Arizona has one of the best betting markets on the West Coast. This is why the April 2021 declaration announcing that sports betting would be legalized in the state was so monumental.
According to azsportsbettingsites.com, the state of Arizona and the tribes reached an agreement on a new gaming compact. This opened the door to collaborations with sports betting platforms and indicated that sportsbooks could function in the state.
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) supervises legalized sports betting in Arizona. On July 26, 2021, the ADG made the policies and guidelines of the state’s sports gaming market official. All qualifying bidders were revealed on August 16th and received their business license eleven days later.
Here are the things you must know before jumping into sports betting in Arizona:
The Best Mobile Sportsbooks in Arizona
Initially, Arizona allowed 20 mobile bookmaker licenses, half of which were issued to Native American tribes and the rest to professional sports organizations.
All major sports betting organizations in Arizona include BetMGM, FanDuel Group, Betfred Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Digital Gaming, DraftKings Inc., Golden Nugget, Fubo Gaming Inc., SuperBook Sports, TwinSpires, Rush Street Interactive, WynnBET, and Unibet.
Most users signed up with major organizations such as FanDuel, DraftKings, WynnBET, and BetMGM, as some of the services did not allow Arizona residents to open an account.
Which Sports Can You Bet On?
Almost every mainstream sport, as well as many lesser-known ones, is available for wagering. Football, baseball, motorsports, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey, and table tennis are all accessible.
All sports for which merchants accept wagers must be approved by the Arizona Department of Gaming.
Professional Sports Teams in Arizona
Arizona’s legalization of the sports betting business is unprecedented. Operators include not only tribal and corporate enterprises but also professional sports franchises. This implies that the state’s franchises will have a stake in wagering and seek to benefit from any profits.
Until there are ten professional sports teams in the Grand Canyon State, the state’s ten licenses designated for such teams will remain vacant. Current professional sports teams in Arizona are as follows:
- TPC Scottsdale
- Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
- Phoenix Raceway (NASCAR)
- Phoenix Rising (MLS)
- Arizona Cardinals (NFL)
- Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
- Phoenix Suns (NBA)
It’s worth noting that lawmakers purposefully set the licenses at ten teams, even though there are only seven possible license holders.
As a result, legislators will not have to revisit the matter or create additional red tape if a potential professional sports club emerges. Coverage in professional sports will likely encourage local fans to wager on NBA Playoffs, NFL Season, NASCAR, and other sporting events.
When Will the Sportsbooks Be Open?
As most venues will spend time planning and developing their amenities, you will see very few full-service in-person betting platforms that will open early.
The Phoenix Suns were among the first to open the FanDuel sportsbook in the Footprint Center downtown. The Caesars facility near Chase Field includes gaming terminals, but the full-service casino will not operate for months.
BetMGM sportsbooks debuted in the three Gila River casinos by the end of last year.
What Kinds of Bets Are Available on Arizona Sports?
Sports betting in Arizona is thriving, not just because of the number of licenses signed into law by Governor Doug Ducey but also because of the vast number of markets available. You can choose from a variety of gambling options, including:
- Point spreads
- Round Robins
- Moneylines
- Futures
- Props
- Parlays
- Totals
- In-play
The sheer number of betting possibilities offered at most Arizona sportsbooks makes them appealing to gamers from all over the country.