Unfortunately, sports betting is not legal in Arizona. For this reason, instead of offering you a guide on the best sites to bet on sports, we’ve created a guide that explores the current betting options available. We’ve also looked at the current gambling laws and whether they may change in the future.
Keep in mind that on this Arizona sports betting recommendation site, we will only ever suggest licensed online bookmakers that meet each state’s regulations. This is because we are committed to ensuring our readers only ever sign up with bookmakers that are safe, secure, and trustworthy.
What Betting Options are Legal for Arizona Residents
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Until sports betting is legal in Arizona, gamblers have a few gambling alternatives to choose from. For one, there is the state lottery, where residents can enjoy both local and national games. There is also race track betting, and full-scale casino gambling can be enjoyed at one of the state’s many tribal casinos.
Is Daily Fantasy Legal in Arizona?
It may come as a surprise to hear the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is illegal in Arizona. Since its debut, DFS has been dividing lawmakers as to whether or not it constitutes traditional gambling. Arizona’s regulators are firm in the belief that it is a game of chance, so these sites are no longer legal Arizona online gambling options.
Reputable sports betting sites DraftKings and FanDuel do not accept players from Arizona. In some states, these websites offer both DFS and sportsbooks, and as legalization spreads, both are exploding in popularity. In the event that sports betting is legalized, we think that either of these apps could be a great Arizona legal online sportsbook.
Are there Legal Offshore Sites for Arizona Players
As there is no Arizona legal online sportsbook, many local players sign up to offshore betting sites such as Bovada or MyBookie to place their sports bets. The laws on doing this are quite hazy, as most states do not expressly forbid this kind of betting. However, just because they aren’t technically illegal, it doesn’t mean that they are legal.
Because these websites aren’t licensed, they don’t need to meet the strict requirements that legal websites do that ensure players are protected. This lack of oversight for safety and fairness should be cause for concern, as it’s important to have trust in a site where you bet real money. We suggest you only ever bet with licensed, trusted sportsbooks.
Casinos
AZ is home to more than 30 tribal casinos that offer a huge selection of table games. These include popular table games like blackjack, bingo, poker, roulette, and slot machines. This is great news for those hoping for legal online sports betting in Arizona, as it means there should always be an option to bet somewhere.
Racetrack Betting
Until there is legal online sports betting in Arizona, you can find a great alternative in Arizona’s rich offering of racetrack betting. Arizona offers a year-round racing circuit and is home to a number of racetracks that host both horse racing and greyhound racing.
If either of these options sounds appealing to you but you can’t make it out to a racetrack, then you’re in luck. It is legal to bet off-track in Arizona, with around 60 off-track betting facilities located around the state. This ease of access has helped boost racetrack betting popularity, and will hopefully be replicated if Arizona sports betting is legalized.
Poker Rooms
For card game fans, AZ is an ideal state. There are 12 poker rooms across the state in locations such as Phoenix, Tucson, and Greater Arizona. Some of these are within casinos, while others are individual establishments that exclusively host poker tournaments. All poker rooms are operated by the state’s tribal groups.
Nearby States with Legal Sports Betting
If you’re tired of waiting for legal online sports betting in Arizona and want to get a taste of the sports betting action, why not travel out of state? Arizona is close to a number of states that have legalized sports betting markets, with neighboring state New Mexico accepting in-person sports wagers.
Below, we’ve listed a few states that are bound to make perfect sports betting holiday destinations.
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Oregon
What would Legal Sports Betting in Arizona Look Like
We’re happy to reveal that there is some good news when it comes to sports betting legalization in AZ, as calls have been growing by lawmakers and industry leaders to open the market. Although it’s unlikely there will be legal online sports betting in Arizona, we expect that in-person betting will become a reality in the future.
By legalizing Arizona sports betting on major sports leagues, the state will be able to offer players great gambling action while also protecting them from untrustworthy offshore bookmakers. With legalization comes regulation, and these rules ensure that safe betting sites verify players’ ages, offer fair payouts and protect problem gamblers.
What are the Arizona Gambling Laws
Arizona outlaws almost all forms of off-reservation gambling, meaning that players need to visit casinos on tribal lands to gamble. The only outlier of this rule is the Arizona lottery, which is regulated by the state-run Arizona lottery commission. The revenues generated from the lottery go towards funding vital state programs.
Arizona only allows tribes to offer casino-style gambling and has done since the early 90s. However, this doesn’t mean that the state doesn’t regulate the activities, with comprehensive gaming rules set to govern casino operations and who can play. The casinos are extremely popular with Arizonans.
As many states offer no casino gambling at all, Arizona’s gambling laws are relatively fair. The state’s residents and lawmakers have historically approved of gradual gambling expansion, so it seems entirely reasonable to think that the next step would be to legalize sports gambling.
Betting Type | Law |
---|---|
Sports Betting | Not Legal |
Online Sports Betting | Not Legal |
Online Casino | Not Legal |
Poker | Legal |
Racetrack Betting | Legal |
Arizona Gambling Age | 18+ for Lotto, 21+ for Casino & Race Betting |
As the table above shows, online gambling of all types is not tolerated in Arizona. This even pertains to tribal reservations, who are limited to offering casino-style games including poker. Race tracks are operated by tribal groups too and are located on reservations. To play the lottery, locals must be over the age of 18 years old, while anyone wanting to gamble at a casino or on a horse or dog race must be over 21 years old.
What is the Future of Sports Betting in Arizona?
As we mentioned above, there are clear signs that sports betting may be on the way. There are currently two bills circulating the state’s House of Representatives and the Senate that seek to allow sports betting at the state’s tribal reservations. Bets would need to be placed in person, meaning there would be no legal online sports betting in Arizona.
The bills are backed by the Arizona tribes as well as a number of lawmakers. There is a lot of excitement by the idea that Arizona may become one of the next legal sport betting states, though there is still a fair amount of work to be done before legalization can happen. For now, though, Arizona players are only legally able to place sports bets in states where betting is legal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have any burning questions about the likelihood of Arizona sports betting? Are you confused about the legality of offshore gambling? Below, we’ve provided expert answers to commonly asked questions about Arizona sports betting and gambling.
Is online gambling and sports betting legal in Arizona?
Arizona law explicitly states that online gambling is illegal in the state. Sports betting, too, is illegal. While there does seem to be some moves toward legalizing Arizona sports betting, it is highly unlikely that online gambling of any form will be coming to Arizona any time soon.
What is the Arizona legal gambling age?
There are two minimum gambling ages for gambling in Arizona. Firstly, players must be over the age of 18 to participate in the state lotto. For players to bet on racing or to gamble at tribal casinos, players will need to be over the age of 21.
Are offshore bookmaker sites legal and safe?
We would never recommend players bet at offshore bookmakers. These websites are not trustworthy as they are not licensed in the states that they are accessible. This means that theoretically, they could scam players out of money without their knowledge and target vulnerable players to sign up.
Can I use the FanDuel or DraftKings app in Arizona?
As there is no legal Arizona sports betting app allowed and daily fantasy sports is illegal, both FanDuel and DraftKings are not available to Arizona’s residents. It’s possible that both companies will offer their sportsbook platforms to casinos in the case of Arizona sports betting legalization, though this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.