Arizona Sports Betting

Arizona is one of many states trying to legalize sports betting. A pair of bills have been floating around the state legislature. Both had similar language that would legalize wagering at retail properties, racetracks and tribal casinos. However, neither bill had been able to gain enough support to progress through the statehouse.

Both HB 2813 and SB 1525 have the potential to resurface in 2021. But the language dealing with tribal casinos makes them equally complex. Although sports betting at tribal casinos would be legal under each bill, Native American tribes would have to get permission from the state to open up retail sportsbooks. In other states across the US, tribal gaming does not fall under the jurisdiction of the state. Arizona believes otherwise.

So until a compromise is agreed upon, sports betting remains illegal in the Copper State.

Latest updates on Arizona sports betting

Last updated July 28, 2020

The Arizona legislative session ended on April 25, and for the second year in a row, sports betting didn’t make the cut. A pair of bills, HB 2813 and SB 1525, were not able to gather enough support to progress through the statehouse.

Each bill most likely will be revisited in 2021.

Which online sportsbooks will launch in Arizona first?

Once sports betting becomes a legal form of Arizona gambling, whenever that may be, the state’s proximity to California will make it an ideal location. Considering the odds of California passing a sports betting bill are relatively small, residents could hop across the border to take advantage of online sportsbooks.

While it’s way too early to tell which operators will launch, we can build a list of potential online operators just by looking at other states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Some names you would be most likely to see launch are:

• BetMGM
• BetRivers
• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• Fox Bet
• William Hill
• Bet365
• 888
• PointsBet

These are some (but not all) of the potential online sportsbooks that could show up in the Copper State once a bill is passed.

How online sports betting will work in Arizona

When online sports betting arrives in Arizona, it will most likely function as it does in other states where it’s legal. Geolocation will ensure sports betting will only work if you are within state borders. The minute you leave Arizona, you will no longer be able to place wagers.

Depending on what type of bill is passed, there will be two ways to activate an online account.

• Remote registration: This has been the industry favorite. This allows customers to sign up and fund their online accounts from the comfort of their homes.
• In-person sign-up: This option has been more favorable to lawmakers and casino operators looking to get people in the door. With this version, customers would have to venture to the nearest casino to registered an account. Once that happens, they can begin placing bets anywhere in the state.

Since there are only tribal casinos in Arizona, it is highly unlikely in-person registration will be the sign-up method of choice. However, with the current bills being discussed, it’s too soon to tell.

Downloading a sports betting app

In the future, once online sports betting is legal, the first thing to do is to follow one of our links to the sportsbook you’re interested in. Make sure to note if we have any exclusive offers to use — there might be free money available.

Next, click on the button for your mobile device’s format. There should be buttons for both iOS (Apple) and Android users.

• For iPhone users, download the app through the usual process to get started. Make sure to double-check whether there is an app specific to residents of Arizona on your sportsbook of choice.
• Android users need to set their phones to allow installations from other sources. Then, a visit to the site through their browsers (Chrome) gets the download started.

Registering for a new account

Whether in-person or through remote registration, you will need to provide some information to activate your account. You will need various bits of personal information in order to generate your new sports betting account.

Information you may have to provide includes:

• Name
• Email address
• Date of birth
• Cell phone number
• Address
• Social Security number (or last four digits)

Additionally, you will need to designate a username and password to allow you access to your account. The site may ask you to provide answers to selected challenge questions in order to construct an extra layer of security.

Finally, there may be an optional box for a bonus code somewhere in the registration area. If our link indicates that there is a code, make sure to enter it here.

Depositing and cashing out at AZ sportsbooks

Once you sign up and have an active account, you need to transfer funds in and out of your account to place bets.

Deposits

In order to get started, you need to deposit funds into your new sportsbook account. Some operators might try to get you to do this immediately after registering, but don’t proceed until you are comfortable doing so.

Once you’re ready to deposit, you will have a variety of available options for transferring money online. So that all players have at least one method that will work for their financial situation, most sportsbooks have many choices.

Some of the options to fund your account include:

• Credit or debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
• Online bank transfers (similar to online bill pay)
• Wire transfers
• Electronic checks (ACH or VIP Preferred)
• Prepaid cards (Play+)
• Electronic wallets (PayPal, Skrill, etc.)
• Cash at the land-based casino cage
• Checks or money orders

Not all sportsbooks will have all of these options. Furthermore, the options at a particular site can change as they negotiate new deals with vendors.

A common problem when using credit cards is some banks simply won’t allow deposits into gambling sites with their credit cards. Some major banks like Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo are known to decline transactions that go to gambling-based merchants. If your bank does accept a credit card deposit to a sportsbook, it could treat the deposit as a cash advance. Cash advances on credit cards can come with hefty fees attached, so be sure to investigate your card’s terms and conditions before you use this method.

Finally, be sure to check PlayUSA before you submit a deposit request to your sportsbook of choice. We have most of the bonus offers that each sportsbook has, and we often share exclusive deals that simply cannot be found elsewhere.

Cashing out at future AZ sportsbooks

Online sportsbooks offer several methods for withdrawal.

In most cases, there are fewer methods for withdrawal than there are for deposits. The simple truth is that not all deposit methods can flow both directions. Furthermore, some withdrawal methods are only available if you used that method to deposit in the first place.

PayPal and Skrill often fall under this restriction, so make sure to investigate withdrawal methods before you deposit.

Traditionally, most sportsbooks prefer to process withdrawals through either electronic or paper checks. So, if you can receive e-checks, that’s probably going to be the fastest method to withdraw.

Possible withdrawal methods at online sportsbooks include:

• Online bank transfers (similar to online bill pay)
• Wire transfers
• Electronic checks (ACH or VIP Preferred)
• Prepaid cards (Play+)
• Electronic wallets (PayPal, Skrill, etc.)
• Cash at the land-based casino cage
• Checks

Retail sports betting in Arizona

Arizona has zero commercial casinos but it does have 23 tribal properties. That means a majority of the retail wagering will take place at tribal casinos. It’s possible operators like DraftKings, FanDuel and William Hill will attempt to partner with these casinos in order to launch in the state.

The largest land-based casinos and their corresponding city are:

• Casino del Sol — Tucson
• Desert Diamond Casino — Chandler
• Harrah’s Ak-Chin — Maricopa
• Fort McDowell — Fountain Hills
• Gila River — Laveen
• Casino Arizona — Scottsdale

Not all of the state’s 23 casinos are expected to launch sports betting. With that being said, Arizonans should anticipate sports betting launching on a case-by-case basis.

Betting on pro, collegiate teams in Arizona

Arizona is home to the four pillars of sports: MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL. Additionally, two schools that compete in an NCAA Power Five conference are also located in the state. This means, once sports betting is legalized, customers will have a number of teams to place wagers on.

• Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
• Phoenix Suns (NBA)
• Arizona Cardinals (NFL)
• Arizona Coyotes (NHL)
• Arizona Wildcats (Pac-12)
• Arizona State Sun Devils (Pac-12)

However, depending on how lawmakers structure a bill, betting on collegiate sports may or may not be available. In states like New Jersey, it’s illegal to wager on in-state schools. If Arizona lawmakers go that route, betting on any NCAA school in the state won’t be available.

What can you bet on at future Arizona sportsbooks?

Odds are, traditional bets like single-match outcomes, parlays and professional props will be available at AZ sportsbooks.

• Moneyline: A traditional wager where sportsbooks offer lines suggesting the odds of any given team winning a single event. Each line is based on a $100 wager. Favorites carry a negative number; for example, odds of -110 tell bettors they need to bet $110 to win $100. Underdogs carry a positive number; for example, a +110 says bettors can win $110 on a $100 wager.
• Over/under: These numbers indicate how many points, goals, runs, etc., are expected to be scored in a single game. Bettors simply wager on more or less than the given amount.
• Spreads: Another traditional wager, these numbers tell bettors how many points/goals/runs a team is favored by. The public can lay money down on the underdog to “cover the spread” (losing by less than the given amount or winning outright) or for the favorite to win by more than the number indicated.
• Parlays: These are bets that involve multiple events. Parlay bets are commonly risky but offer big rewards on small wagers. Each bet is known as a “leg,” and if you get one leg wrong, the entire bet fails. 
• Teasers: This form of parlay includes spreads, which reduce the risk of individual contests. Wins are more frequent, but returns remain low.
• Props: These are bets based on the performance of individual players: yards rushed, points scored and so on. 
• Futures: These wagers rely on a season’s outcome rather than a single game. Betting on who wins the Super Bowl, NBA Finals or Stanley Cup are examples of futures wagers.
• In-play: Bets made on an event while the event is ongoing and with odds changing in real time.

Background on Arizona sports betting laws

Considering sports betting does not exist in Arizona at the moment, there are no official laws to govern the industry. Also, since sports betting will most likely take place in tribal casinos, it’s yet to be known if a state-sanctioned gaming committee will regulate sports betting.