Arizona

Sport Betting Sites Regulation in Arizona at a Glance

✅ Sports betting was launched on September 9, 2021.

✅ Legal framework allows up to 20 mobile sportsbooks.

✅ Player and team props are prohibited in college sports.

✅ You must be at least 21 years old and within the state borders to bet.

✅ Betting on entertainment events like the Academy Awards is not allowed.

Type of bonuses and promotions available

AZ betting promotions are standard with the bookies across the country. The trick to playing in Arizona is to understand the Terms behind each type of bonus and promotion. Put that ASU degree to work, read the fine print.

Here are the bonuses and promotions in betting sites. 

• First Bet Bonus: sportsbooks mostly rely on the first bet bonus promotions to appeal to new bettors. Namely, after you’ve made a qualifying deposit and placed your first bet, the sportsbook will match the stake in bonus bets should that initial wager settle as a loss. The key here is to look into how these bonus bets are used. Most of the time, bonus bets must be used as a lump sum and are paid when your first bet loses.
• Deposit match bonus: With deposit match bonuses, players will have their first deposits matched in bonus funds by the sportsbooks, either as site credit or bonus bets. With site credit, you get to keep the stake if the wager wins, whereas with bonus bets, only the profit gets paid, which can be the determining factor when choosing the bonus. 
• Profit boosts: Profit boosts serve to increase the profit you get if the selected wager settles in your favor. Profit boosts are offered and typically increase the payout up to 25%. 
• Odds boosts: Odds boosts are special promotions designed by sportsbooks to improve the odds on particular markets and events in order to influence betting action and reduce their vulnerability. Still, they can be a good indicator of how the lines and odds are shifting, so you can take advantage and improve your payouts.  
• VIP/loyalty bonus: VIP or loyalty bonuses are reserved for bettors, not just first-time depositors. With loyalty or VIP programs, players earn bonus funds each time they place a wager. There are many other benefits and perks that come with moving up the levels of the loyalty programs.
• Refer a friend bonus: If you share a customized referral link from sportsbooks with your friends, each time a friend completes a successful registration and makes an initial deposit on your recommended sports betting site, both you and your friend will be entitled to a reward.

Type of bets available

The only real restrictions when it comes to betting are proposition wagers on college teams and players, esports, as well as entertainment events like the Grammys or Academy Awards. Of course, betting on high school events is not permitted at all because, duh. All other types of wagers you’ve heard of are allowed:

• Moneyline: Moneyline bets are the most fundamental form of betting and involve predicting the straight-up victor in a Cardinals game or a Suns showdown, regardless of the point difference.
• Point Spreads: A popular betting choice for fans of the Arizona Diamondbacks, point spreads aren’t just about guessing the game’s winner but also the winning margin. The favorite needs to overcome the point spread, while the underdog must win or lose by fewer runs than the spread, giving rise to the term ‘run lines’ in baseball betting.
• Totals (Over/Under): Totals allow you to bet on whether the combined score of a game will either exceed or fall short of a target number set by the sportsbook.
• Prop Bets: These are your chance to get into the nitty-gritty details of betting. Whether it’s betting on Deandre Ayton to score the next basket or the Cardinals to secure the next touchdown, prop bets can be tailored to individual players and teams, adding a unique dimension to your betting experience.
• Futures: Futures are long-haul bets on eventual outcomes like the next Super Bowl or Stanley Cup winner. Maybe this will be the year for the Suns or the Coyotes?
• Parlays: These bets involve multiple selections on a single betting slip. Every pick on the bet slip must win for a parlay to pay out.
• Same Game Parlays: Same Game Parlays are Ideal for those who like to keep their focus on one game at a time. This format allows for a combination of several betting markets from a single event, such as the Suns’ victory, the total number of points, and Devin Booker’s point tally, all on one betting slip.
• Teasers: This format allows you to slightly adjust the game lines to your preference. While it results in smaller payouts, it gives you a better probability of winning, making it a strategic option.
• Round Robin: For those keen on parlays and teasers but seeking a safety net, the Round Robin bet might be an appealing option. Rather than combining all your selections into one parlay, a round-robin splits them into individual parlays made up of a larger combination of teams or players. It means that even if one selection fails, your entire bet doesn’t go bust, and you still get a chance to win something. 

Popular sports and leagues to bet on

Arizona is home to major league franchises and big time collegiate athletic programs, like the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL, the Diamondbacks of the MLB, the Arizona Coyotes playing in the NHL, and the Phoenix Suns on the pro court. 

• NBA: Even though the Phoenix Suns made a blockbuster move to bring Kevin Durant to the roster last year and team him up with CPS and Devin, the Suns fell to the Nuggets in the semifinals of the Western Conference. Still, with  Frank Vogel as the team’s new head coach and the additions of Bol Bol and other players from the free agency, the team seems well-stacked and ready to go for the ring. 
• NFL: The Arizona Cardinals had a subpar 4-13 campaign last year and are looking to get things going with Jonathan Gannon as the new head coach and DeAndre Hopkins as the team’s new wide receiver star. Despite the fact that the Cardinals’ odds of winning Super Bowl LVIII are pretty low, the team’s fans might still back them and pray for a big payday in February 2024. 
• NHL: The Arizona Coyotes landed the 6th and 12th picks in the 2023 NHL Draft and are finally hoping to break out of the slump. Namely, the team finished  27th in the NHL last year with only 2.74 goals per game. It was the team’s ninth straight season to rank in the bottom 10 in the NHL.
• MLB: MLB betting is a big part of the local sports betting industry. With Arizona Diamondbacks Alek Thomas in the center field and the leading NL Rookie of the Year candidate Corbin Carroll on the flank, the D-backs have a good chance of getting into the playoffs first time since the 2017 season. 

A recent study by the German Sport University Cologne revealed at the iGB Live Conference in July showed a rise in wagering on women’s sports, which may reflect on betting action involving WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and other pro women’s teams in Arizona. With big draws in Women’s college ball, the WNBA may be a real betting destination in the next 5 years.

Features available on a Sports Betting Site in this State

• Live streaming: sports betting platforms feature high-definition live streaming, allowing you to view and bet on live games, making the betting experience more immersive.
• Favorable odds: The low betting tax of 10% in Arizona ensures that sportsbooks can provide attractive odds, giving you a potentially higher return on your bets compared to other regions. 
• Extensive sports selection: By offering odds and lines for an array of over 20 different sports, betting sites ensure that there’s something for every sports enthusiast.
• Variety of betting markets: From standard formats like money lines, point spreads, and totals to unique options like Same Game Parlays and micro betting, sportsbooks offer a comprehensive betting arena for varied interests.
• Secure payment options: Sportsbooks prioritizes secure and smooth transactions, providing various banking methods such as PayPal, VIP Preferred, and online banking. 
• Player-friendly promotions: Many promotions sports betting sites, especially the first-bet bonuses, come with a modest 1x wagering requirement, making it feasible for players to clear them and reap the benefits.

Most Popular Deposit Methods on Betting Sites

The following table contains all the most popular deposit methods found on AZ betting sites in 2023. 

Sports Betting Law and Regulations

Gambling here is no novelty. With more than 20 recognized native tribes and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 in place, tribal casinos have been dominating the betting landscape. However, the fall of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018 removed the final roadblock for legal sports betting, giving legislators a chance to draft the appropriate bills, one of which was finally signed into law on April 15, 2021, by  Governor Doug Ducey. 

Sports Betting History

Sports betting legislation here first gained momentum in 2020 with bills SB1525 and HB2813 championed by Sen. Sonny Borrelli and Rep. Steve Pierce. Sadly, the bills didn’t get enough support in the Senate and the House. One of the biggest reasons why previous laws didn’t pass the legislation was the opposition from the tribes and how it would affect the tribal compacts. 

In 2021, Gov. Doug Ducey arranged a new and improved gaming compact with the tribes allowing them to add Class III casino games such as roulette, craps, and baccarat and ultimately join the sports betting bandwagon. 

According to HB 2772, ten online licenses will be reserved for tribal casinos, whereas the other ten will belong to professional teams and stadiums. 

Current situation for sports betting

At the moment, there are 17 licensed AZ online sportsbooks, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming.

Still, the Arizona tribes are voicing their opposition because of certain changes in the legislation made to accommodate the Arizona Coyote’s move from Glendale to Arizona State University’s hockey arena next season. The tribes seem to be struggling to keep up with professional teams and venues in drawing sports betting partners, resulting in a loss of revenue. 

The next step for sports betting regulation

We expect three more operators to enter the local market in the next few years, ultimately leading to the maximum number of potential online betting sites in the state. 

Responsible Gambling

All operators are warranted by law to establish self-exclusion programs and offer responsible gambling tools such as time-outs, deposit, and loss limits, and many others to help protect players. 

Sports Betting Tax Rate

The lawmakers agreed on an 8% tax rate for in-person sports betting and a 10% rate for online sports wagering. Gambling incomes are subject to a 24% federal tax and a state tax that ranges from 2.59% to 4.50%, depending on the overall income. Further, you are required to report your winnings to the IRS as additional income if you accumulate more than $600 in winnings