Although Arizona online gambling is not legal or regulated yet, the state offers 24 tribal casinos, and sports betting is allowed even on the Internet. Residents who want to play games of chance online need to look further afield, and we can offer some viable options.
In this guide, you will learn, what’s legal, talking about gambling in Arizona, what’s not, and more about the state’s history. We will shed some light on the latest developments with online gambling Arizona and more. By keeping you updated on everything you need to know about web casinos, you will learn how to get the most out of your experience with games of chance on the Internet.
| Casino | Casino Rating | Welcome Bonus | Pros | Sports Betting | Payment | Legal States | Go to Casino | Casino Review | Significant Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | 100% match up to $1000 Plus $25 on the house |
| Yes |
|
| Play now! | Read Casino Review | Terms & Conditions apply | |
| Borgata | 100% match up to $1,000 + $20 on the house |
| Yes |
|
| Play now! | Read Casino Review | Terms & Conditions apply | |
| PartyCasino | Up to $100 |
| No |
|
| Play now! | Terms & Conditions apply | ||
| PartyPoker | Up to $600 + $25 on the house |
| No |
|
| Play now! | Terms & Conditions apply | ||
| Wheel of Fortune | Get $40 |
| No |
|
| Play now! | Terms & Conditions apply | ||
| DraftKings | Play $5 Get $50 |
| Yes |
|
| Play now! | Read Casino Review | Terms & Conditions apply | |
| bet365 | Up to 200 Spins |
| Yes |
|
| Play now! | Read Casino Review | Terms & Conditions apply |
Above, we will add the best AZ online gambling sites that offer various gaming options and functionalities, when they become legal. As soon as online gambling gets legalized, you will make the right decision whichever Arizona online casinos you choose, as all are licensed, trustworthy, and proven. They will accept players from the Grand Canyon State and offer lucrative bonus deals and conditions for using their websites. You will be able to try your luck playing your favorite games and take part in tournaments and other events. Go through our best online casino reviews page as well.
| #1 for Welcome bonus | BetMGM |
|---|---|
| Best for Blackjack | DraftKings |
| Best for Betting Overall | BetMGM Sportsbook |
| Best Customer support | DraftKings |
| Best for VIP Program | Fanatics |
| Best for Poker | BetMGM Poker |
| Best for Mobile app | BetMGM |
| Best for Betting offers | Fanatics |
Here’s a rundown of the legal aspects of the gambling landscape in Arizona. Poker, e-sports, and other forms are not lawful. Unfortunately, nor are Arizona online casinos.
Legal online gambling forms in Arizona include:
More on these legal gambling options read below.
Online casinos are not allowed in Arizona. The only states with local Internet casinos are New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and West Virginia. Players are recommended to avoid online casinos in Arizona, as these are not regulated. It means that by using such operators, you engage in unlawful actions. This is the main reason players in the state are looking for trusted and legal Arizona online casinos must move to another state to be able to play legally. You should not gamble online in Arizona.
Playing live and video poker for real money on the Internet is not allowed in AZ. If you love this game, you can play it in person at a land-based gambling venue. Fans of Texas Hold ’em and Omaha games can look for video poker and live versions at legal sites in other states, when they are visiting them. You can play online poker legally only for fun at social gaming websites.
In the past, there have been discussions over legalizing online gambling in Arizona. But, by now, no bills have been passed to make lawful online poker or other online casino forms. The focus has been on expanding tribal gambling and sports betting. The latter has been legal since April 2021. The most recent changes to poker laws in AZ have all been on loosening the rigid poker wagering limitations in tribal-run casinos.
Brick-and-mortar casinos are legal in Arizona, and since the passing of the expanded gaming laws in 2021, 11 new operators may see the green light.
At the moment:
Currently, 16 Native American tribes run 26 tribal casinos, which operate in Arizona. Some of the tribes run several physical casinos. The Tohono O’odham Nation, for example, runs four Desert Diamond casinos. The Gila River Indian Community has three popular gambling venues. Land-based sportsbooks are also present at certain tribal casinos and professional sports arenas. So, gambling in Arizona is allowed in land-based sportsbooks and casinos.
Here is a short presentation of the five top physical casinos in the state:
Talking Stick Resort Casino, located in Scottsdale, is one of the top local casinos in Arizona, offering Class II/Class III gaming. You can choose from 800 slots, 50 table games, and almost all kinds of tables with poker games. The 500-room hotel is attractive with the great diversity of entertainment options it offers.
Casino Del Sol is in the Sonoran Desert, another oasis of gambling fun providing Class II/Class III gaming. Players can use 1,300 slot machines, 20+ table games, and over a dozen poker tables. The maximum bet limit should suit high rollers as it is $1,000! The casino resort has luxurious accommodations and a wide range of dining options.
Desert Diamond Casino West Valley is one of the top choices for gamblers in Phoenix, Arizona. It was recently extended, offering 1,400+ slot machines, poker, and live table games. The casino resort claims to reward a big payout to one lucky winner every 5 minutes on average. The casino offers lots of other entertainments.
Spreading on over 100,000 square feet of gambling floor, you have enough space to relish the immersive activities at Casino Arizona. Nearly 1,000 slots await you, almost 100 video poker games, about 50 table games, and a great selection of poker tables. An added extra is the 1000-seat bingo hall in the casino resort.
Cliff Castle Casino is another popular gambling hub in Phoenix, Arizona that has over 660 slot machines but a limited number of table games and poker tables. Similarly, to other casinos in the state, it offers a sportsbook where those keen on this activity can place bets and watch their favorite sports games.
Sports betting is the only legal form of online casino gambling in the Copper State since April 2021 when Arizona passed House Bill 2772. The latter legalized retail and mobile sports betting. The state’s first regulated sports books went live just in time for the beginning of the NFL season – in September 2021. Sports fans in Arizona can choose from diverse and many legit online sports books.
The Arizona Department of Gaming licenses the best online sports books in the state. They adhere to stringent standards set by this regulatory authority. These sports books are secure and ensure safe deposits and betting.
Arizona’s state lottery has been operating since 1981. It is the first state west of Mississippi to approve a lottery. Powerball was launched in The Grand Canyon State in 1994.
Arizona Interstate Lotto Games:
Arizona Intrastate Lotto Games:
Arizona has had 14 lucky winners of large cash prizes since its opening, such as the $473 million jackpot in April 2022. Mega Millions arrived in 2010. The Pick State lottery has a jackpot that starts at $1 million, with games such as Pick 3, Fantasy 5, and Triple Twist.
House Bill 2772 passed legalizing sports betting and officially classifying DFS contests as a legal gambling form you can apply for real money in Arizona. The state gaming authority began to issue licenses to operators. The first authorized DFS sites went live in August 2021.
The leading daily fantasy sports sites in Arizona offer contests for NFL, baseball, college football, and other activities. Thanks to the Arizona Department of Gaming regulation, users can sign up and play confidently with protected personal data and payment transactions. Users must be 21 or above to engage in online daily fantasy contests in Arizona.
Arizona has three permanent horse racing tracks. Their locations are:
Each of the above has an off-track parlor. County fairs often run sanctioned races. Additionally, around 50 off-track betting parlors operate throughout the state. Arizona does not have horse betting apps, as online horse betting is illegal. You can place horse betting wagers in person or over the phone if you are at least 21 years old.
The minimum age for real money online gambling and sports betting is 21. This includes playing at land-based casinos, poker rooms and using the lottery. If you want to play bingo, it’s enough to be 18 to be allowed to do that. Generally, the gambling age in Arizona is 21 for most activities except for bingo.
| Gambling type | Legal age land based | Legal age online | Online since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slots | 21 | – | 2021 |
| Sports betting | 21 | 21 | 2021 |
| State lottery | 18 | – | 1981 |
| Daily fantasy sports | 21 | – | 2021 |
| Bingo | 19 | – | N/A |
The Arizona Department of Gambling regulates the state’s gambling activities. Its responsibilities are not few and include:
Arizona has a long history of gambling, dating back to mining towns in the late 1800s. In 1912, with the formation of Arizona state, it prohibited all gambling forms. Later, in 1980, the Arizona Lottery Act set up a state lottery to fund public programs. 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) allowed tribes to open their casinos. Then, in the 1990s, Arizona’s government signed compacts with 16 tribes, giving them exclusive rights to operate slot machines and casino gaming.
Proposition 202 expanded the number of tribal casinos and types of games allowed in them back in 2002. In 2020, Arizona’s 24 Native American casinos were allowed to run retail sportsbooks, and in April 2021, sports betting, DFS, and some games were legalized, and became regulated. Non-tribal operators were permitted to offer their services too. In 2022, the licensing process for online sportsbooks was opened, but no further efforts to legalize Arizona online casinos were made. The 10-year compact with all 22 state tribes is set to expire in May 2031.
Gambling has existed in the AZ territory even before its formation as a state, particularly in Prescott, Tombstone, and Bisbee mining towns. Gambling halls and saloons offered poker, roulette, and faro. Another proof of the stage of games of chance is the famous O.K. Corral gunfight in Tombstone in 1881, related to a dispute over gambling debts being discussed.
In 1912, Arizona became a state, and this is also the year when it outlawed all forms of gambling. In 1980, the Arizona Lottery Act was passed, setting up the State lottery. This act aims to fund state programs, support public education, and finance many public initiatives. The first lottery ticket was sold one year later – in 1981. Three Arizonans at the time claimed $10,000 cash prizes from the lottery.
In 1988, the US Federal government passed the IGRA (the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act), allowing state tribes to open their casinos. The tribes became free to operate gambling facilities on their reservations, which marked the beginning of tribal casinos in AZ.
In May 1992, the U.S. Attorney in Phoenix made a series of raids and shut down tribal casinos with slot machines. The National Indian Gaming Commission ruled that tribes must have compacts to have functioning casinos. Later, Gov. Fife Symington signed compacts with 16 tribes over the following 18 months, giving them exclusive rights to offer slot machines and casino gaming.
Preposition 202’s passing expanded the number of tribal casinos and the types of games allowed to be offered in them in Arizona. It also extended the gambling compacts for another ten years. This revenue-sharing agreement between the government and the local tribes ensured stability for the industry and more profits for both. The situation with AZ gambling sites’ legal functioning remained intact for almost 20 years. Instead, the state legislation focuses on sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and extending and expanding tribal gaming agreements.
In March 2010, the Arizona State Lottery Commission extended the lottery’s contract until 2035. Nine years later, in 2019, two senators – Steve Pierce and Sonny Borrelli, tried to introduce the first of their bills to pave the way for lawful and regulated sports betting in Arizona.
In 2020, the HB 2813 bill was passed for legalized sports betting at Arizona casinos. Racetracks in the state would also be allowed to provide legal bets on sports. Arizona’s tribes objected to the bill as it required them to get special permission to open their retail sportsbooks. SB 1525 bill was revamped the same year to resolve some of the issues with the earlier HB 2813 bill. As a result, Arizona’s 24 tribal casinos got the green light to run retail sports books without permission. However, mobile and online sports wagering remained prohibited.
Thanks to allowing non-tribal sportsbook operators in Arizona, the current rules on tribal casino gaming became relaxed. Under these new laws, Native American casinos could expand and introduce more slots and table games.
In April 2021, Arizonan Governor Doug Ducey signed regulated sports betting via HB 2772 into law. The bill allowed tribal and non-tribal organizations to apply for licenses to run retail sportsbooks and online betting platforms.
Online and mobile sports betting, keno, and daily fantasy sports also became legal and regulated. Non-tribal operators could offer services too. With the making of Daily Fantasy Sports legal, Stat Hero opened the first DFS sportsbook in the Copper State. The HB 2772 bill also modernized Class III casino games such as craps, baccarat, and roulette.
In April 2022, an Arizona player won a $473 million Powerball jackpot. In June of the same year, the Arizona Department of Gaming opened the licensing process for online sportsbooks again. With 17 local regulated online sports betting providers currently in operation, and since the state law permits up to 20, three more could launch.
The latest updates of May 2023 reveal that no further effort has been made to legalize Arizona gambling sites. The signed 10-year compact with all 22 state tribes expires in May 2031.
Here’s a summary of the most significant changes and developments in Arizonan legislation regarding casino activities and games of chance. The state has a rich history of gambling, with establishments offering games of chance like poker, roulette, and faro in mining towns like Prescott, Tombstone, and Bisbee, even before Arizona became a state.
As of May 2023, no further efforts have been made to legalize land-based casinos and online gambling in Arizona. The 10-year compact with all 22 state tribes will expire in May 2031.
The gambling laws in Arizona have undergone significant changes over time. While online casino games are not yet allowed in Sunset Land, there are numerous large brick-and-mortar casinos where locals can play roulette and slots. Arizona has the most tribal lands out of any state, and its land-based casinos are a major source of income for the tribes, generating over $2 billion annually. The introduction of online casinos could potentially threaten this revenue stream.
For the moment, no recent bills have sought to legalize online casino gaming in Arizona. It is possible that the governor could renegotiate agreements with tribes to allow online games and betting, but this would be a lengthy process. In the meantime, Arizonans can play online casino games when they visit one of the states with legal gambling.
The future of online gambling in Arizona looks promising, which is positive news for the casino industry. Currently, there are 26 tribal casinos in the state, with plans for four more to be built in the Phoenix area. European casino companies like Kindred have entered the market, starting with sports betting. As sportsbooks reach capacity, they will likely expand to include casinos.
Arizona has the potential to pass legislation allowing online casinos. The Valentine State already permits other forms of gambling and has embraced sports betting. The government would benefit from tax revenue if retail and online casinos were allowed. Arizona currently taxes gambling winnings, including those from online casinos, mobile gaming apps, land-based casinos, and sports betting ranging from 2.59% to 4.50%.
The Grand Canyon State is willing to embrace other forms of gambling. Although it may take a few years, it is likely that in the future, Arizona will have in-state online casinos available for its residents.
Gambling on the Internet is not regulated and legal in the Apache State, but you can play online when you visit a state with legal online gambling, and play online casinos there. These casinos can offer you safe play, protection, and some impressive gaming options.
You can now use brick-and-mortar casinos, sports betting, the state lottery, charitable gaming, and DFS. You can play roulette, craps, and baccarat at gambling venues. Online casinos cannot operate locally, so players can use social sites. Check our dedicated section on legal gambling options in Arizona for further information.
You must be 18 or over for the Arizona Lottery, bingo, or charity gaming events. However, if you want to play games at Native American casinos or bet on horse and dog races, you must be at least 21. Look at our section on the legal gambling age for Arizona residents with a comparison of the different types of activities.
Thankfully, you can do that. All legislation regarding legal Arizona online casinos focuses on the operators. The state authorities do not go after residents who play these games. But you must choose secure Arizona gambling sites to enjoy a hassle-free experience.
The Arizona Department of Gaming handles almost all forms of gambling in the state. This includes the regulation of Class III gaming (card games – baccarat, blackjack, pai gow, chemin de fer, etc., roulette, craps, keno, slot machines, lotteries) and online sports betting (horse race betting, dog race betting, etc.) When online casinos legal become a reality, the same authority will supervise them. You can read more on that in our AZ gambling and safety section.
