Sports Betting in Arizona

Arizona Sports Betting

Arizona has quite a competitive gambling space. We noticed lots of big betting brands like DraftKings and FanDuel compete to have a fair share of this lucrative betting market.

The sports betting bill allowing betting products was signed on the 15th of April, 2021. This was exactly three days after lawmakers approved legislation. Twenty licenses were approved for online and retail sports betting. The Bill also covers updates and expansion of the compacts with the tribes. Interestingly, through the Bill, AZ became the first state to offer betting services at sports stadiums.

This guide would help you venture into online legal sports betting in AZ. We’ve provided helpful information on the best legal sportsbooks, gambling laws, how to sign up and verify your betting account, etcetera. In essence, you are about to read a complete guide to sports betting in the Grand Canyon state.

Are Online Sportsbooks Legal in Arizona?

House Bill 2772 permits sportsbooks within the borders of Arizona. Essentially, sports betting is now live, and residents can create betting accounts and place wagers on their favorite sports. The Bill had a soft passage and met little or no resistance compared to the attempt in previous years.

Arizona sports betting Bill is unique. There are about 20 licenses shared among retail and online sports betting operators. That is, residents can choose between physical sportsbooks or online betting platforms. Therefore, wagering is allowed in sports venues, casinos, and online.

Legal bet types for sports fans in AZ include;

• Point spreads
• Moneyline
• Parlays
• Teasers
• Futures
• Totals
• Player Props
• Live betting

Although sports betting is out of the gray area in AZ, there are some restrictions on what sports could be wagered on. For instance, bets on high school sports, individual college players, penalties, or injuries are not permitted. On the good side, professional sporting events, bets on individual players and performance, the overall outcome of college events are allowed.

Furthermore, available sports leagues to bet on include:

• Football (NFL, CFL)
• Basketball: WNBA, NBA
• Baseball: MLB
• Hockey: International leagues, NHL
• College sports: NCAA football and basketball
• Soccer: MLS, UEFA Champions League, English Premier League
• Auto racing: IndyCar, NASCAR, F1
• Golf: PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LPGA Tour, PGA European Tour
• Boxing
• Rugby
• Tennis, and many others.

Now, understand that the question about the legality of online sportsbooks has been answered. In essence, an online sportsbook is one of the channels to place sports bets in Arizona. Sports lovers have to be within AZ borders to place bets. 

Governing Body

Every state is charged with the responsibility of regulating the sports betting space. Often, a department is set up by the government to handle this task. In AZ, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) is created for the game control board.

The Arizona Department of Gaming was created in 1995 to manage the growing gaming industry. The department is not funded by the government or via tax revenue for its regulatory responsibilities. Here are some important functions the department is known for:

• Regulating native gaming operations, pari-mutuel wagering, boxing, and martial arts
• Enforcing state’s law forbidding illegal and unauthorized gaming
• Partnership with the police department to investigate violations
• Provide support in the form of treatment and prevention for problem gamblers via the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling (OPG)

Technically, Arizona’s Native gambling space is supervised by the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts. Essentially, the Arizona Department of Gaming works with the Native American Tribes to oversee their gambling.

Why You Should Pick a Licensed and Legal Sportsbook

Selecting a sportsbook is a crucial aspect of your sports betting adventure. First, your legal protection is linked to the legality status of the bookie. Your preferred choice should comply with stipulated guidelines that guarantee the fairness of play. Violations of any sort should be followed with consequences. In essence, withdrawal or cancellation of license of such bookie should be possible.

To protect your stakes, you should always put your lot on a licensed sportsbook site. This act puts you on the side of the law. Legal operators invest so much in obtaining license and approval; why would you take a risk with a sportsbook that doesn’t have such a record? Other reasons why sticking with a licensed bookie is better for your betting adventure.

When opening a betting account, you would be required to provide personal details such as SSN, Government issued ID, email, etcetera. Subsequently, you would have to set up payment gateways involving your banking on the site. Illegal sites don’t invest much in these aspects. They do not have high-end encryption to prevent data theft. Therefore, selecting a legal site with excellent security arrangements is vital.

In addition, legal sportsbooks will not share or use personal information about their users without their permission. Customer protection is a priority.

Top Rated Sportsbook in Arizona

DraftKings AZ- 9.7/10

Sportsbooks like DraftKings don’t need any introduction. The betting operator is usually one of the first pioneers of the gambling space in every US state. In Arizona, DraftKings was the first operator to serve betting products with TPC Scottsdale and PGA Tour.

DraftKings Arizona tops in both daily fantasy sports betting and online sports betting. Essentially, the sportsbook has a reputation that has lived off its daily fantasy sports games. Notwithstanding, the removal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 had a major deal in the growth opportunity the operator has recorded in the betting market.

DraftKings Arizona offers users a high-quality betting platform with an incredible user experience. The bookie offers quality deposit options, quick and reliable withdrawal channels, and huge bonuses and promos. The live chat option is available for users to reach out for support. Other channels such as emails and a comprehensive FAQ section are pretty helpful.

Sports fans can get the sportsbook apps for convenience. Both App Store and Google play store support downloads. Football, baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer, golf, and tennis are some of the major sports available for wagering. Other sports include cycling, cricket, Australian rules, darts, etcetera. These sports are covered in detail. The bet types are also impressive, with the likes of point spreads, moneyline, parlays being more popular.

The payment gateways are great. Although they do not include every payment channel that exists, they are helpful, safe, and secure options for players. 

Fanduel AZ - 9.5/10

FanDuel is an awesome betting operator that has similar features to DraftKings. Interestingly, they both evolved into the limelight as top-rated fantasy sports providers. In 2018, the sportsbook operator channeled a lot of resources into sports betting. We would all agree that this move has had several milestones of success in partnership with the Phoenix Suns.

FanDuel Sportsbook has impressive coverage of the betting market and has easily stood out among many rivals. The same high standard its offers with its DFS is used to run the sports betting platform. Only a few sportsbooks can step up to this challenge from its bet types, odds boost to catalog of sports markets, promotions, etcetera.

The welcome offer is revolutionary. Risk free bet offers are up for grabs. It would be best if you did not miss out on the sign-up bonus. Some of the sports available include NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL, PGA Tour, and MMA. Other international leagues covered include Aussies Rules, basketball, darts, cycling, cricket, etcetera.

Explore the market with bet types such as moneylines, totals, point spreads, and alternate selections. Users who log in via the desktop enjoy a clean interface that is pretty easy to navigate. The mobile betting app is not less when it comes to performance. Users can enable the facial ID recognition feature. This saves time when you want to log in.

Caesars Sportsbook AZ - 9.3/10

With Caesars sportsbook in the Arizona betting space, get ready for some top-class sportsbook services. The sportsbook partners with AK-Chin Indian Community and Arizona Diamondbacks. There are more than a thousand reasons why you should choose Caesars when deciding to place a bet in AZ. From its user-friendly interface, competitive odds, to the quality of betting markets, and early cash-out features.

Caesars sportsbook has the largest welcome offer for newbies. This incentive is to keep new members excited and draw in other potential players. A full refund, bet credits would be awarded if a new player loses his first bet. Additionally, these offers have a 1x play-through requirement. Therefore, a user can quickly withdraw what he earns. Profit boosts, free bets are some other ongoing offers for regular players.

Popular sports to bets on include football, basketball, hockey, golf, auto racing, boxing, etcetera. They also cover some interesting sports that are not as popular as those listed. The sportsbook offers competitive odds. Essentially, Caesars sportsbook is known for having the best prop betting and Moneyline odds.

Caesars sportsbook has a lot of in-play betting markets. In addition, users can easily watch the action unfold from their devices. The Liberty (Caesars sportsbook) app has a superb user experience when live streaming. The app has a 4.5/5 rating in the app store. Everything becomes simpler when you use the app. It is ideal for placing bets effectively. 

BetMGM AZ - 9.1/10

BetMGM is a great player in Arizona among sports betting operators such as DraftKings and the likes. The sportsbook partners with the Gila River Indian Community and Arizona Cardinals to offer online sports betting products in AZ. Interestingly, with BetMGM, users get to choose either online or in-person wagering.

There are more features to BetMGM than placing bets and exploring the betting market. The incredible promos and bonuses cannot be resisted. iRewards points can be generated by loyal users, which can be redeemed for free bets. Newbies get started with generous BetMGM AZ bonus offers. Popular bet types available to explore the market include straight bets, moneylines, total lines, futures bets, parlay bets, and prop bets.

The users' experience on BetMGM is first-class. You can easily navigate through the intelligent and stylish design. The search function is superb, helping users save time. Essentially, most times you would be beating against time. Also, the pages load quickly. For convenience, we recommend getting the BetMGM mobile app. The mobile app has an average rating of 4.8/5 on the app store with lots of good reviews.

Choosing BetMGM does not put you at risk. The betting operator is licensed and regulated by the Arizona Department of Gaming. Additionally, users experience rock-solid safety regarding their personal information. Customer services can be reached 24/7 via live chat.

BetRivers AZ - 9/10

BetRivers is a formidable betting operator that can take on the top dogs in the Arizona gambling space. The sleek site, quick payout mechanism, and attractive promotions are features that pull in a lot of traffic to the site. With BetRivers, a user can access several betting markets with impressive odds to his advantage.

Like every other betting platform, newbies are welcome with superb welcome offers. BetRivers offers a 100% match-up for the first deposit. In addition, the wagering requirement for the bonus is 1x the deposit amount. This means that a user can quickly play through and withdraw the winnings. Regular users can get into the loyalty program by consistently placing real money wagers.  They would be receiving bonus store points and loyalty level points.

Creating an account on BetRivers is pretty straightforward. Players can create their betting account from anywhere in the US. However, players must be 21 years old and located within Arizona borders to place sports bets. The mobile app makes betting more convenient. It is well organized with various features to aid a seamless operation.

Customer support is great but has a certain restriction. Users can only make contact during the time frame for which they are available. We expect that such an operator would offer 24 hours considering the high standard in the Arizona betting space. For record purposes, the betting operator has a partnership with the Arizona Rattlers IFL team.

WynnBET AZ - 9/10

WynnBET Arizona has a unique style or approach regarding sports betting. The sportsbook operator focuses on major leagues. This is why we noticed fewer sports betting markets compared to other Arizona sportsbooks during the review. Ideally, they are interested in quality over quantity, which has helped put them on the radar.

WynnBET partners with San Carlos Apache Tribe and offers you an opportunity never to miss the action on your favorite sports. The live In-game betting features does their magic. Users can also design a single-game parlay. One distinct feature is the “buy points for better odds”. This feature allows a player to pay for a fine line to raise their chances of winning. Teasers and boosted bets daily are others features that could give you an edge when betting.

Wynn rewards are unique. Players could earn a five-star treatment at Wynn Resorts’ properties. In addition, users can earn rewards for using the sportsbook app. For a sportsbook offering world-class betting services, the banking channels are impressive. Again, it is not about the numbers but the quality of the channels made available. Play+ prepaid card, MasterCard, Visa, ACH, PayPal, and many others are means to deposit and withdraw funds.

WynnBET is a legit sportsbook operator that is licensed by the Arizona Department of Gaming. The customer services are impressive in their handling of customers who have complaints. With WynnBET, you can be certain of a secure betting platform.

Unibet AZ - 9/10

Unibet Arizona is a classic site to place sports bets. The seasoned European operator has extensive coverage of the betting market for AZ sports fans. The betting operator has become one of the top-rated sportsbooks in AZ. For a better market performance, Unibet partners with the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation.

Users get to experience a lot of sports betting action via the desktop site or the mobile app. For convenience, you can quickly download the mobile app from the app store, Android, or IOS. We have noticed that this is a much quicker route to access your betting account.  

The betting experience with Unibet is linked to competitive odds, bonuses and enticing promotions, live streaming, cash-out option, user-friendly interface, excellent banking options, multiple leagues, etcetera. All these excellent features combine to give a superb betting adventure with the brand. Betting options include spreads, totals, moneylines, alternative spreads and totals, player prop, and game props.

Creating your account is pretty straightforward. Every detail provided to the sportsbook is safe. Then betting operator uses the latest SSL encryption technology. Every transaction is completely secure. There is no history or records of a security breach despite having over 30 million customers across the globe.

Players who get addicted to gambling can easily tap the yellow “RG” logo. This would trigger the responsible gambling feature. The trigger opens a new window on your browser where you can learn about problem gambling, risks, how to spot it, steps to take like imposing a limit on your account, and many others tips.

Barstool Sportsbook AZ - 8.9/10

Barstool came into Arizona in September 2021. The betting operator got its sports betting license through a partnership with Penn National Gaming. Now, individuals within state borders can place bets online or via retail centers. The sportsbook became Phoenix Raceway's exclusive sportsbook. Barstool also has a partnership with NASCAR.

Barstool sportsbook has one of the best welcome bonus offers in AZ. It’s a 2 in 1 welcome offer comprising of a risk-free bet and a cash reward. This would be given to users who complete their registration process. Also, the bonus funds have an easy play-through requirement and are also subject to minimum odds.

For an excellent experience in the Grand Canyon state, we suggest getting the sportsbook app on your devices. Users can quickly log into their account and make certain changes or simply place a bet. The app is available for both Android and IOS devices. Now, this is not to dime the performance of the desktop website. The website is well-designed with a very good interface, and it is easy to navigate.

Barstool covers major leagues sports such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and many others. Players who love to explore can try out sports like surfing, squash, speedway, rugby, netball that are not quite popular. The betting market is impressive. Barstool sportsbook partners with top payment franchises to enable players to deposit and withdraw real money.

Customer protection is guaranteed here. Users can be certain that personal details provided during registration are protected. Also, users who encounter challenges can reach out to the customer support team via phone call, email, or live chat. But you can check out the FAQ section, and most complaints are usually solved at this level.

TwinSpires AZ - 8.9/10

Back in 2007, TwinSpires was created as an online pari-mutuel betting operator. However, it is now an established racebook in the US and has expanded its services to cover online sports betting products. The shift to sports betting began in 2021. In Arizona, the sportsbook operator partners with Tonto Apache Nation.

New account holders get an amazing welcome offer. This risk bet offer can be used to kickstart your gambling adventure with the bookmarker.  In addition, seasonal games and events can be explored without any risk to your money.

TwinSpires features sports games such as football, baseball, golf, basketball, hockey, soccer, tennis, NASCAR, and UFC betting. There are several betting options to select on these sports. Essentially, the betting operator covers four main leagues – NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. TwinSpires also features straight bets, spread bets, moneylines, total bets, future bets, prop bets such as player props, game props, bets on halves, quarters, and several others.

The user experience on the web and app is outstanding. The layout is captivating and clear. It is stylishly designed with a blue and gray color scheme. Users can easily navigate through the site. TwinSpires take responsible gambling seriously. They have information and resources to help problem gamblers on the homepage.

TwinSpires betting operator has a 24/7 support team ready to hear you out via live chat. The phone channel has a stipulated time frame in which it is accessible. One notable aspect of customer service is the provision of FAQs. Most complaints are solved when you go through the section.

What’s Next?

As mentioned earlier, the gambling space in AZ is very lucrative. According to the Bill signed by Gov. Doug Ducey, the state can take up to 20 online betting sportsbooks; 10 to the tribes and the other 10 to professional sports venues.

Currently, there are more than eight sportsbooks with an active status in AZ. However, we expect a couple more sportsbooks to go live in a couple of months.

Here is a list of sportsbooks expected to go live in Arizona;

• Bally Bet
• BlueBet
• SolSports
• Betfred
• PointsBet

How We Pick the Best Sportsbooks in Arizona

The world is a busy place, filled with individuals who are always on the go. Often this reflects in the poor betting choices regarding sportsbooks. However, this is where we step in. We have an experienced team with an unmatchable methodology for getting the best sportsbooks in AZ.

Below are key factors we look out for before we put up a betting site in our list.

License and regulation

We only consider sportsbooks with a license to operate in Arizona. Once a sportsbook is legal and regulated by the department in charge, it qualifies to be reviewed.

In Arizona, the licensing and regulations are made by the Arizona Department of Gaming. This department is in charge of enforcing the state’s gambling laws. Therefore, we do not put up offshore betting sites. From our experience, these sites have little or no regulation and could steal your winnings or funds. 

Mobile Apps

Another criterion we consider is the mobile betting apps and also accessibility. Mobile devices have made sports betting convenient. Some betting apps have a facial recognition feature that enables quick access. Bettors have to download the sportsbook app from the preferred play Store depending on what device is being used.

In addition, bettors should have 24/7 access to their betting accounts. In this age and time, and the busyness of our schedules, mobile apps are the salvation of sports betting. 

Bonus and Promotions

For individuals with new betting accounts, there are always a variety of offers available. These welcome bonus offers vary between bookies, and so is the play-through requirement.

Yes, we had to put that in; often, players neglect this till it becomes a burden. The offers don’t stop with newbies; regular players are rewarded with loyal offers, promotions, and many more.

So, we help to review several bonuses offers of sportsbooks and their play-through requirement, bring the best ones to you via their sportsbooks.

Games Category

Finding markets will be seamless if you choose to bet on popular sports leagues. However, there are still options for less popular leagues such as cricket or cycling that can be enjoyed.

Interestingly, some sportsbooks cover more sports betting markets than others. While we carry out our review, we bring this fact into consideration. In as much as most players love the top leagues, there are a couple of others who love to try new niches.

Betting Odds

One distinct feature across Arizona sportsbook is the different odds and prices. You would notice the high prices on some, which eventually impacts the bottom line.

You should always seek for sportsbook with favorable odds on games in addition to the Moneyline prices. In all honesty, the more you bet, the more you would need to find better odds.

Payment Gateways

It is impossible to find all payment methods in a sportsbook. However, certain payment channels should be seen on a top-tier bookie. Such channels include credit/debit cards, prepaid cards, PayPal, Online banking, Paynearme, and many others.

We give more points in our rating to Arizona sportsbooks that offer safe and secure banking options.

Live Streaming

Live streaming is an important innovation that has shifted the operation of most sportsbooks.  Players get to place real-time bets and also follow the game conveniently.

Imagine being held in traffic or summer hunting, and you can’t get a sports bar around; the live streaming option saves you from missing your favorite games. We consider sportsbooks with this option as innovative, creative, and better responders to the current changes in the betting space.

Customer Support

Generally, every sportsbook has an FAQs section that allows users to access information regarding their operations. Often, these FAQs are not as conclusive or direct to each user’s complaints.

Users can use several other channels to reach out to the sportsbook operator via its customers' support. We can’t conclude a review on a sportsbook operator without checking out this aspect. It is a strong foundation for selecting a betting site in Arizona.