Arizona Sports Betting
Arizona sports betting is legal and live, opening for business in September 2021. There are now 17 active Arizona online sportsbooks including DraftKings, Caesars, BetRivers, FanDuel, Betfred and BetMGM.
Best Arizona sportsbooks 2023
Contents
What’s happening in Arizona sports betting right now
- May 29, 2023 — The new Santan Mountain Casino, slated to open June 30 in Chandler, will reportedly include what is being called Arizona’s largest casino sportsbook, run by BetMGM Sportsbook.
- May 17, 2023 — Tempe voters rejected three propositions to build an entertainment district that would have included a new arena for the Arizona Coyotes. Relocation may now be an option for the team if another arena deal can’t be found in the Phoenix area.
- May 11, 2023 — Arizona sports betting handle saw a bump in February up to $609 million, a 3% increase from January. That was the fourth highest handle all time for the state and a 24% increase year-over-year.
- May 1, 2023 — The Arizona Cardinals made waves during the 2023 NFL Draft by trading the third overall pick to the Houston Texans, and then trading back up to the sixth overall pick to select offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
- March 30, 2023 — Arizona sports betting handle hit $591.2 million in January, up almost $20 million from December. Revenue for the state was $46.2 million, which was down about $8 million from December but up about $5 million year-over-year.
- March 10, 2023 — Heading into Selection Sunday for the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the eighth ranked Arizona Wildcats will hope to get a two seed in the tournament while Arizona State could sneak into March Madness as a lower seed.
- February 24, 2023 — DraftKings is opening a retail sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale golf complex. The sportsbook will be the first to partner with a PGA Tour golf course. TPC Scottsdale is home to the annual WM Phoenix Open.
Comparing top Arizona betting apps
Your personal tastes and preferences might lead you to one particular sportsbook over another, so here are our thoughts on different attributes that you might want from an Arizona sportsbook. Here is a breakdown of the best each sportsbook offers and reviews of the top sports betting apps in Arizona:
- Best sportsbook for major sporting events: DraftKings. DraftKings has connections to top sports leagues and has tie-in promotions with several of them throughout their respective seasons.
- Best sportsbook for flexibility: BetMGM. Most sportsbooks offer an option to cash out your bet early. BetMGM’s Edit My Bet feature takes things a step further and allows you to exchange parts of the bet, add additional legs, or increase the amount of your wager.
- Best sportsbook for usability: FanDuel. The FanDuel app is likely the easiest to navigate and use out of any major sportsbook. The app design is intuitive, getting top scores in a 2021 independent study by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, and it operates quickly to allow you to bet with the least amount of effort.
- Best sportsbook for bonuses: Caesars. Caesars offers one of the better bonus options in the state on top of some great odds boosts. There is also membership in the Caesars Rewards program, one of the top loyalty programs.
- Best sportsbook for social immersion: BetRivers. BetRivers makes up for a perfunctory app with its live streaming of games and other social features. You can watch your bet in real time and see your activity appear in a feed in the main lobby.
1. DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings offers a customized list of potential wagers to each player who logs into the site. There are also plenty of live betting options. However, the sportsbook could stand to offer existing players more promos, as most of its bonuses focus on newer customers.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.6 (Android)
- Key takeaway: DraftKings is solid from top to bottom and should have something for most sports bettors.
- Best feature: Betting pools
- AZ bonus offer: $1,250
2. Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook is a large-scale app where there are few wagers it will be unable to handle, and you are unlikely to find a stronger slate of promotions for both new and existing bettors. However, the sportsbook app itself is rather unremarkable and doesn’t have many of the frills that other major books might.
- App store rating: 4.6 (iOS), 4.3 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A trusted and experienced name in gambling.
- Best feature: Bonuses and promotions, including Caesars Rewards
- AZ bonus offer: $1,250
3. BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM is a deep online sportsbook, with tons of minor sports available to bet on alongside the major offerings. In addition, bettors have more flexibility and control over their open wagers than elsewhere, thanks to BetMGM’s Edit My Bet function. The app itself can be a bit clunky to navigate at times, though.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.2 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A good choice for those who like to browse through a lot of bets.
- Best feature: Edit My Bet
- AZ bonus offer: $1,000
4. BetRivers Sportsbook
The sports betting arm of Rush Street Interactive opened for business in Arizona roughly one month after sports betting debuted in the state. BetRivers lets you live-stream some games on which you bet, and it will announce any big wins you score on a site-wide feed. There are also plenty of choices for betting and a great loyalty program. However, the app itself is a bit clunky and could use some streamlining.
- App store rating: 3.0 (iOS), 2.1 (Android)
- Key takeaway: The social elements can make a stop on BetRivers a good call for those interested.
- Best feature: iRush Rewards
- AZ bonus offer: $500
5. Betfred Sports
Betfred Sports is a British bookmaker that has been growing its presence in the US over the past few years. Betfred is a solid sportsbook with plenty of betting markets and types of wagers you can make. In particular, its same-game parlays stand out. However, Betfred is rather skimpy on bonuses and promotions and could stand to bump up its loyalty program.
- App store rating: 4.0 (iOS), 4.0 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A solid choice with plenty of betting options.
- Best feature: Same-game parlays
- AZ bonus offer: $111
6. FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook is usually one of the first books to open for business in a new state, and Arizona was no exception, as FanDuel debuted in September 2021. The book offers an easy-to-use app, which is slick, smooth and fast. It also has a heavy dose of same-game parlays. However, with such a crisp user experience, the few rough spots — such as player prop menus — stick out.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: For the most part, navigating an app has never been easier.
- Best feature: Same-game parlays
- AZ bonus offer: $2,500
New sportsbooks in Arizona
Hard Rock Sportsbook arrived in April 2022 as the newest app in the state. It had an “early access launch” in February. As of Jun 2023, the Arizona Department of Gaming does not list any newly licensed apps that are expected to launch.
When additional sportsbooks anticipate launching in Arizona, we will update this section.
How to sign up for best AZ sportsbook bonuses
Getting started at an online sportsbook in Arizona is relatively simple. You can register for an account at your chosen site or sites, install the app and make your first deposit generally in no more than 15 minutes. Arizona sportsbooks also provide some of the best sports betting promotions for new customers, such as the following:
- DraftKings Promo Code: Make your first deposit to get up to $1,250 in bonuses.
- Caesars Promo Code: Use the code LSRFULL to receive up to $1,250 on Caesars.
- BetMGM Bonus Code: Use the code PLAY1000 to receive up to $1,000 paid back in bonus bets.
- BetRivers Affiliate Code: Use the code LSRRIV to receive a 2nd chance bet up to $500 on your first deposit.
- Betfred Bonus Code: Use LSRBONUS to get up to $1,111 in Fred bets.
Types of bonuses
As you compare bonuses, it’s important to know what the various options might mean for you and your account balance. Here are the most common sportsbook bonuses you’ll find:
- No deposit: The sportsbook provides you with bonus funds without requiring you to deposit any of your own money first. Typically, these bonuses are for new players.
- Deposit: The sportsbook matches all or a portion of your deposit. The exact percentage and total bonus funds you can receive varies from book to book, and the promotions are typically more generous for new players.
- Odds boost: The book increases the potential payout on selected wagers each day. The increases always favor the player and aim to encourage more wagering.
- Loyalty program: Players receive points and benefits for repeated and consistent play at a book. You usually enroll in the program automatically when you create an account.
10 notable facts about Arizona sports betting
- Sports betting became legal in Arizona when Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation into law in April 2021.
- The first sportsbooks in Arizona opened in September 2021.
- Arizona sportsbooks reported $1.75 billion in wagers during the first four months of service.
- Arizona sports betting apps are partnered with federally recognized tribes in the state.
- You must be 21 or older to bet on sports in Arizona.
- You must be inside the state lines of Arizona to wager on sports.
- No insiders — players, coaches, referees, etc. — may wager on their own sport.
- You can bet on college sports in Arizona, but there is no betting on high school sports of any kind.
- You can’t legally place college prop bets on teams or individual athletes.
- There is no provision in the law to allow for betting on non-sports events, such as the Academy Awards or the Grammys.
What to know about a legal AZ sports betting site
The presence of legal online sportsbooks in Arizona is convenient for residents and visitors to the Grand Canyon State. Californians now have another option for betting on sports aside from Nevada and Oregon.
However, the more important aspects of playing at legal online sportsbooks are security and safety. Because the Arizona Department of Gaming regulates all legal books in the state, they must maintain high standards with regard to their operations, network security and handling of your funds. Furthermore, the ADG may be able to assist you if you have a dispute with an AZ sportsbook that you cannot resolve directly.
Arizona sports betting law and regulations
Online and retail sports betting became legal in Arizona in April 2021 after Gov. Doug Ducey signed HB2772, which was a substitute bill for a previous offering, SB1797. The law established the Arizona Department of Gaming as the regulatory agency in charge of the new sector, which allowed for as many as 20 sports betting licenses in the state.
The division of the licenses was both simple and controversial. Ten of the licenses went to professional sports teams and organizations in Arizona. The other 10 were for Native American tribes with compacts in place with the state.
The problem that arose and continues to be a challenge for Arizona lawmakers is the fact that there are more eligible tribes in the state than there are licenses. Some excluded tribes argued against the process and sought legal action Although there is legislation under consideration that may rectify the problem, some tribes in Arizona are on the outside looking in and are still seeking relief through the court system.
Meanwhile, Arizona sports betting is proceeding under the current system. Here are some of the other key facets of the law:
- Every license holder can offer a single retail sportsbook and up to two online skins.
- Pro sports teams may partner with racetracks in the state to offer an additional retail facility if they gain approval as limited event wagering operators.
- The state does not allow college prop bets on teams or individual athletes.
- The state taxes online wagers at 10% and retail wagers at 8%.
- Sportsbooks must pay $100,000 to apply for a license, $750,000 for their initial licenses and $150,000 to renew their licenses each year.
- Limited event wagering operators must pay $1,000 for their applications, $10,000 for their licenses and $5,000 to renew.
Full list of legal Arizona online sportsbooks
There are 17 online sportsbooks live and active in Arizona right now. Seven of those launched on Sept. 7, 2021 — the first day of service. Since then, a steady stream of new books has presented Arizonans with several options. Here is the full list of Arizona online sportsbooks:
- Bally Bet
- Barstool
- Betfred
- BetMGM
- BetRivers
- Betway
- Caesars
- Desert Diamond Digital
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- Golden Nugget
- Hard Rock
- SaharaBets
- SuperBook
- TwinSpires
- Unibet
- WynnBET
How does Arizona sports betting compare to Nevada?
Sports betting in Arizona looks slightly different than what its older neighbors in Las Vegas do. But most of the same betting markets available on The Strip are available at Arizona online sportsbooks.
Both states feature mobile sports betting on smartphones and tablets. Tribal casinos will be able to open the same familiar sportsbooks guests will recognize from trips to Nevada. Betting markets include major professional and college sports, but Arizona prohibits prop bets on college sports.
Regulation of Arizona sports betting includes industry-friendly tax rates and a customer-friendly registration structure. Nevada taxes gross gaming revenue, which includes sports betting, at 6.75%. However, Nevada requires bettors to sign up for apps at a retail location. That in-person registration requirement at Nevada sportsbooks is probably the most distinctive difference between the two states, along with significantly larger wagering menus in Arizona.
Popular sports to bet on in Arizona
Because Arizona is home to one of the 10 largest cities in the country, it offers a number of popular leagues and teams on which to bet:
- NFL: Arizona Cardinals
- NBA: Phoenix Suns
- MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks
- NHL: Arizona Coyotes
Additionally, the University of Arizona and Arizona State football and basketball teams are large draws. Northern Arizona also plays in the NCAA’s Division I for basketball and has its own share of fans, particularly in the Flagstaff area.
Arizona is also home to the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, the Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers, Phoenix Raceway (which hosts two NASCAR races each year, including the Cup Series Championship Race), and TPC Scottsdale (which hosts the PGA’s Waste Management Open). All four of these teams and venues are partnered with online sportsbooks and have deep connections to the sports betting industry.
History of Arizona sports betting
The 2021 debut of sports betting in Arizona capped off legislative wrangling that stretched back to 2019. Lawmakers proposed multiple bills during each legislative session but found themselves stymied or turned back for one reason or another.
One of the biggest sticking points was the legality of allowing Arizona’s many tribes to offer services outside of tribal lands, as one proposal suggested allowing them to place kiosks in off-reservation areas. Ultimately, the work paid off, and Arizona became one of the fastest states to book more than $1 billion in wagers in US history.
Here is what happened in recent years on the way to legal sports betting in Arizona:
2022: The year begins with the soft launch of the state’s 18th sportsbook, Hard Rock, in February. The app doesn’t officially launch until later in April. February’s revenue report shows $491.7 million in handle. A Barstool retail sportsbook at Phoenix Raceway is still in the works, according to a NASCAR representative in July.
2021: Arizona sports betting appears to be a longshot prospect at the start of the legislative session. It gains momentum quickly, though, as Ducey negotiates new gambling compacts with state tribes to govern their casinos. Ducey signs the bill into law in April 2021. Sportsbooks launch on Sept. 9, 2021. In its first four months of legal betting, Arizona reports roughly $1.75 billion in wagers, including nearly a half-billion in December alone.
2020: Borrelli and Pierce reintroduce their bills as SB1525 and HB2813. Once again, the Senate bill doesn’t move past its second reading. Meanwhile, the House bill passes through two major committees, but it never receives a vote on the House floor.
2019: Sen. Sonny Borrelli and Rep. Steve Pierce introduce legislation to legalize sports betting in Arizona. Though both bills differ in their language, neither would allow online wagering. After various groups voice concern over other aspects of the proposals, the bills find no momentum.
FAQs on AZ sports betting
Where can I bet on sports in Arizona?
Since sports betting is online in Arizona, you can bet from anywhere in the state where you have a mobile device and a connection. If you want to bet in-person, several of the sports venues and tribal casinos in the state have retail sportsbooks. The retail facilities are particularly concentrated in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Here are the locations in Arizona with physical sportsbooks:
- Casino del Sol: SolSports
- Chase Field: Caesars Sportsbook
- Desert Diamond Casino, Sahuarita: Desert Diamond Sportsbook
- Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson: Desert Diamond Sportsbook
- Desert Diamond Casino, West Valley: Desert Diamond Sportsbook
- Footprint Center: FanDuel Sportsbook
- Gila River Hotel and Casino, Lone Butte: BetMGM Sportsbook
- Gila River Hotel and Casino, Vee Quiva: BetMGM Sportsbook
- Gila River Hotel and Casino, Wild Horse Pass: BetMGM Sportsbook
- Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino: Caesars Sportsbook
- Mazatzal Hotel and Casino: TwinSpires Sportsbook
- Paradise Casino: Unibet Sportsbook
- We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort: WKP Sportsbook (Betfred)
- State Farm Stadium: BetMGM Sportsbook
- TPC Scottsdale: DraftKings Sportsbook (opening 2023-24)
Is BetOnline legal in Arizona?
No. BetOnline, Bovada and other offshore sportsbooks are not legal in Arizona. They are based outside the United States and do not have to conform to Arizona laws or standards. Playing at one of these books can put your money and personal information at risk in ways not present at legal Arizona sportsbooks.
How old do I have to be to bet on sports in Arizona?
You need to be 21 or older. Although a few states allow bettors as young as 18, Arizona is not one of them.
Is horse betting legal in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona has three racetracks — Turf Paradise, Arizona Downs and Rillito Park. There are also county fairs that hold races, and roughly 60 off-track betting locations throughout the state. All of the activities at Arizona racetracks and OTBs fall under the Arizona Department of Gaming. In addition to the live options, online horse betting is available in Arizona through sites such as TVG.
Can I play daily fantasy sports in AZ?
Yes. The same bill that authorized sports betting in Arizona also made DFS explicitly legal in the state. All top daily fantasy providers, including DraftKings and FanDuel, offer services in the state.
Arizona sports betting resources
For more information about Arizona sports betting and the law that brought legal bets to the state, you can visit the following websites: