniently located within the stadium to best accommodate public transport. Caesars also operates the Ak-Chin Indian Community-owned Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, located south of Phoenix, providing additional brick-and-mortar presence in the state.

Caesars Entertainment acquired William Hill for a sizable $3.7 billion (with a b!) in September 2020. The William Hill brand served as Caesars’ primary iGaming platform for both legal sports betting and casino operations until August 2021, when they officially dropped the William Hill name and moved forward with Caesars Sportsbook. Caesars Sportsbook went live in Arizona on the first day that it was legally allowed.

WynnBET – San Carlos Apache Tribe – CLOSED

Gambling giant Wynn arrived in the state of Arizona with its WynnBET sports betting software on 9/9/21. In early July 2021, the company announced it had linked up with the San Carlos Apache Tribal Gaming Enterprise to serve Arizona bettors.

Wynn’s run in Arizona lasted almost 2 years, with the company announcing its withdrawal from the state in August 2023.

Unibet – Quechan Tribe

With online sportsbooks throughout the world, and already live in states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Indiana here stateside, Unibet has partnered with the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation to bring its online and retail sportsbook offerings to Arizona. The deal is for 10 years to start, with options to extend the agreement. There is also language for Unibet to cover any other forms of iGaming, such as online slots or table games if Arizona ever looks to make these forms of gambling legal. Unibet was among the first bookmakers to launch in AZ.

BetRivers – Arizona Rattlers (IFL)

Rush Street Interactive and its BetRivers sportsbook have found a partner in the state: the Arizona Rattlers. As you know, each professional sports team in AZ is permitted to get involved in sports betting, including the lesser-known entities like the Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers. The Rattlers are one of the state’s oldest sports franchises, operating since 1992, and are actually the most successful IFL team in the history of the league. All of their games are played in Phoenix out of the Footprint Center, the same stadium that houses the Suns. BetRivers launched their Arizona online sports betting app on October 22, 2021.

Barstool Sportsbook – Phoenix Raceway / NASCAR

PENN Entertainment has punched its ticket to Arizona. The large gaming company and its Barstool Sportsbook branding arrived in the state through an agreement with NASCAR and the Phoenix Raceway. Plans for a retail betting facility at the track are already in the works, in addition to its mobile sports betting app that went live in September 2021. PENN was among the first batch of Arizona operators to receive a wagering license.

Fubo Sportsbook – Ak-Chin Indian Community (CLOSED)

On December 17, 2021, Fubo Sportsbook officially began its online sports betting operation in the state of Arizona. Arizona was the brand’s second legal U.S. market, following Iowa. Fubo Sportsbook was owned and operated by FuboTV, an extremely popular online TV streaming platform that rivals the likes of YouTube TV, Hulu, and others. Fubo was licensed in the state of Arizona through an agreement with the Ak-Chin Indian Community.

This sort of TV/sportsbook integration was an enticing development, but ultimately did not bear fruit. In a surprise turn of events, Fubo Sportsbook announced on October 17, 2022, that it was closing its online sportsbook operation – effective immediately. Fubo is no longer taking bets in the state of Arizona.

SuperBook Sports – Fort Mohave Indian Tribe

Launching on the same day as Fubo, Dec. 17, 2021, SuperBook is yet another exciting addition to a rapidly growing AZ sports betting landscape. Known for its massive retail sportsbook in Las Vegas that is a popular pilgrimage for betting enthusiasts the world over, SuperBook will be keen to capitalize on its name recognition and snappy, new betting platform to stake its claim in Arizona. SuperBook Sports has joined forces with the Fort Mohave Indian Tribe for AZ access.

SaharaBets – Arizona Coyotes

Alex Meruelo owns the Coyotes and the Sahara Las Vegas casino along with the Grand Sierra casino in Reno. His company also owns SaharaBets, a new online sportsbook that launched in Arizona on January 12, 2022. While it makes sense that Mr. Meruelo would use the sports betting license his team is eligible for on a sportsbook he owns, the bigger question that will be answered soon is whether SaharaBets can gain market share in the increasingly crowded Arizona mobile sports betting marketplace.

Betfred – Fort McDowell Yavapai-Apache Nation

An old name in the UK, Betfred launched in Arizona on March 7, 2022. Betfred reached a licensing agreement with the Fort McDowell Yavapai-Apache Nation. The tribe operates the We-Ko-Pa Casino, which is located in Fort McDowell, Arizona. Retail wagering is expected on-site, in addition to online betting through Betfred around the state.

Betway – San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe

In a bit of a surprise, Betway went live on March 9, 2022 to little fanfare. Betway’s profile may be low, but its sportsbook product is solid, and the company has a real chance to be competitive in the crowded AZ market. No word yet on whether Betway’s partnership with the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe includes a retail sportsbook, but they are live online statewide, which is good news for bettors wanting to try a new sportsbook.

Hard Rock Bet – Navajo Nation

The globally recognized Hard Rock brand operates an online sportsbook in a growing number of U.S. states, including Arizona. Navajo Nation, one of the biggest Native American tribes in the country, chose Hard Rock as its online and retail partner. There is no disputing the name recognition, and the product is solid, so there’s no reason why Hard Rock can’t succeed in Arizona.

Hard Rock Bet opened its retail sportsbook in Arizona on July 8, 2023. Officially known as Hard Rock Bet at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort, the facility is located at Twin Arrows Casino in Flagstaff.

Desert Diamond Sports – Tohono O’odham Tribe

The Tohono O’odham Tribe owns and operates three casinos in Arizona. The tribe’s casinos are very popular among residents of the Phoenix and Tucson areas. It seemed likely that the tribe would partner with a national sportsbook to expand into sports betting. That didn’t end up happening, because the tribe decided to create its own sportsbook, which went live online in the state on April 2, 2022. Desert Diamond Sports, named after the tribe’s Desert Diamond casinos, is a solid app that has all the most popular bets but also has a local focus with odds boosts for local AZ teams. The app is a must-have for local AZ folks who like betting on their favorite pro and college sports teams.

Bally Bet – Phoenix Mercury

One of the biggest brands in sports betting and casino gaming in the United States, Bally’s, announced in June 2021 that it had entered into a groundbreaking partnership with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. The deal will provide Bally’s and its up-and-coming Bally Bet mobile sports betting app access to the Arizona sports betting market. This is the first online gaming deal for a women’s professional sports team and will run for 15 years. The reported value over the term of the contract is $66 million.

Golden Nugget – Hualapai Tribe

Golden Nugget became the 14th sportsbook to officially launch in the state of Arizona. Golden Nugget will be powered by SBTech, which is a part of DraftKings software. Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG) was officially acquired by DraftKings last year but the deal will not be finalized until later in 2022. GNOG has partnered with the Hualapai Tribe as its in-state partner.

Sportsbooks on the way to AZ

The following sportsbooks have agreed to market access deals in Arizona but have yet to launch. Expect to see these familiar faces soon:

PointsBet still searching

In July 2021 PointsBet announced that it had partnered with the Yavapai-Apache Nation to bring its unique sports betting platform to the state of Arizona. Unfortunately, regulators denied the tribe and its Cliff Castle Casino its license in September 2021 after first granting it, erroneously, due to what it called an administrative error. PointsBet is now searching for another partner to access the state.

BlueBet meets BlueWater Casino

Australian-based sportsbook BlueBet will be vying for action in Arizona. The company announced in early August of 2021 that it had partnered with the conveniently named BlueWater Resort & Casino, which is owned by the Colorado River Tribes. BlueBet is not the most well-known brand here in the U.S., having set its sights previously on Iowa, but there’s some international pedigree to keep in mind.

SolSports ready to shine in AZ

Via agreements with the Casino Del Sol, the Casino of the Sun, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, and the popular tech provider Scientific Games, the brand new SolSports platform is expected to arrive in Arizona. Arizona will be the brand’s first appearance, but as a leading casino in the state, they will be playing on home turf. Don’t count them out.

MaximBet set for Arizona with White Mountain Apache Tribe

Maxim – yes, like the magazine – is getting involved with AZ sports betting. MaximBet is now live in Colorado and is coming to other states soon, with Arizona high on that list. The White Mountain Apache Tribe has agreed to a deal with the book for state access. The tribe operates the Hon-Dah casino which is located in Pinetop, AZ.

Arizona pro sports teams

The professional sports teams had a rough patch in the early 2010s but have had a resurgence of sorts the past few seasons. Although the Coyotes seem to be in the gutter, there is palpable excitement among the other three major sports teams. The Diamondbacks are coming off a league-low 52-win season but have been a pleasant surprise heading into the second half of the year. In addition, the Cardinals are coming off their first postseason appearance since 2015. And finally, the Phoenix basketball teams have been nothing short of remarkable. In 2021, the Phoenix Mercury came up just short in the WNBA finals losing to the Chicago Sky, 3-1, but had their best season since winning the WNBA title in 2014. They haven’t had the same fortune to start off 2022 but there is plenty of basketball left to be played. For the men, the Phoenix Suns also came up just short in the 2021 NBA Finals, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. After securing the league’s top record, the Suns were ousted in the second round to the Dallas Mavericks in seven games. 

Arizona Cardinals (NFL) – Partnered with BetMGM

As mentioned above, the Cardinals are coming off their first postseason appearance since 2015. GM Steve Keim and HC Kliff Kingsbury were rewarded with extensions through 2027 as they will look to build off their success in the NFC West. The offseason has been bumpy for the Cards as franchise QB Kyler Murray has had ongoing frustrations with a contract extension dispute. Murray and co. will look to put their differences aside as they will strive to win their first NFC West title since Carson Palmer was under center.

Phoenix Suns (NBA) – Partnered with FanDuel

The Suns are coming off an embarrassing game 7 loss at home at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semis. This upcoming season, the Phoenix Suns are looking to seek revenge with their first-ever NBA championship. The Suns have built up one of the league’s best rosters through the draft and development. The only player that is not homegrown is future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul. Superstar Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson were all drafted by the Suns and have developed into one of the more well-rounded teams in the association. 

Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) – Partnered with Bally Bet

After falling just short of capturing a WNBA title, the Mercury have been one of the more disappointing teams in the league. Despite the addition of superstar center Tina Charles to join Diamond DeShields, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi, the Mercury haven’t been able to get it going quite yet. And unfortunately, Mercury star Brittney Griner is still currently detained in Russia where she has an ongoing drug trial. 

Arizona Coyotes (NHL) – Partnered with SaharaBets

For everything good the basketball teams have going on, it’s the polar opposite for their hockey counterparts. The Arizona Coyotes are in the cellar for the NHL landscape where they finished with a near league-low in points. The Coyotes came into the season in total rebuild mode, trading away their few assets to stockpile draft picks. The optics have not been excellent as they’ve transitioned into new ownership – back in December, Glendale officials threatened to lock the team out of Gila River Arena after the Coyotes failed to pay the city of Glendale and the state of Arizona $1.3 million in taxes. The Coyotes paid their debt, but Gila River is no longer extending their lease to the Coyotes, who will be forced to play in Arizona State University’s rink starting in 2022-2023. In the 2022 NHL Draft, with the third pick, the Arizona Coyotes selected Logan Cooley, a center from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) – Partnered with Caesars Sportsbook

The Diamondbacks are coming off a brutal campaign, securing the 2nd pick in the 2022 MLB draft where they selected Druw Jones, son of former Braves superstar centerfielder Andruw Jones. 2022 has been much more competitive for the Rattlesnakes as they head into the All-Star break with 40 games (they finished with 52 all of last year). Although a playoff berth may not be realistic in the treacherous NL West, according to MLB.com, the Arizona Diamondbacks boast a top 5 farm system during the 2022 season featuring three players in the top 25.

Here are some other Arizona professional sports teams that have dipped their toe into the legal Arizona online sports betting market.

• Phoenix Raceway (NASCAR) – Partnered with Barstool Sportsbook (Penn National)
• TPC Scottsdale (PGA) – Partnered with DraftKings
• Arizona Rattlers (IFL) – Partnered with BetRivers
• Phoenix Rising (MLS) – Rumored as a candidate for MLS expansion

Thus, Arizona legislators have left some room for both the state’s pro sports lineup and its arsenal of sportsbooks to grow.

The Latest Arizona Sports Betting News

July Sports Wagering Revenue In Arizona Up More Than 11% Year-Over-Year

by Jeff Edelstein

September 26, 2023

Sportsbooks took over $323 million in bets, up from $290 million a year ago, with FanDuel and DraftKings once again leading the pack.

Arizona Grants Sports Betting License To Bet365 As 17th Operator

by Jill R. Dorson

August 29, 2023

Already live in five states, bet365 is approved to launch in Arizona to bring the state's number of betting choices to 17.

WynnBET Exit Means Licenses Will Be Available In Arizona And Virginia

by Jill R. Dorson

August 16, 2023

Neither state will immediately take applications, but in Virginia, the opportunity to apply will be the first since 2022.

Arizona college sports teams

Several states have banned betting on in-state colleges and universities. That is not the case in Arizona. And in a state with four Division I teams, two of which are in a Power 5 conference and hold one of the biggest rivalries in all of college, it’s nice to see Arizona residents and even people passing by can wager on their favorite college teams.

Arizona Wildcats

The University of Arizona Wildcats took their fair share of lumps in the 2010s between the turbulent tenures of former football Arizona, current USFL head coach Kevin Sumlin and former basketball coach Sean Miller. Sumlin was a massive disappointment going 9-20 during a three-year stretch in Tucson, while Sean Miller was fired after allegations of bribery and producing fake transcripts.

That’s all behind them, as there is plenty of buzz at the U of A. Although he only had one win in year one, there is a lot of excitement around the new head football coach Jedd Fisch who has a background well-versed with accomplished NFL offensive minds. Former Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd was nothing short of spectacular on the hardwood. In his first season, Lloyd managed to win both the Pac-12 regular-season and postseason title as the Wildcats were as high as #2 in the AP Poll during the season. Although they fell short against Houston in the Sweet 16, the future is bright under Lloyd.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Let’s move on to Tempe, where Arizona State has garnered a lot of intrigue with former NFL coach Herm Edwards going into his fifth year as the head coach at Arizona State. During his tenure, the Sun Devils have appeared in three bowl games and have been very competitive in the Pac-12 South. For this upcoming season, they’ll look to break through and appear in their first Pac-12 championship since 2013. 

In basketball, former Duke legend Bobby Hurley has led the program to two NCAA tournaments (would have been three in 2020) in his seven-year tenure. The basketball team is coming off a disappointing year but was a surprising buzzsaw at the end of the year, winning 7 of their last ten, including beating 3rd ranked UCLA in triple OT. Hurley will look to carry that momentum into 2022-2023.

Grand Canyon Antelopes

Grand Canyon University has only been a Division I basketball program since 2013 but they’ve managed to make plenty of noise in the WAC. NCAA tournament star Bryce Drew is the head of the program – in his first season, the Antelopes made their first-ever NCAA tournament. Drew is coming off a strong campaign in his second year, winning 23 games. The Antelopes have one of the most significant home-court advantages in all of college basketball.

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks

The Lumberjacks are coming off a rough year on the basketball court, having only won nine games. However, they beat in-state Arizona on the football field with a 21-19 victory. In the FCS sub-division, the Lumberjacks football program has seen a decent amount of success, making the FCS playoffs twice in the past eight seasons in the brutal Big Sky conference. Former Memphis defensive coordinator Chris Ball will look to lead the football program to their first FCS playoff appearance since 2017 this coming fall.

Where do they play and conference

Banking: fund your Arizona sports betting account

It’s easy to fund a sports betting account in the state of Arizona with plenty of deposit and withdrawal options currently available. The state leans heavily on eWallets, credit cards, bank transfers, and even in-person cash deposits. Including:

• ACH/eCheck – Provide your bank name, account number, and routing number, and you can instantly transfer money through an online check. The sportsbook platform will prompt you through the transaction.
• PayPal – If you’ve engaged in eCommerce of any kind over the years you’re probably well versed in how PayPal works. You add funds to your PayPal balance through a variety of methods and can instantly transfer that balance to your favorite online book, and back.
• Debit Cards – Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express debit/credit cards. The latter two are far less available, but virtually all sportsbooks accept some form of debit card for deposits.
• Online Bank Transfer – You can set up an online bank transfer in a few minutes and effortlessly move cash to and from a sportsbook. If your bank offers an ‘online bill pay feature, you’re good to go.
• Prepaid Play+ Cards – Most online bookmakers have their own branded card that’s essentially a prepaid debit. You add cash to it and can use it to deposit/withdraw from the site. They’re extremely easy and quick to use.
• Cash at the Casino Cage – Arizona online sportsbooks are tied to a physical sports venue or tribal casino. Users that visit one of these locations in person are likely to be able to fund their account by presenting cash right at the cashier’s window. But check with the sportsbook first for availability of this method.
• PayNearMe – Another cash-friendly option for the bettor that isn’t close to a retail sportsbook. PayNearMe partners with local retail stores like 7Eleven, CVS, or even Family Dollar. PayNearMe sends you a barcode and you bring it to the register at a participating store. They’ll ring you up right at the register, accept your cash, and you’re betting online in minutes. It’s pretty cool.
• Paper Check – Get your funds the old-fashioned way. Some sportsbook operators will cut you a paper check and ship it out through the mail. It’s not fast, but again, it’s simple and familiar.

Importantly, every deposit and withdrawal method chosen for use in the state of Arizona has been vetted intensely for guaranteed safety. Your money is safe when using a government-approved Arizona online sports betting site.

Arizona’s sports betting timeline

Once Arizona had a sports betting law on the books, the big questions shifted to when. When would legal sports betting officially launch in Arizona? The answer ended up being September 9th, 2021. Bettors around Arizona can now create their accounts, claim exclusive, valuable promotions, and place bets. September 9 was always the target date, coinciding perfectly with the first game of the 2021 NFL season.

Based on precedent in other states that have walked the walk, Fall ’21 seemed like an ambitious, but ultimately realistic target. Both Colorado and Indiana were able to transition from signing a bill into law to a legal, regulated online industry in less than six months – a feat that Arizona matched. States like Illinois and Virginia took closer to nine months.

Gambling history in Arizona

Gambling isn’t new for Arizona. It was an early adopter for the lottery, with the Arizona Lottery getting underway in 1980. A few years later the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 shook things up even further. The state’s tribes started offering slots at their on-reservation casinos shortly after, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

There was an interesting standoff in 1992 where the Arizona government put forth new rules that required each tribe have a compact (an agreement) with the state before offering slots. As a result, the FBI raided several tribal casinos and confiscated their machines. One casino, Fort McDowell, didn’t go quietly, blocking the removal and instigating a several-week stalemate. Ultimately the situation was resolved as compacts between the state and the tribes were signed throughout the coming years. With tribal Compacts in place, casino gaming was officially established in the state.

More than 20 casinos are now active and accepting wagers on tribal land in Arizona. However, they aren’t full-fledged, Vegas-like establishments. They could spread some games, like blackjack, but not everything they wanted. That is, until now…

The path to Arizona online sports betting

Throughout the next couple of decades, not a ton changed on the Arizona gambling landscape. However, in 2017 the U.S. Supreme Court finally agreed to hear New Jersey‘s challenge of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. PASPA had served as the primary roadblock for legal sports betting in the United States for more than 25 years. In May 2018 the high court ruled that the law was unconstitutional, opening the door for states like Arizona to pursue legal sports betting. Thus began the state’s three-year journey to legalization.

Arizona government, state tribes agree to compromise

Ultimately, Arizona would need to reach an effective compromise with local tribes to have any hope of passing sports betting legislation. Any effort to allow gaming off-reservation would be met with staunch resistance, and would be unable to move forward. However, there was a compromise to be made. Arizona tribes were seeking to expand – and not just with their retail spaces, but also with their gaming libraries. They wanted to be able to popular games such as craps, roulette, and other previously prohibited games.

As such, tribal representatives agreed to forgo their total monopoly on gaming in the state. For sports betting they OK’d the 10 tribal licenses / 10 pro sports team license split in exchange for the requested casino expansions. It was a win for all.

Moving through committee

The proposed 2021 bill faced resistance in the appropriations committee. Committee chair Senator Dave Gowan was hoping to move forward with a rival bill that included historical horse racing. For those unfamiliar, historical horse racing machines are a lot like slot machines, which sent up red flags across the board for tribal interests. While they agreed to compromise on non-tribal sports betting, they would never agree to cede slot-like action to off-reservation establishments.

State Senator T.J. Shope was instrumental in moving the needle and helping the bill through the pivotal appropriations committee. With great effort and a few important conversations, he was able to finesse the originally proposed legislation without the historical horse racing component.

Arizona legalizes sports betting in 2021

The Arizona state senate brought the proposed legislation to a vote on April 12, 2021. Despite passionate resistance from Senator Sally Ann Gonzales, HB 2772 passed convincingly by a 23-6 margin. Governor Doug Ducey signed the bill into law on April 15, 2021, setting the stage for Arizona’s new sports betting industry. September 9th, 2021 was the first day of action. Go Cardinals.

Sports betting in the Southwest

As Arizonans know, the legalization of sports betting is moving fast. Arizona legalized in 2021, while other states on the west coast have not experienced the same fortune. Let’s review the landscape for some of Arizona’s neighboring states. As a first mover, Arizona is set up to reap the benefits of being one of the only states in the region to offer legal online sports betting.

California

California does not currently have sports betting. However, it could be on the periphery of legislation to come. At the beginning of 2022, the biggest domino made a move, which was New York. Although New York is on the east coast, they present a demographic and market very similar to California that could give a blueprint for them to follow.

And with a bigger state population than any other state, just under 40 million with another 40 million tourists a year along with more professional sports teams than anyone, California would present the biggest market in sports betting. Potential California sports betting efforts have until June 25 to qualify for the ballot. The legalization of sports betting is contingent upon an approval by the Senate and the House.

Utah

Utah does not have sports betting in any form. And unlike California, it doesn’t seem like there is any real rush to get a move on trying to legalize sports betting in the Beehive state. There are a few reasons why it is improbable the state of Utah tries to move forward with creating any legislation that would try to legalize sports betting.

First, Utah is one of only two states (alongside Hawaii) that bans all forms of gambling. That means Utah does not have any casinos, poker, lottery, sportsbooks, betting on horses, daily fantasy sports – and it’s a shame because there is some promise in Utah.

The tourist scene is robust, and there are plenty of intriguing college and professional teams that their residents could back, such as the Utah Jazz, Utah Utes, BYU Cougars and Utah State Aggies. But the reality is the state of Utah has been a staunch opposer of any form of gambling at all and it appears that stance won’t change any time soon. Because of the state’s demographic comprising a large Mormon population, political action regarding sports gambling would not align with their religious beliefs.

New Mexico

New Mexico approaches sports betting differently from its counterparts. Although online sports betting is not legal, retail and in-person is technically not illegal – at least at tribal casinos in their state. New Mexico sports betting launched in October 2018 when Santa Ana Casino took the state’s first-ever bet. Four other tribal casinos have launched legalized sports betting since then.

What does this mean for legalized online sports betting in New Mexico? Even though they became just the sixth state to legalize at the time, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re in a good spot to allow online sports betting any time soon. 

Recently, there hasn’t been an online sports betting bill introduced in New Mexico.

Nevada

Nevada is the home of sin city and the most prominent retail sports betting hub, Las Vegas. But people who don’t reside in Nevada may not know this – although online sports betting is legal, it is now the only state where you must go to a physical casino to create an account. Illinois had a similar provision but dropped this in 2022, allowing people to register for an online account without signing up in person.

So, if you’re driving through Nevada, you will not be able to create an online sports betting account without visiting a physical casino to get your account up and running. It seems like a strange provision for a state ahead of the curve in sports betting, especially considering how many tourists the state sees annually. Are there any signs that may change soon?

Since Las Vegas is considered the most famous wagering and gambling destination globally, it has some of the most well-known physical sportsbooks in the country. There are many conveniences when it comes to betting online and on your phone, but it can still be an exciting experience to visit one of Las Vegas’ retail sportsbooks.

For this reason, it appears state officials are not in any rush to reverse this. It’s a way for sports fans and bettors to contribute to their economy and is usually one of the main reasons tourists flock to Nevada. With the rise of sports betting, there has been an influx of exciting teams that Nevada residents and outsiders can bet on. The Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, the Nevada Wolfpack and UNLV Runnin’ Rebels of the Mountain West also have generated plenty of excitement on the gridiron and hardwood.

Colorado

Colorado became the 19th state to legalize sports betting in May 2020. And unlike New Mexico or Nevada, there are no caveats. You can visit plenty of brick-and-mortar casinos with a sports lounge and gamble with your buddies. Or you can fire up one of your favorite sportsbook apps without having to visit a physical casino and create an online account.

Besides California, you’d be hard-pressed to find a state as delightful as Colorado. Colorado has it all – beautiful nature stocked with 53 mountains at heights over 14,000 feet over the state. It is a hub for winter sports enthusiasts and hikers. The state’s biggest city, Denver, has a lot to offer for any tourist. And as a sports fan, they’ve got a lot going on. Currently, the Colorado Avalanche stands as the odds-on favorite to win the NHL Stanley Cup. In addition, the Nuggets enter the playoffs with the odds-on favorite to win MVP in Nikola Jokic, who took home the hardware in 2021. The Denver Broncos are generating palpable excitement with the splashy addition of Super-Bowl-winning quarterback, Russell Wilson. And finally, there’s the Colorado Rockies, who have had some down years but Coors Field is one of the nicer venues to watch a baseball game.

The University of Denver just won the men’s hockey national championship over Minnesota State in the college landscape. You can wager on other Division 1 teams are the Colorado Buffaloes of the Pac-12, Colorado State and Air Force in the Mountain West, and Northern Colorado in the Big Sky.

Arizona Sports Betting FAQ