Even though Arizona is considered by many to be one of the more conservative Southwestern states, it is extremely liberal as far as casinos and gambling, in general, is concerned. There are more than 20 casinos located in all areas of the state.
Every single casino is situated on Native American land and, in total, there are 15 different Arizona tribes in charge of casino operations. The state of Arizona, that is the regions that are not under Native American control, do not accept casino license applications from anyone. So while there are plenty of opportunities for residents to gamble in Arizona, none of those opportunities are facilitated by the state.
Though Arizona’s gambling laws are interesting, they are more straightforward than those of a large majority of US states.
Arizona Online Casinos
Fortunately, Arizona-based gamblers who enjoy playing their favorite games online are still able to register with one of the numerous US-facing offshore sites. Nowhere do the gambling regulations listed in Arizona Code refer specifically to internet gaming, so it’d be a huge stretch for the local authorities to try to apply those general laws designed with land-based gambling establishments in mind to internet play.
Please note that this issue has never been tackled by an Arizona court, which means that theoretically speaking, the legal status of online gambling hasn’t been determined yet. However, the truth is none of the Arizona-based offshore site customers have been prosecuted so far even though countless Arizona players use those sites on a daily basis.
Arizona residents have plenty of US-facing sites to choose from, so choosing the right casino or poker room isn’t as easy as it seems. If you’d like to play online poker, you should definitely focus on networks that have the highest traffic, as you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of being a part of a large, nation-wide player pool, such as bigger prize pools and 24/7 cash games.
If you’re interested in casino games such as slots, blackjack, or roulette, you should look for reputable sites that have been operating on the market for at least a few years to avoid sending your money to a rogue site pretending to be a US-friendly casino. The same holds true for online sportsbooks, but if you want to get the most bang for your buck, you should also compare the prices they offer and the available live and pre-match betting opportunities.
Arizona Casinos
Apache Gold Hotel-Casino
BlueWater Resort and Casino
Bucky’s Casino
Casino del Sol
Cliff Castle Casino
Cocopah Resort Casino
Desert Diamond Casino
Desert Diamond Hotel-Casino
Desert Diamond Casino-West Valley Resort
Fort McDowell Casino
Gila River Casino-Lone Butte
Gila River Casino-Vee Quiva
Gila River Casino-Wild Horse Pass Hotel-Casino
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
Hon-Dah Resort Casino
Mazatzal Casino
Paradise Casino
Casino Arizona
Talking Stick Resort
Spirit Mountain Casino
Yavapai Casino
Gambling in Arizona
Arizona gambling laws are somewhat conservative, but the local landscape isn’t completely devoid of gambling establishments. Casino enthusiasts can go to Gila, Pima, and Maricopa to play slots or table games in a land-based casino setting. If you enjoy pari-mutuel wagering, you’ll find the necessary facilities at the local horse racing and greyhound racing tracks.
Like most US states, Arizona operates its own state-controlled lottery, but the tickets aren’t available online or even via phone or mail. Arizona doesn’t have its own regulated online gambling market, which means that you won’t be able to find any legitimate Arizona-based internet casinos, sportsbooks or poker sites.
Though there is a decent quantity of casinos in the state of Arizona, they are all the same type of establishment. As was briefly touched upon before, the casinos that exist in Arizona are all situated on Native American land and run by Native American tribes.
Native American/Tribal Casinos
When we speak of Native American casinos, specifically those in Arizona, it is important that you do not get confused. While these may seem different from the casinos that exist in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, they really aren’t. The only reason they are differentiated is due to the fact that, in Arizona, casinos are only able to exist in Tribal territories.
Of the 20+ casinos in the state, every last one of them is owned and operated by Native American tribes. As for what type of experience you can expect, you will find that Native-run casinos are really identical to those found on the Las Vegas strip. These sites will feature slots, sports betting, table games, and just about every other type of game that you would expect from a brick and mortar casino. Many of the casinos are resort casinos, meaning that, in addition to the casino floor, there are also hotel rooms and other amenities such as spas, shopping, restaurants, and shows.
Of course, it goes without saying that every casino is different, even in Arizona. So while one might feature all sorts of table games and poker action, another might only offer a limited number of table games and slots. Before assuming each and every casino boasts the same offering,
Arizona Casino Games
Arizona bans brick-and-mortar casino establishments, but thanks to the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, Native American tribes can legally operate casinos within Arizona. Luckily, Arizona is home to more tribal land than any other state, with 21 tribes spread across over 20 million acres. The current estimated annual gambling revenue generated by casinos in Arizona is $2 billion.
Since 1994, all of the Native American casinos have been governed by the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compacts, which grant a class three license to all casinos on tribal territory, significantly expanding the selection of games that the tribal casinos can host. Table games such as live Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette are all legal to bet on.
Fifteen of the 21 tribes operate casinos. Currently, some of the most popular casinos in Arizona include:
- Talking Stick Resort located at the Salt River Reservation in Scottsdale
- Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort located 20 miles east of Flagstaff
- Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino located at the Gila River Reservation near Laveen
- The Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino also located at the Gila River Reservation
- Harrah’s Ak-Chin located at the Ak-Chin reservation
Players must be over the age of 21 to place bets.
Arizona Sportsbooks & Sports Betting
Following the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing states to decide how they handle sports gambling, Arizona has had mixed reactions. Governor Doug Ducey tweeted that he believed sports gaming could be a positive source of revenue for the state. Attorney General Mark Brnovich thinks that although sports betting could be lucrative, the revenue it generates may not be worth the hassle. Although legislation to legalize sports betting is actively being discussed, no bills have been pushed out yet. Sports betting may be legalized in Arizona one day, but it’s unlikely in the next few years.
eSports and fantasy gambling
The state of Arizona does not differentiate between electronic sports (eSports) betting and traditional sports betting. As a result, placing wagers on eSports games is currently illegal in the state.
Although other Arizona gambling laws are liberal, the state takes a hard stance against daily fantasy sports (DFS) gambling. In 2002, Arizona gave Native American tribes exclusive rights to gaming. If DFS gaming were to be legalized, it would violate several parts of the gaming compacts. For this reason, Arizona was one of the first states to outlaw DFS wagering. Senate Bill 1515 made an unsuccessful attempt to legalize DFS gaming. Since then, there have been no significant efforts to push legislation in favor of DFS.
Animal racing
Arizona’s horse racing scene is relatively small. As long as the wagers are placed on-track, players may make pari-mutuel bets on horse and harness racing.
Horse racing gambling is available at:
- Turf Paradise located in Phoenix
- Rillito Park Race Track located in Tucson
Dog racing bets are allowed as long as the event is not held on the same day as any horse racing events in the county.
Poker Games in Arizona
Many of the Native American casinos host live poker tables. Some of the most popular poker gaming establishments include:
- Desert Diamond Casino located in Tucson
- Gila River Casino Vee Quiva located in Laveen
- Hon-Dah Casino located in Pinetop
- We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort located in Fort McDowell
- Mazatzal Casino located in Payson
- Talking Stick Resort located in Scottsdale
Bars may host poker games as long as there are no buy-ins or raking by the host. Many bars have created poker leagues that sometimes span across multiple towns.
Social games of poker are allowed but must follow the same no buy-ins/ raking rule.
Players looking to game in the convenience of their own home can also choose from our list of recommended online casinos to find great online poker tables.
Arizona Lottery
Arizona operates one of the highest-rated lotteries in the US, offering a variety of multi-state lotteries, including:
- Powerball
- Mega Millions
- The Trio
The Arizona in-state lottery also offers:
- The Pick, where plays are $1
- Fantasy 5
- Pick 3
- Scratchers, with unique rewards such as cruise tickets and a contestant spot on Wheel of Fortune
Tickets must be sold by an authorized dispenser to individuals over the age of 18.
Twenty-nine percent of lottery winnings are collected by Arizona in the form of state taxes, around 50% of the prize money goes to the lottery winner, and the remaining money is claimed by the lottery operators. Arizona uses those taxes to fund local transportation and economic development across the state. Lottery winnings of over $600 are subject to potential garnishment.
According to chapter 5.1 of Arizona gambling laws, the Arizona lottery is among the few that grant winners the right to assign prize earnings to another person. This means that lottery winners can transfer their prize money to somebody else and authorize them to claim it in their own name.
Arizona Bingo Games
Any licensed charitable organization is allowed to host a casino night fundraiser event as long as prizes are not offered as a gambling incentive. All charity gaming licenses are dispensed by the Arizona state gaming commission.
Popular bingo halls include:
- Reflections Bingo located in Phoenix
- The Bingo Hall at Casino Arizona located in Scottsdale
- The Community Bingo AZ located in Goodyear
Arizona Online Gambling FAQ
How Do I Get Started?
Most Arizona-facing sites don’t require you to be physically present within the borders of the state when you sign up. In order to open a real money gambling account, you’ll have to provide the site’s staff with some basic personal information and proof of identity, which is submitted through an on-site form upon clicking the registration button. Once you’ve set up your account, you should make your first deposit and claim the welcome bonus offered by the site. The easiest way to transfer funds to an offshore gambling site is to use a credit card, such as Visa or MasterCard. Gambling sites usually allow you to complete this task via an intuitive banker menu.
How Do I Get My Money if I Win?
The funds that you’ve transferred to an offshore site are at your disposal 24/7. If you’d like to cash out, open the same menu that you’ve used to make a deposit, place a withdrawal request, and wait a few days. Most sites allow you to choose between a wire transfer and a check by courier, but we recommend avoiding checks due to the fact that this method is simply more expensive to use. In most cases, checks are only useful when dealing with massive amounts of money after you’ve scored a major jackpot.
What is the minimum age to gamble online in Arizona?
The minimum age for gambling in Arizona is 21 for traditional forms of gambling and 18 for charity gambling, but offshore sites tend to accept all customers who are at least 18 years old.
How do I open an account?
You have to visit the website of the casino, poker room, or sportsbook that you’d like to join and fill out its registration form.
Where can I open my account from?
Arizona residents are free to open their gambling accounts from anywhere in the country. Some sites will allow you to register even if you’re traveling abroad.
From where can I access Arizona online gambling sites?
Arizona iGaming sites are available from anywhere in the US, but you should be careful not to break any state-level laws, particularly if you’re visiting Washington or Utah.
Where can I familiarize myself with the official regulations over gambling in Arizona?
All the Arizona gambling laws are listed in Section 13 of the Arizona Code.
How do I deposit to my online gambling account?
Most offshore sites allow you to deposit using standard credit card payments. We recommend Visa and MasterCard for maximum reliability.
How do I withdraw my winnings?
In most cases, you should be able to choose between a bank wire transfer and a check by courier.
Is my money safe?
Your money will be safe as long as you stick to trustworthy Arizona casino sites, such as the ones listed here.
What body regulates gambling in Arizona?
Arizona gambling authorities include the Arizona Amusement Gambling Registration, the Arizona Department of Gaming and the Arizona Lottery.