It's important to familiarize yourself with gambling laws in Arizona before you participate in Arizona sports betting or casino gaming. In this short article, you'll learn all the most important facts so you can gamble confidently in the Grand Canyon State.
Arizona Gambling Laws: Introduction to AZ Gambling & Betting Laws
| ✍️ Who Makes Arizona Gambling Laws? | Arizona Legislature |
| 🚫 Gambling Age: | 21 |
| 🎰 Legal Gambling Options: | Casinos, Sports Gambling, Fantasy Sports Contests, Horse Racing |
| 📅 When Did AZ Gambling Legalize? | 1988 |
Is Gambling Legal in Arizona?
Different forms of gambling have been legalized at different times in Arizona. Nowadays, most forms of gambling are legal under current Arizona law. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 was one of the first bills to legalize gambling on Native American land. There are now many tribal casinos located on tribal lands. Sports gambling online, meanwhile, was legalized as recently as 2021.
Who Makes Gambling Laws in Arizona?
The Arizona Legislature is the key legal institution when it comes to gambling laws in the Grand Canyon State. The Arizona House and Senate work within federal law to establish state-specific gambling legislation. AZ gambling laws must be approved both on the Senate floor and in the House before they can be enacted.
What Does the Arizona Department of Gaming Do?
The Arizona Department of Gaming is the main regulatory body for gambling in Arizona. The ADG oversees certain forms of gambling activity in the state to ensure compliance with state law. Casino gambling and sports betting both fall under the jurisdiction of the ADG. While the Arizona Legislature is responsible for creating gambling laws, the ADG keeps retail and online operators accountable.
New Arizona State Gambling Laws in Effect
The most recent gambling laws in Arizona pertain to legalized sports betting. HB 2772 was signed into law in April 2021 by Governor Ducey, officially making sports betting available to anyone over the age of 21 in Arizona. Since this time, many online and in-person sportsbooks have started operating in the state.
Arizona Laws on Gambling & Different Ways to Gamble
There are a number of different ways to gamble in Arizona. Different forms of gambling all have unique laws associated with them. Make sure you're familiar with these laws depending on what forms of gambling you are interested in.
Arizona Casino Laws
Casino gambling in Arizona was legalized back in 1988, when the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed. This allowed Arizona casinos to begin operating on Indian reservations. Casinos in Arizona are regulated by the Arizona Department of Gaming. All of the most popular casino games are allowed in the state, from slot machines to table games like baccarat and poker.
At this time, online casinos are not legal in Arizona, so you'll have to visit a retail casino to play casino games. The most popular casinos in the state include Desert Diamond Casino West Valley and Gila River Resort at Wild Horse Pass.
Arizona Sports Gambling Laws
Arizona online sports gambling laws were established quite recently. April 21, 2021 marked an important day for Arizona retail sports gambling laws and Arizona online sports gambling laws, when HB 2772 was finally passed to allow sports betting in the state. Retail sportsbooks now operate at professional sports venues and on Native American land.
Online gambling on sports is also available to anyone located within Arizona state boundaries. There are tons of great online sportsbooks in Arizona to choose from, including big industry names like BetMGM Sportsbook and ESPN BET.
Arizona Lottery Laws
The Arizona State Lottery Commission was established following the general election on November 4, 1980. Since this time, Arizona residents have had access to both the Arizona State Lottery and multi-state lotteries. You can find a good variety of lottery games in Arizona, from scratch-off tickets to major draw games like Powerball and Mega Millions. You must be at least 21 years or older to participate in lottery games in Arizona.
Arizona Horse & Dog Racing Laws
Horse racing and dog racing have a tumultuous past in Arizona, being legalized and prohibited at different times. Though once popular, greyhound racing became illegal in 2016 and all dog tracks in the state have been closed since. Horse racing, on the other hand, is legal in the state of Arizona. Horse racing has been popular here for over a century, and this legacy remains to this day. Staple venues include the Rillito Park Race Track and Turf Paradise. As with any other form of gambling, only those 21 years or older can legally bet on horse races.
Arizona Gambling Tax Laws to Know
Winnings earned from gambling are taxed in Arizona. Here are some important things to know:
- Gambling winnings in Arizona are subject to a 24% federal tax rate.
- State of Arizona taxes on gambling range from 2.59% to 4.50%
- Operators pay 10% on net profits from mobile gambling and 8% for net profits for retail gambling.
All residents of Arizona are subject to a 24% federal tax rate on income earned from gambling. According to AZ gambling tax laws, there is also a state-determined gambling tax. The amount of money owed can vary from 2.59% to 4.50% of your income depending on how much you make and your marital status. You can learn more about gambling tax laws in Arizona and how much you might owe by using the Arizona Tax Calculator.
Arizona Gambling Law FAQs
Arizona gambling laws are created following the same process as any other state law. The Arizona Legislature is responsible for all lawmaking in the state. For a law to pass, it must be approved by both the House and the Senate before it can receive the Governor's approval.
To gamble in Arizona, you must be at least 21 years old. This applies to all forms of gambling, from online sports betting to in-person casino gambling. It is illegal to gamble if you are under 21 years old.
Certain forms of gambling have been legal in Arizona since 1988 when the Arizona Legislature passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This allowed the first casinos to open in the Grand Canyon State.
No, the minimum legal age for both casino and sports gambling is 21 years. Online betting sites have methods to verify age to ensure that all online users are legal. Similarly, no one under the age of 21 is allowed to enter retail gambling locations.
Only certain forms of online gambling are legal in Arizona. At this time, only online sportsbook are available to residents of the state. Casino gambling online has yet to be legalized.
If you are 18 years old, you are not legal to gamble in Arizona. Only individuals aged 21 years or older are allowed to gamble here. Whether you are sports betting or playing casino games makes no difference, all gamblers must be at least 21.
Author
Stefan Krysa is a freelance sports writer born in the U.S. and raised in Canada. He is an avid fan of both American and Canadian sports, and is committed to providing up-to-date information regarding Arizona sports betting.
