Arizona Online Gambling

Arizona has joined the group of states that have made recent changes to their gambling legislation. It means that the state’s residents now have the opportunity to bet safely online at some of the biggest names in the gaming industry.

With the bill legalizing online gambling having been passed, organizations in the state mobilized to put in place procedures and regulations to protect customers and benefit Arizona residents. Online operations have launched, and you can find out about them here. All the reviews featured on the site focus on sites that are 100% legal and safe.

Read on to understand which gambling activities are legal in Arizona and why a legitimate online site should be a priority. Plus, discover which sites are licensed, how to recognize them, and what to expect when betting in the Grand Canyon State.

Types of Legal Online Gambling in Arizona

Both online sports betting and daily fantasy sports (DFS) betting are legal in the state.

Sports Betting

Arizona online sports betting became legal in September 2021. Sports fans were thrilled at the timing of the launch, which coincided with the start of the NFL season.

There are 20 licenses available for sports betting throughout the state. Ten will go to the tribal groups and the other ten to professional sports teams. Many have already been granted, but you could see more operations launched in the near future.

The licenses allow for retail sportsbooks as well. The first of those launched alongside the online operations in September 2021. The sites that have already launched their online operations in AZ include:

• Bally Bet
• Barstool Sportsbook
• Betfred
• BetMGM
• BetRivers
• Betway Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• Desert Diamond Sports
• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• Golden Nugget
• Hard Rock Sportsbook
• SaharaBets
• SuperBook Sportsbook
• TwinSpires
• Unibet
• WynnBet

Online Casinos

Arizona online casino gambling is not legal. Policy and lawmakers in the state have been strongly against it in the past, which suggests that if a change is to occur, it might take some time.

There are no land-based commercial casino operations in the state, but there are tribal casinos. It is the operators of the tribal casinos that have partnered with some of the online sportsbooks and will offer retail locations.

Daily Fantasy Sports

The bill that legalized online sports betting in Arizona also introduced daily fantasy sports or DFS to the state. The sites launched a few days before the sportsbooks in August 2021. DFS sites and mobile apps active in the state include:

• DataForce
• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC)
• Fantasy Sports Shark
• PrizePicks
• RealTime Sports
• StatHero
• Underdog Sports
• Yahoo

Online Poker

Legislation to legalize online poker has not been introduced in Arizona. There doesn’t appear to be widespread support for the idea (and some tribal casinos are opposed) so lawmakers have not brought a bill to legalize the vertical to the Arizona State Legislature.

Why Choose a Legal Arizona Online Gaming Site?

There are many advantages to choosing a legal and safe betting site in Arizona rather than playing at an unregulated offshore site. Besides having the peace of mind that the activities are within the law, you will have other benefits and guarantees as well.

Regulations, which come from the gaming authority, mean that there are fair policies and procedures. They extend to providing the correct information when setting odds, giving out bonuses, and rewarding players through promotions and loyalty schemes. It also means that the appropriate measures need to be in place to protect your data and finances, usually through encryption technology and separate company accounts.

Legal sites also protect their players in other ways. Gaming online should be a fun and casual activity, and when responsible gaming measures help customers keep it that way the sites can offer information on how to seek help for any problems that they have.

On top of those player advantages, the community in Arizona receives benefits as well. Legitimate operators pay significant amounts of tax in the state, and that revenue is used on essential projects. Gambling tax goes toward funding problem gambling support programs, schools, law enforcement, and also creates jobs for locals.

How to Know If an Arizona Online Gambling Site Is Legal, Regulated, and Safe

If you have found an online sportsbook and want to be sure it is a legal and regulated operation, look at for the following signs:

• Gaming Regulator Seal: A sportsbook licensed by the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) will display that information in the footer of its website. You might find it in the form of an official seal or some text mentioning the ADG, the law under which it operates, and how it is regulated.
• Association with a Land-Based Casino or Sports Team: In the same website footer text, a sportsbook will also mention its land-based partner, plus you can look for the logo on the site. In Arizona, it will be a professional sports team or a tribal casino. The reviews on this site only cover legitimate operators and will always mention the regulating body and partner.
• Legal Jurisdiction: A safe and legal operator will want to know where you intend to play from or are playing, as allowing bets from anywhere else is against the law. It will indicate where it legally operates and will ask you to select from a list of states, give you a dropdown menu to select a state, or use geolocation to pinpoint your device.
• Recognizable Name: The legitimate sportsbooks have earned their solid reputations, so the names will be familiar to you. If you have not heard of a company, check for a review, guide, or article on this site, and if you cannot find one, it may be a site to stay away from.
• Transparent policies and procedures: Safe and regulated betting sites in Arizona let their customers know where they stand. Every promotion will have terms and conditions, there will be betting rules, and a privacy policy available to let you know what to expect and how your data is handled.
• Customer Service: Another key aspect that you will see at a legal sportsbook is customer support. Arizona operators want to keep customers happy and to help them with issues, so you can find help centers and get in touch with the sportsbook usually via live chat, phone, and email.
• Rewards Program: Most legitimate operators offer a rewards program. They know that they have years ahead of them operating legally in the state, and they want to encourage their customers to stay with them. Offshore and unregulated sites do not usually have this feature, especially as their operations in a jurisdiction could be temporary.
• Headquartered in the US: Arizona gambling sites will have connections in the state through their land-based partner, and the company will have offices in the US. Most illegal sites run their services from an offshore location.

Important Information When Choosing an Online Gambling Site in Arizona

For a gaming site in Arizona to be worth your while, it needs to provide quality entertainment through good sports betting options. On top of that, you should expect the operator to put some thought into providing value and focusing on usability. There are several critical areas to look for those qualities.

Arizona Online Gambling Welcome Bonuses

The best sites welcome their customers by giving them something extra. A welcome bonus could take the form of bet insurance, a free bet, or a deposit match. The offers are usually triggered by signing up, depositing, and placing your first bet.

Whatever you receive in terms of a welcome offer, it should help you explore and enjoy the site without having to alter your usual betting behavior. Wagering requirements that are attainable and not too many restrictions are signs of a fantastic bonus. First impressions count, so checking the welcome offer should be a top priority.

Sports Betting Promotions in Arizona

Helping customers explore the site when they are new is an excellent start. However, you can narrow down your shortlist of sites by checking out their promotions. It is another way for sportsbooks to provide value to their customers and keep them coming back.

Promotions at Arizona sportsbooks include betting tournaments and leaderboards, free bets, parlay insurance, cashback, reload bonuses, and offers focused on specific events. Find out more in our reviews or check the dedicated pages of a site to see if they are updated regularly.

Rewards for Arizona Customers

Most legitimate operators have a rewards program or loyalty scheme, especially the big names that have already launched sportsbooks in Arizona. These programs are one of the best ways to get value from your chosen operator.

Loyalty/VIP schemes work in different ways, but the primary concept is similar. Operators award you points simply for betting at the site. You accumulate those points and improve your status. You exchange them for prizes and get other perks. The higher you climb in the program, the more benefits you receive.

Arizona Mobile Access

The top betting sites give you access to your bets, game streams, and live odds in a convenient and compact format. Mobile apps mean you can carry all of the superb features of your sportsbook in your pocket and wager on the go.

The app or mobile site should be optimized so that it is easy to scroll, tap, and bet. Plus, your rewards, account, and payments should be accessible and run as smoothly as the desktop version. If you are going to spend time on an app, it needs to be fast and intuitive.

Sports Markets and Navigation

To choose an online gambling operator in Arizona, you will want to see that it has included different markets for you to bet on as well as many sports to choose from.

The best sites have an in-play section, live betting, where you can see live odds, watch games, or track the action through animations and statistics. Plus, a clear menu with the sports, main markets, and some niche bet types is always appreciated.

Gaming Regulator Information

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) grants licenses and regulates operations for online gaming in the state. Only sites working in cooperation with this body are legal in the Grand Canyon State. The license shows that the sportsbook meets the standards set out by the regulator.

The ADG, like other regulators, sets criteria for sportsbooks to meet and independently tests the online platform. Standards include demonstrating player protection, being responsive, financially stable, and providing gambling support tools and services. Regulators also ensure that integrity monitoring takes place, that platforms are designed to protect customer data, and the bonus and promotion terms are fair and do not restrict access to funds.

In Arizona, the ADG also acts as a mediator for customer issues with operators. Arizona patrons should always submit a complaint to the sportsbook first. However, if you need help settling a dispute, you can contact the ADG using the patron dispute form on its website.

History of Online Gambling Legislation

The daily fantasy sports betting and event wagering bill, also known as SB 1797, was passed in Arizona in April 2021. It enabled the first online gambling activity in the state. Prior to the bill passing, there was not any legal sports betting in Arizona, either retail or online.

The gambling history of AZ goes way back as it was a wild west state. However, it grew more conservative, and many restrictions were put in place in the 20th century. Horse racing betting has been legal since 1958, although it occurs at racetracks and some off-site premises. The state has also seen a successful and popular in-person lottery, which launched in 1980.

Land-based casinos came a few years later, in 1988. They are part of the Tribal State Gaming Compact and operate on tribal lands. New Jersey and Delaware were the first states to introduce legal online gambling in 2013. Several states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and West Virginia, followed in their footsteps, and Arizona has recently joined them, first with DFS and now online sportsbooks.

Responsible Gaming Resources in Arizona

The state, the Arizona Department of Gaming, and the licensed operators share the task of ensuring measures are taken to keep gaming casual, fun and not having a detrimental effect on customers. Responsible gaming efforts take many forms, including:

• Setting an age limit of 21 to prevent minors from accessing gambling.
• Creating tools for users to limit the time or money they spend gambling.
• Giving users controls, such as timeouts to avoid potentially harmful behavior.
• Establishing operator and state-wide exclusion lists that allow users to ban themselves from online and land-based gaming.
• Giving to the community through problem gambling services, funding for schools, and law enforcement.
• Setting and checking safety standards for customer data and finances.

Setting Gambling Limits

To keep the gaming activity fun, you need to not spend more than you can afford. Responsible gambling means setting limits, but those are so much more effective when you have account controls to help you. Operators provide measures that help you stick to a certain time when laying at a gaming site and setting limits for the amount of money you can wager with.

• Deposit Limits: This tool allows you to cap the amount of money you add to your account.
• Betting Limits: You can set limits for when you can bet and how much.
• Alerts: This tool includes a pop-up to let you know how long you have been using the site; it is a good reminder to take a break.
• Time restrictions: These can limit the amount of time you spend betting or stop you from logging in several times a day.
• Self-Exclusions: There are temporary self-exclusion measures, which can limit your account for a few months or a year. Alternatively, there are permanent solutions where you put your name on Arizona’s exclusion list.

Problem Gambling

Gambling can be addictive, so the ADG and the operators it licenses work together to help people recognize when they have a problem and provide them with the resources to deal with it.

As well as a list of signs that you might have a gambling problem, operators list the contact details of different support organizations, including:

• Gambling e-screener: An online for provided by Harvard Medical School’s Cambridge Health Alliance that can help you determine whether you have a problem.
• Arizona Problem Gambling Helpline: The state runs a resource that provides confidential help through messages, text“NEXTSTEP” to 53342, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP, or visit the website.
• NCPG: The National Council on Problem Gambling has a support website and a hotline 1-800-522-4700.
• GA: Gamblers Anonymous operates across the US. It runs local meetings in Arizona, which you can find through its website.
• TAP: The treatment assistance program is run by the ADG; it is subsidized and provides counseling and support for those affected by problem gambling, including friends and family.
• Self-exclusion: The ADG has self-exclusion lists for casinos and daily fantasy sports and sports betting. You can fill out a form to add yourself to the database. Exclusion periods are one, five, or ten years.
• Gamblock: This organization offers another form of restriction as it stops you from accessing online gambling sites through your browser.

Land-based Gambling Available in Arizona

There are 16 tribes in Arizona that operate 26 land-based casinos. There are no commercial casinos in the state. Some of these operations are now connected to the online sportsbooks that went live in September 2021.

When online sports betting became possible, the licenses also covered retail sportsbooks. Fanduel and Caesars opened physical sports betting locations on the same day that their digital operations launched. Several of the other sites are expected to offer in-person betting in AZ in the coming months.

The land-based casinos all offer a wide range of gaming entertainment, only those marked with an asterisk do not have live table games:

• Apache Gold Casino Resort – 777 Geronimo Springs Blvd, Cutter Industrial Park, San Carlos, AZ 85550
• Apache Sky Casino – 777 Apache Sky Blvd, Winkelman, AZ 85192
• Blue Water Casino – 11300 Resort Drive, Parker, AZ 85344
• Bucky’s Casino – 1500 Highway 69, Prescott, AZ 86301
• Casino Arizona – 524 N. 92nd St, Scottsdale, AZ 85256
• Casino Del Sol – 5655 West Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85757
• Casino Of The Sun – 7406 S. Camino del Oeste, Tucson, AZ 85746
• Cliff Castle Casino – 555 W Middle Verde Road, Camp Verde, AZ 86322
• Cocopah Casino Resort – 15318 S. Avenue B, Somerton, AZ 85350
• Del Sol Marketplace – 5405 West Valencia Road, Tucson, AZ 85757
• Desert Diamond Casino Sahuarita – 1100 W Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita, AZ 85629
• Desert Diamond Casino Tucson – 7350 S Nogales Highway, Tucson, AZ 85756
• Desert Diamond Casino West Valley – 9431 W. Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85305
• Desert Diamond Casino Why – Highway 86, Milepost 55, Why, AZ 85321
• Harrah’s Ak-Chin – 15406 North Maricopa Road, Maricopa, AZ 85139
• Hon-Dah Resort-Casino – 777 Highway 260, Pinetop, AZ 85935-9699
• Lone Butte Casino – 1077 S Kyrene Road Chandler, AZ
• Mazatzai Casino Resort – Highway 87 Mile Marker 251, Payson, AZ 85541
• Paradise Casino – 450 Quechan Drive, Fort Yuma, AZ 85364
• Spirit Mountain Casino – 8555 Highway 95, Mohave Valley, AZ 86440
• Talking Stick Casino Resort – 9800 Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, AZ
• Twin Arrows Casino Resort – 22181 Resort Boulevard, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
• Vee Quiva Casino – 15091 S. Komatke Ln, Laveen Village AZ 85339
• We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort – 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort Mcdowell Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85264
• Wild Horse Pass Casino – 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85226
• Yavapai Casino – 1505 AZ 69, Prescott, AZ 86303

FAQs

Is online gambling legal in Arizona?

Yes. Online gambling is legal in Arizona. However, that is only for sportsbooks and daily fantasy sports at present.

What types of online gambling are legal in Arizona?

In Arizona, you can bet on sports and take part in daily fantasy sports online. Poker and casinos are not legal, but you can play at the licensed brick-and-mortar tribal casinos.

Can I use my Arizona online gaming accounts in other states?

You can access your Arizona account from other states, but you will not be able to place a bet. If your sportsbook of choice is licensed and operates in another state, you might be able to use your same account to bet at the version of the site for that location.

I’m traveling to Arizona. Can I set up my account before I arrive?

Yes. You can sign up for another location. In fact, it is recommended to get started before you travel. When your account is set up before you arrive, you will not waste any time or have the stress of needing to find your personal information and documents to verify your account.

Once you arrive in Arizona, you can deposit, trigger your bonus, and start betting straight away. You can check out our useful guides on how to sign up to start the process.

Can I play at Arizona online gambling sites if I am just visiting the state?

Yes. You do not need to be a state resident to register at a sportsbook. As long as you are located within the state boundaries, you will be able to bet.

What is the minimum age to gamble online in Arizona?

To gamble online in Arizona, you need to be at least 21 years old. When you register for an account, you will add your date of birth and the verification process will confirm that you are old enough to play. You will need to add the last four digits of your social security number, which will verify your identity.