Is There Sports Betting In Arizona
PHOENIX (AP) - Arizonans would be allowed to bet on professional and college sports at tribal casinos and at sites owned by pro sports teams under a proposal that is part of an update to the state's deal that allows Native American tribes to run casinos.
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PHOENIX (AP) — Arizonans would be allowed to bet on professional and college sports at tribal casinos and at sites owned by pro sports teams under a proposal that is part of an update to the state’s deal. It’s not legal to run a sports betting operation in the state of Arizona. This applies to both land based sportsbooks and online betting sites operating out of Arizona. Placing Bets Through Offshore.
Arizona residents can legally bet on sports in other states that offer domestic sports betting, or they can legally bet online with offshore sportsbooks. Offshore sportsbooks have been servicing the USA for. Domestic sports betting in the state of Arizona is currently not allowed and state-regulated gambling, in general, is limited to the tribal casinos operating throughout the state. However, Arizona could have.
The wide-ranging proposal introduced in the Arizona House on Monday would also allow bets to be placed online, fantasy sports wagering, and add limited Keno games at off-track betting locations and social clubs like the American Legion.
The proposal introduced by Republican Rep. Jeff Weninger of Chandler has been anticipated since GOP Gov. Doug Ducey announced “an opportunity for a modernized gaming compact that will bring in more revenue for our tribal nations and our state budget,” in his State of the State address last month. Ducey has been working on a new deal with tribes for several years, hoping it can boost state revenue by allowing gambling outside of tribal-run casinos.
That's just what the deal does, Weninger said Tuesday, although the anticipated revenue hasn't been released.
“With that comes tax revenue without raising taxes, and allows us to keep our tax rates low,” Weninger said in an interview.
The biggest part of the plan would allow pro sports teams like the Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Cardinals run sports betting operations at their respective venues, at a retail location within a quarter mile and online. There would be 10 licenses awarded to sports, which could include professional golf and even NASCAR, Weninger said.
Tribes would also get 10 licenses and could run sports books at two dozen tribal casinos in the state.
The tribes, which have fiercely protected their exclusive right to most gambling in the state under the gaming compact approved by the state’s voters in 2002, get the right to build some new casinos under an updated deal. And in a big win, they would also be allowed to greatly expand their exclusive gambling offerings, adding games like Baccarat and craps to existing offerings of slot machines, blackjack and poker.
And there are options for online gambling as well, allowing growing online gambling sites like Draft Kings to piggyback on the licenses.
Fantasy sports gambling also is embraced by Weninger's proposal. The state would allow any company that meets it standards to run fantasy sports gambling operations.
Both the legislation and a 20-year extension of the state's gaming compact with tribes must be adopted for either to go into effect.
Getchen Conger, Ducey's deputy chief of staff, said the deal will help tribes and pro sport teams that have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic. And the plan is certain to boost state revenue, but it will take some time for the amount to become clear, especially revenue from gambling on sporting events.
“This is the million-dollar question,” Conger said. 'It really depends on what the uptake is on the event wagering.”
The state gets a cut of the gambling profit, which will go to the general fund. Money from tribal gaming goes to special state accounts and local governments. In the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2020, tribes brought in nearly $2 billion in gambling revenue and the state received $102 million, according to a Department of Gaming report, while cities received $13 million.
Phoenix is smack in the middle of Arizona, and the hotbed for sports in the state. Phoenix and the surrounding area is home to a professional sports team in all four of the major North American sports leagues. Championships haven’t found their way to Phoenix on many occasions, with the Arizona Diamondbacks win in the 2001 World Series the only championship that a Phoenix team can lay claim to, but that hasn’t stopped Phoenix residents from proudly supporting their teams and the lack of success has certainly not hindered the rise of sports betting in the city.
Sports betting is as big as it’s ever been in Phoenix with more and more residents feeling comfortable wagering on sports online through sites such as Bovada and BetOnline, both of which I will outline below. I will try to shed some light on the legality of sports betting within Arizona, and also touch on some of the various land based locations in Phoenix where you can place horse racing wagers.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Phoenix?
This is a bit of a trick question that I think is easiest explained in two parts.
#1. Sports Betting Operations are Illegal
It’s not legal to run a sports betting operation in the state of Arizona. This applies to both land based sportsbooks and online betting sites operating out of Arizona.
#2. Placing Bets Through Offshore Betting Sites is Legal
While it’s illegal to operate a betting site in Arizona, it is NOT illegal for Arizona residents to sign up to an offshore betting site and place bets. These betting sites, like the two I outline below, are licensed and regulated outside of the United States and if they choose to accept American residents at their site then Americans should feel comfortable placing bets through them.
Arizona Sports Betting Updates
Best Sportsbooks for Phoenix Residents
The following two sportsbooks are the more popular and reputable betting sites that currently accept American players. I strongly suggest using one of the following sites if you are interested in betting on sports online while located in Phoenix.
Bovada.lv is our top rated site for American players. Bovada was initially launched to cater solely to the American market and it wasn’t until recently that they started accepting players from certain countries outside of the United States. This focus on the American market has allowed Bovada to build a betting platform the meets the needs of the American bettor and also has allowed them to offer fast and secure deposits and withdrawals, which has been an issue for other sportsbooks in the American market. Check out the review below for more information.
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
- Accepts players worldwide
- Competitive betting lines
- Fast & easy deposits and withdrawals (including Bitcoin)
Offline Sports Betting in Phoenix
Turf Paradise
Turf Paradise is a popular thoroughbred race track located just 20 minutes north of the Phoenix city central. The race course opened in January of 1956 and recent renovations have made the race course into a state of the art facility. The race track offers live race betting and simulcast betting for races from across the USA. The most notable race that takes place each year at the track is the Turf Paradise Derby, which takes place in mid February and is an unofficial prep race for the Kentucky Derby.
Both Bovada and BetOnline also accept bets on every race that takes place at Turf Paradise.
Major Sports Teams in Phoenix Area
Arizona Legal Sports Betting
- Arizona Cardinals (NFL)
- Arizona Coyotes (NHL)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
- Phoenix Suns (NBA)