Gambling was illegal in Arizona until the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988, where casino gambling has expanded on tribal lands and home to over 24 casinos. Over five million people live in Arizona, and their options for gambling are limited to tribal casinos, horse betting and their official Arizona state lottery.
Casino gambling is regulated by the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compacts – 21 Native American tribes. Revenue is used for tribal government and charity endeavors only. The two dozen casinos are spread across 26 cities throughout the state, with Tucson having the most casinos, including the largest casino in the state.
The lottery is regulated by the Multi-State Lottery Association, and includes games like MegaMillions, Powerball, Fantasy 5, All or Nothing, The Pick, Pick 3, Card Cash and more. When it comes to horse racing at any of the three racetracks in Arizona, the Arizona Department of Racing is the head decision maker.
While they’re a bit more loose on gambling than other states, who have gambling totally prohibited – one might think they would have jumped at the chance to legalize sports betting. The hold-up is a result of the tribal compacts they currently have in place that wouldn’t be in the state’s favor. The compacts would need to be reworked so the state will see the revenue to make legalizing betting in Arizona worthwhile.
Can I bet on sports in Arizona?
None of the casinos in the state are allowed to collect wagers on sports unfortunately. Until the state figures out a way to rework the tribal pacts, and legalize sports betting in Arizona, sports betting is technically illegal.
Arizona residents are able to visit neighboring states that have legalized sports betting, or are able to sign up at an online sportsbook. Online sportsbooks are located offshore and are legal for Arizona sports bettors to use. Sportsbooks such as BetDSI.eu are trustworthy and secure, so you never have to worry about depositing money or collecting winnings.
The best part about online sportsbooks? You never have to leave the comfort of your home! You can bet from anywhere that has an internet connection. Most online sportsbooks are mobile friendly and allow you to bet on live games and events.
Check out our online sportsbook reviews so you can find a sportsbook that is right for you.
Betting on Arizona Teams
Arizona hosts a team from each major sport, including the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. Arizona residents are able to wager on their hometown team online at a sportsbook, though sometimes it can be a conflict of interest to wager on your favorite team!
The Arizona Cardinals are probably the state’s most popular team. They’ve made four playoff appearances since joining the league in 1988. They have yet to win a Super Bowl, the closest they’ve come is Super Bowl XLIII, where they lost to the Steelers by four.
The Phoenix Suns is the state’s resident NBA team. They’ve won two conference titles but have never won the NBA Final. They haven’t made the playoffs in decades, so they aren’t the state’s pride and joy, but betting on them would be interesting – if you bet for the other team.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, have been in the MLB for 20 years, won their first and only World Series in 2001, not long after their inaugural season. They are the only current major sports team in Arizona with a championship – but that was 18 years ago.
The former Winnipeg Jets of the NHL, moved to Arizona in 1996, and changed their name to the Phoenix Coyotes. While it seemed for years that the team would fold or be relocated again, they changed their name to Arizona Coyotes in 2014. They have never won a Stanley Cup, but have won their division title in 2011. Betting on the NHL isn’t overly popular, so it’s not a surprise that Arizona sports bettors aren’t placing bets on the Coyotes.
