Arizona draws a sharp line through the phone in your pocket. Since September 2021, anyone 21 or older can place a sports bet from almost anywhere in the state. The same phone cannot be used for slots, blackjack or roulette for money, because the Arizona Department of Gaming states that online casinos are not authorized. Casino games here happen in person, on tribal land. What Arizonans can play online for prizes is sweepstakes casinos, which run on a no-purchase-necessary model. This page maps all three options: sports betting, sweepstakes sites and the in-person floors.
Product by product
| Product | Status | Where it happens |
| Sports betting | Legalized by HB 2772 in 2021; mobile sportsbooks launched 9 September 2021 | Online, and at casino sportsbooks |
| Daily fantasy sports | Legalized by the same bill | Fantasy contests |
| Keno | Legalized by the same bill | On casino floors such as Casino Arizona |
| Online slots and table games | Not authorized, per the Department of Gaming | Nowhere online |
| Sweepstakes casinos | No-purchase-necessary promotional model; not specifically authorized | Online, from operators that accept Arizona players |
| Casino gaming in person | Run by tribes under tribal-state compacts | Tribal casinos across the state |
The 2021 bill that set the line
Governor Ducey signed HB 2772 on 15 April 2021. It covered sports betting, daily fantasy sports and keno, and the Department of Gaming went on to issue up to 20 sports betting licences: ten for tribes and ten for professional sports organisations. Mobile sportsbooks went live on 9 September 2021.
Online casino games were not on that list, and the Department still states that online casinos are not authorized. So the online wagering the 2021 bill opened up is sports betting and fantasy contests, not casino games. The minimum age is 21, the same as every other regulated form of gambling in Arizona, including tribal casinos, the lottery and pari-mutuel wagering.
Sweepstakes casinos: the online option
Sweepstakes casinos are the closest thing to an online casino that Arizonans can use. You play with Gold Coins for fun and Sweeps Coins that can be redeemed for prizes, and no purchase is ever required. The Department of Gaming has sent cease-and-desist letters to some operators, and several of those have left the state, so check each site's stated Arizona availability before you sign up.
These four are on our Arizona rankings, with figures across all the states our reviewers test from:
- McLuck: the biggest lobby. McLuck is the most-tested site in our program, averaging 8.0 across 129 tests, with 8.8 for game range. New accounts get 7,500 GC and 2.5 SC free.
- Spree: the strongest all-rounder. Spree averages 8.2 across 22 tests, with 8.1 for redemption, and asked for ID in only one of them. It credits 25,000 GC and 2.5 SC at signup.
- Jackpota: easy to use. Jackpota averages 7.9 across 77 tests and scores 8.4 for usability. New accounts get 7,500 GC and 2.5 SC.
- Rolla: the biggest free start. Rolla gives 500,000 GC and 10 SC free, scores 8.7 for usability and averages 8.0 across 30 tests.
For the full field, see our best sweepstakes casinos in Arizona, and for the background, our guide to Arizona sweepstakes law.
The in-person alternative
Every one of the 27 Arizona casinos we profile is tribally owned, and every one requires players to be 21 under the state's tribal-state compacts. If you came looking for an online casino, these are the floors that offer the games.
They are also where sports betting happens face to face. At least twelve of those venues list a sportsbook or betting kiosks:
- Phoenix metro: Santan Mountain Casino in Chandler has the largest casino sportsbook in Arizona. Lone Butte and Wild Horse Pass have counters too, as do Talking Stick Resort, Casino Arizona, We-Ko-Pa, Desert Diamond West Valley and Desert Diamond White Tanks.
- Tucson: Casino del Sol has a sportsbook, and Desert Diamond Tucson has self-service kiosks.
- Yuma: Paradise Casino added a sportsbook, the only licensed betting counter within a comfortable drive of the city.
- Payson: Mazatzal Hotel & Casino runs on-site sports wagering.
Casino Arizona is also a rare floor that still runs keno, one of the three products the 2021 bill covered. For planning a trip, our Arizona casino day-trip checklist covers hours and regions.
Frequently asked questions
Are online casinos legal in Arizona?
The Arizona Department of Gaming states that online casinos are not authorized. Slots and table games for money are offered only in person, at tribal casinos.
Is there any real money online casino Arizona residents can use?
No authorized one. The 2021 bill legalized sports betting and daily fantasy sports instead. Sweepstakes casinos are the online option for casino-style games, with prizes redeemed through Sweeps Coins.
When did online sports betting start in Arizona?
Mobile sportsbooks launched on 9 September 2021, after HB 2772 was signed on 15 April 2021.
Can Arizonans play sweepstakes casinos?
Many sweepstakes casinos accept Arizona players, including the four above. Some operators have left the state after Department of Gaming letters, so confirm each site's Arizona availability before signing up.
How old do you have to be to gamble in Arizona?
21 for tribal casino floors, sports betting and daily fantasy sports. Some other products, such as bingo, can have different age rules, so check with the operator.
