Is Arizona Sports Betting Legal?

Yes, Arizona sports betting was legalized back in April 2021 but won’t be implemented and available to consumers until September 9, 2021. However, as of August 28, 2021, Arizona customers can preregister and be ready to go once betting is live. Over the course of a couple of months since April 21, 2021, the Arizona Department of Gaming received 26 applications for the 20 sports betting licenses, including 10 sports organizations and 16 tribes. The law calls for ten of the licenses to go to state tribal operators and the other ten to go to professional sports teams and venues.

What are the Most Common Types of Bets I Can Make in Arizona?

Straight bet

This is the most common bet type and it is just a straight up single bet on a game. A point spread is determined by the oddsmakers with one team being favored by a certain amount of points. Let’s take a look at an example line below to give a clear indication of what a straight bet would be:

Boston Celtics -6.5 (-110), moneyline -320

at Cleveland Cavaliers +6.5 (-110), moneyline +260

O/U 206

The Celtics are favored by 6.5 points in this example. This means that if you bet the Cavaliers, you are getting 6.5 points, so if the Cavaliers win the game, or lose by fewer than seven points, you will win the bet because of your 6.5-point cushion. On the other side, when you are laying 6.5 points as the favorite, you would need the Celtics to win by seven or more to win the bet.

Final Score: Celtics 102 Cavaliers 98. Cavaliers would cover even though the Celtics won the game because the +6.5 point spread is enough to cover a four-point defeat.

Moneyline Bet

The moneyline is a bet where there is no spread; you are just picking the winner of the game. In the example above, the Cavaliers ML is +260, which means that for every $100 wagered, you win $260 if the Cavaliers win the game outright. They receive the plus side of the moneyline since they are the underdog and picking them rewards you with nice odds since they are projected to likely lose the game. On the flip side, if you bet the Celtics ML at -320, you have to bet $320 to win $100. They are the favorites so if you decide to bet the moneyline instead of the point spread, you are forced to bet additional money to win $100.
In the example above, the Celtics ML would be the winner as they won the game outright. The spread is irrelevant for a moneyline wager.

Over/Under

This is a straight bet wagering on how many total combined points will be scored in a game by both teams. For example, an NBA game may have an over/under of 210 points, which means that the oddsmakers are projecting a combined points total of 210 between the two teams. If you think the teams are going to score more than 210 points total, you bet the over, and conversely, if you think it’s going to be a defensive struggle, you can bet the under hoping that the total points scored equals 209 points or less.

Parlay

A parlay is a bet where you combine multiple bets into one bet and you get increased odds because you only win your parlay wager if all of your bets win. If you do a three-team parlay, you select three different teams from three different games and if you win all three of the bets you hit your parlay for longshot odds (6-1 so $100 to win $600). Going 0/3, 1/3, or 2/3 is all the same and you lose the parlay bet. It’s all or nothing which makes them tough to hit and is more of a home run type bet than a regular straight bet since there’s a chance for a big payoff.

How to Start Betting in Arizona

It is quite simple to get started at an online sportsbook in Arizona.

• First you want to create an account and complete the signup process. The registration process will need to verify your identity, age, and location for you to get started. Different sportsbooks will have different registration processes, but all of them will require similar information. There will often be rewards for being a first time user.
• Log into the sportsbook of your choice using your brand new account. You can do this through website access or through the sportsbook apps depending on your preference.
• Make a deposit. There are often a wide variety of ways you can deposit money at an online sportsbook, and you’re going to need to in order to start placing bets.

Banking (Deposit/Withdrawal) Methods at Arizona Sportsbooks

Although not all sportsbooks will have all of these options, here are some of the most common ways to utilize banking at a sportsbook.

• Credit and debit cards
• PayPal
• Online Banking
• ACH Transfer
• Prepaid cards
• PayNearMe
• Cash at the casino cage

Promotions and Bonuses at Arizona Sportsbooks

Deposit bonus or match:

Some sportsbooks will offer you more money just for depositing money in the form of their currency.

Free bets:

simply put, some sportsbooks will offer you free currency just for signing up and being a first time user. Use them to try out different bets and functions on the respective website or app.

Odds boosts:

An odds boost essentially offers the opportunity of making more money on certain wagers.

Risk-free bet:

Some sportsbooks will offer you a free bet up to a certain amount of money after you make your first initial deposit.

Arizona Sports Betting FAQs

Who will oversee the sports betting industry in Arizona?

The Arizona Department of Gaming will be overseeing all forms of sports betting. It currently manages the tribal gaming activities in accordance with the Arizona tribal-state gaming compacts, but it will also take the responsibility of monitoring the new Arizona sports betting laws and operators.

Will mobile Arizona sports betting be allowed?

Yes it will be allowed due to the recent bill passed in 2021. You do not have to be a legal resident of the state of Arizona, but you must be physically located in the state of Arizona to place bets.

There are some sports betting websites that say they accept bets anywhere within the United States. Is that legally allowed?

No, there are currently no sportsbooks that are licensed at a federal level, as sports betting is not federally legal. All sportsbooks are operated and regulated at a state level.

How can I bet in state?

Refer to the “How to Start Betting in Arizona” section above.

How do I deposit and withdraw?

Each sportsbook will have similar options for depositing and withdrawing money. For the best answers, be sure to find those options from the sportsbook you will be using for betting.

Do I have to be in state to place a bet?

Yes, you will have to be physically present in the state of Arizona to place a bet.

What games can I bet on?

Each sportsbook will have a variety of options when it comes to games to bet on. For the best answers, be sure to check in with each individual sportsbook’s support team and websites to ensure you have the right games for you.

How old do I have to be to bet in state?

You will have to be 21 years of age to place a bet in Arizona.

Where do I go if I have a problem?

Problem gambling? Call 1-800-777-7207.


Need more sports betting information? Check out the Awesemo betting home page.