Online Gambling in Arizona - Casino & Sports Betting

Arizona, also known as The Grand Canyon State, is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon. If you ever can visit this phenomenal creation of nature, don’t pass it up!

However, the Grand Canyon National Park isn’t the only amazing thing about Arizona. It’s home to Sedona, full of natural red rock beauty, Flagstaff, which actually gets snow amid the desert, and Phoenix, a hustling and bustling city.

There are also many universities and sports teams and a flourishing community that loves to gamble online. Since Arizona is so close to Nevada, lawmakers made the smart decision a long time ago to legalize most forms of gambling so that residents could keep their money in their own state, instead of heading north.

No matter your choice of gambling in Arizona, it is important that you keep yourself abreast of the laws so that you can gamble with confidence.

This article gives you an overview of the legalities and rules for gambling in Arizona, so whether you enjoy playing the lottery, stamping bingo cards, or playing a friendly game of poker.

Arizona offers a regulated gambling market that includes tribal casinos, online sports betting, lottery games, and charitable gaming. In 2021, the state enacted sweeping gambling reform through House Bill 2772, modernizing the landscape to include digital sports betting and daily fantasy sports. Regulatory authority is shared between the Arizona Department of Gaming and the Arizona Lottery. All relevant statutes are part of the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS).

Online Casinos

Online casino gambling—including slots, poker, and table games—is illegal in Arizona. No legislation authorizes commercial or tribal online casinos offering real-money games. Players may not legally access regulated platforms offering casino games online.

• Status: Illegal
• Date of Authorization: N/A
• Law: N/A
• Official Link: N/A
  

Online Sports Betting

Arizona legalized online and retail sports betting on April 15, 2021, via House Bill 2772, and the first bets were accepted on September 9, 2021. The law authorizes sports wagering both through tribal gaming facilities and professional sports franchises, and is codified under ARS Title 5, Chapter 11.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: April 15, 2021
• Law: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 5, Chapter 11
• Official Link: https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/arsdetail/?title=5
  

Physical Casinos

Physical casinos in Arizona are operated by federally recognized Native American tribes under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and state-tribal compacts. These compacts were expanded in 2021 as part of the same reform that introduced sports betting. The compacts allow for Class III gaming, including slots, blackjack, and poker.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: First compacts in 1992, updated April 2021
• Law: ARS §5-601.02 and State-Tribal Compacts under IGRA
• Official Link: https://www.azgaming.gov/tribal-gaming/tribal-state-gaming-compact/
  

Horse Racing

Pari-mutuel wagering on horse and dog races is permitted under ARS Title 5, Chapter 1. Live races and off-track betting are regulated by the Arizona Racing Commission, and wagering is legal both on-site and through approved OTB locations.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: Codified under ARS since 1940s
• Law: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 5, Chapter 1
• Official Link: https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=5
  

Lottery

The Arizona State Lottery was established in 1980 by voter initiative and is governed by ARS Title 5, Chapter 5. It offers draw games, instant-win scratchers, and participates in national games like Powerball and Mega Millions. Online sales are not authorized.

• Status: Legal (Retail only)
• Date of Authorization: 1980
• Law: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 5, Chapter 5
• Official Link: https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=5
  

Charitable Gaming (Bingo, Raffles, Pull-Tabs)

Charitable gaming is permitted under ARS Title 5, Chapter 4. Qualified nonprofit organizations may conduct bingo, raffles, and certain low-stakes gaming activities under license from the Arizona Department of Gaming.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: Codified in 1970s, updated in 1998
• Law: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 5, Chapter 4
• Official Link: https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=5
  

Overall Comment

Arizona maintains a modern, regulated, and tribal-based gambling system. Online casinos remain prohibited, but the state allows robust forms of tribal and commercial sports betting, a functioning lottery, pari-mutuel horse racing, and charitable gaming through long-standing statutes and intergovernmental compacts.

Sports Betting in Arizona

As of 2021, there are new laws that regulate online sportsbooks in Arizona. However, residents can still participate in online sports betting sites legally!

Online Casino in Arizona

Arizona has yet to legalize online casinos that are based out of The Grand Canyon State.