Arizona sports betting – Best sites, bonuses & promos
Since legal sports betting arrived in Arizona in September 2023, at least 17 different online sportsbooks have opened their virtual doors for business. Below are our favorites:
Top online sportsbooks in Arizona for 2023
Which types of sports betting are legal in Arizona?
Pro Sports
That goes for US leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL but also top international leagues like Premier League soccer, tennis grand slams, or boxing bouts hosted around the world. The following sports are typically available at Arizona sportsbooks:
- NFL
- NBA
- NHL
- MLB
- Soccer (Premier League, MLS, Champions League etc…)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Boxing
- UFC/MMA
- Motorsports
- Table Tennis
- Lacrosse
- Australian Rules
- Badminton
- Billiards
- Bowling
- Chess
- Cricket
- Curling
- Cycling
- Darts
- Esports
- Field Hockey
- Floorball
- Handball
- Horse Racing
- Netball
- Rugby League
- Rugby Union
- Snooker
- Volleyball
- Winter Sports
Build your NBA betting strategy with our helpful guide!
NCAA
Betting on college sports, in general, is legal, however, you cannot bet on specific players’ performances - prop betting effectively. That means that college betting is mostly confined to money lines, spreads, and totals on individual games, as well as futures bets.
High school sports are exempt from sports betting in Arizona.
Compared with the nascent legal sports betting industries in other states, Arizona’s laws are fairly open. The following types of betting are all available for anyone over the age of 21.
Moneyline Betting
Moneyline bets are a straight-up prediction of which side or player is going to win an individual match, with each side of the bet given odds that reflect their chances. It’s just about the simplest way to bet in Arizona, and probably the most popular for that reason.
Point Spread Betting
Betting on the spread is a good option if you prefer to bet at around even money odds, so you double your money if you win. The sportsbook sets the spread at a point they think makes up for the relative difference between the two teams. To win your bet, your chosen team doesn’t need to win, it simply needs to cover the spread. So, if you bet on the San Antonio Spurs at +6 and they lose the game by 5, you still win.
Totals Bets
Totals bets are all about the total number of points scored in a game. The book sets a line and you choose whether you think there will be more or fewer points scored in the game.
Prop Bets
Prop bets are bets on incidents within the game, like specific player performances or what happens in a single half. For example, you can bet on team rushing yards in the NFL, how many rebounds an individual player gets in the NBA, yellow cards in soccer, etc.
Futures Bets
A futures bet is a bet on any kind of outcome a long way in advance, which will be affected by different factors. The most common type of futures are bets on which team or player will win a competition, like betting on the winner of the Super Bowl at the start of NFL season or betting on the Phoenix Suns to win the Western Conference.
Parlay Betting
Parlay betting involves combining different bets together on a single bet slip. To win a parlay, all the individual bets must be successful. The odds of each bet are multiplied together, making successful parlays potentially very profitable.
Live Betting
Live betting lets you bet on sports as they happen, minute by minute. It’s great if you’re watching a game at home on TV, or if you use a sports betting app and you’re actually in the stadium.
Illegal Betting in Arizona
The following types of betting are not legal in Arizona:
- NCAA prop bets
- High school sports
- Bets by professional sports people (including referees) on their own sport
- Betting on entertainment events like the Oscars
How do I sign up for a sportsbook account in Arizona?
Signing up with a sportsbook only takes a minute or two tops. The process is very simple and only requires you to provide some basic personal information. Regulated sportsbooks are required to confirm the identity of all of their players, so after you sign up you may need to provide some additional documentation, such as a copy of your driver’s license.
This is the info you’ll need to create an account:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Email address
- Username
- Password
- Address
- SSN
- Phone number
You’ll also have to accept the terms and conditions of the site and confirm all your details are correct. Your account will be created immediately, and you can deposit some money to start betting.
Sign up at Bet Rivers for a welcome offer of 2nd chance bet worth up to $500 in a free bet!
Arizona sports betting promos and bonuses
BetRivers promo - 2nd chance bet worth up to $500 in a free bet!
DraftKings promo - Bet $5 and win a $150 bonus if your bet wins!
Unibet promo - $100 risk-free bet
Desert Diamond Sports promo - $250 Deposit Match
What types of bonus offers and promos can I get from Arizona sportsbooks?
There's plenty of variety among the different types of bonuses up for grabs at Arizona sportsbooks.
If you receive bonus funds, remember that they can only be used to bet. Sportsbooks never really give you money that you can simply withdraw right away as part of a bonus. Instead, you’ll be able to bet it and if you win, you keep the profits.
Here’s a taste of the type of bonuses you can expect:
Deposit Match Bonus
This is a popular welcome bonus where the sportsbook matches some or all of your first deposit with bonus cash, up to a certain limit. You’ll often find 100% deposit match bonuses, so you get double the bankroll.
Reload Bonus
This is the same as a sign-up bonus deposit match, but for later deposits.
Free Bets
Free bets are just like betting vouchers. If you win a free bet, you keep the profits but not the value of the bet. Unlike bonus cash, they come in specific denominations like $10 or $25.
Risk-Free Bet
You get to place a bet and if it loses, the sportsbook will refund you with bonus cash or free bets.
Odds Boosts
Sportsbooks choose certain bets to receive enhanced odds for customers to enjoy. They often can’t be used in conjunction with free bets or other bonuses.
DraftKings sign up
Bet $5 and win $200 in bonus bets if your bet wins!
The above offers are available in the following states at present: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, and WY. 21+ Full T&Cs apply.
How to pick the best Arizona Sportsbook Promos
First and foremost, you should only bet using a legal and regulated site, like the ones on this page. Arizona has great legal options, but you can also find unregulated offshore sites accepting players from AZ. Avoid them; your money and your details are not protected and you never know when the site might disappear.
Factors to Consider
Apart from legality, there are a lot of factors that go into the construction of a great sportsbook.
- Sportsbook promos - every sportsbook has a welcome bonus for new players, and most of them have odds boosts and other ongoing promos too.
- Wagering requirements - more likely than not, operators in AZ will require sports bettors to wager their sports betting bonuses a number of times before they can use a bonus bet or reward credits to make wagers they can withdraw winnings from, so check every promotion for the fine print.
- Betting markets - there is a fair amount of overlap between the betting options at different AZ books. Most will have the major leagues of football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey and more. You can also find certain niche sports and bets at one or two sites only.
- Banking Methods - there needs to be a convenient way to both deposit and withdraw money
- Customer Support - fast efficient support if you run into trouble
- App or website - if you prefer mobile betting, you need a site with a well-designed mobile app
Every betting site is different and will have strengths and weaknesses in all the categories above. Your job is to figure out what is most valuable to you personally and choose the site to match.
How to claim the welcome bonus at an Arizona sportsbook
All Arizona sportsbooks have welcome bonuses for new members. You might receive a free bet to use right off the bat, or the sportsbook promotions might double your first deposit with bonus cash. Some sportsbooks give you a risk-free first bet, so that if it loses, you get a refund.
There are different ways to claim a welcome sportsbook bonus offer, and the steps you need to take depend on both the betting site in question and the type of offer.
When it comes to welcome bonus offers, there are three main ways to claim them:
- Using a promo code - this is like a password that unlocks a specific bonus. Often you can type it in during the registration process, or sometimes when you make your first deposit. Once accepted, the code makes the bonus become active.
- Opt-in - opting in means you signal to the sportsbook that you want to claim a bonus. Often it involved checking a box, during the registration process, or when you go to place a bet. Sometimes you’ll have to opt-in by clicking a link or even messaging customer support.
- No opt-in required - some bonuses simply automatically become active as soon you are eligible for them or as soon as your account is created. Risk-free bets are a good example. All you need to do is deposit some money and place a bet at qualifying odds. If it loses, your refund appears automatically
Sign up at Desert Diamond Sports for a $250 matched deposit
Sports betting in Arizona - the legal side
The reason we have legal sports betting in Arizona today is all thanks to a bill called HB2772, which was introduced at the start of the legislative session in 2021 by Gov. Doug Ducey. It followed a couple of failed bills the previous year and was not expected to gain traction quickly.
Bill HB2772 stipulated that 20 sports betting licenses (which included mobile betting) would be issued in total in the state - 10 for tribal casinos and 10 for pro sports teams or other pro sports organizations. Initially, this proved controversial since there were more eligible tribes in the state than the 10 licenses available to them.
Nevertheless, HB2772 found support in the legislature. Meanwhile, Gov. Ducey successfully negotiated new compacts with the tribes, leading to HB2772 being voted through and signed into law in April 2021. The following September, legal sports betting officially launched.
AZ sports betting facts and stats
- Legal sports betting launched in Arizona in September 2021
- You must be at least 21 years old to bet
- You can sign up at a sportsbook from anywhere, however, you must be physically located in the state of Arizona to place a bet
- Betting is regulated by the Arizona Department of Gaming
- Arizona was the fastest state in the US to reach $1 billion in sports betting handle, in just 82 days after legalization
- $6 billion was wagered on sports in Arizona in 2022
- DraftKings is the most popular sportsbook in Arizona, closely followed by FanDuel
What methods can I use to deposit in Arizona sportsbooks?
Arizona sportsbooks generally support lots of different banking methods for both deposits and withdrawals. It’s in the interest of the site to make it as easy as possible to sign up and deposit some money, and that’s exactly what they try to provide for players.
Here are some of the options you an expect:
- Bank cards/credit cards/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover…)
- Bank transfers (ACH Transfers, Trustly, E-checks, online banking…)
- E-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Venmo…)
- Prepaid bank cards (paysafecard, Play+ card…)
- Cash at the in-person sportsbook
- PayNearMe
- Wire transfer
How can I cash out from an online sportsbook?
Withdrawing your winnings is normally pretty simple too. Many sportsbooks require you to cash out via the same banking method you used to deposit. If the technology doesn’t allow this, you’ll be able to choose an alternative method.
While deposits are all more or less instant, cashing out generally takes a little time. Some methods are quicker than others, with e-wallets and Play+ cards generally the fastest. A Bank transfer is a popular option too, but it typically takes slightly longer.
All in all, you can probably factor in a wait time of at least a couple of days before your cash reaches your account. Check out your sportsbook’s withdrawal policy for more details.
You can request a withdrawal in the cashier section. The process is similar to depositing: just choose your method, type in how much you want to withdraw, and follow the instructions.
How old do I have to be to place sports bets online in Arizona?
You must be 21 years old or older to place a sports bet in Arizona.
Is mobile betting legal in Arizona?
Yes, mobile betting is totally legal in Arizona. Just like with regular betting, you need to be physically located in the state when you place a bet with your phone.
Which Arizona sportsbooks have mobile apps?
Mobile betting has more or less become the de facto way that people bet, and the vast majority of modern sportsbooks have apps you can download. Even if you’d prefer not to download one, the website software is also optimized for mobile access so you can just log in on your phone using your browser.
All of the Arizona sportsbooks on our list above have their own mobile apps. The DraftKings app is a real highlight, neatly designed to include all of the many features of the desktop site. It’s been downloaded more than a million times each on the Google Play Store and App Store and is highly rated on both.
DraftKings sign up
Bet $5 and win $200 in bonus bets if your bet wins!
The above offers are available in the following states at present: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, and WY. 21+ Full T&Cs apply.
Are DFS legal in Arizona?
Yes, Daily Fantasy Sports is legal and regulated in Arizona.
Can I win real money betting online in Arizona?
Yes. As long as you are at least 21 years old and physically located within the state you are entitled to bet and win real money. We strongly recommend you only bet at a legal and regulated Arizona sportsbook.
Do I have to pay taxes on my winnings from online betting in Arizona?
Yes, technically you are required to pay tax on your gambling winnings in Arizona, since it is considered taxable income, at a rate of 24%. If your winnings reach a certain threshold ($600 profit for sports betting if it’s 300x your stake) the sportsbooks or casino is required to report it to the IRS and provide you with form W2-G.
Apart from this, it’s up to you to declare your sports betting winnings at the end of the tax year. There is no real mechanism for the IRS to track the winnings of individuals under the threshold.
Our top 5 tips for Arizona sports betting
Sports betting is a tricky business and one in which the house is always at an advantage. Check out our top five tips to play smart and give yourself the best chance of winning:
- Choose a legal and regulated sportsbook. There are lots of offshore books out there ready to accept users from Arizona, and they may even have better odds than the legal options. But trust us, this is a recipe for disaster. You have no protection from these books, and there is nothing stopping them from taking your money and disappearing.
- Create accounts with multiple books. Many people simply pick one sportsbook and stick to it, but the reality is there is a lot of value in signing up with multiple books. Not only do you get different welcome bonuses but you can easily compare odds to get the most bang for your buck.
- Bet on what you know. If you’re a big fan of the Arizona Cardinals and watch the NFL all the time, use that knowledge to your advantage. Don’t bet on unfamiliar sports just for the sake of it.
- Bankroll management is important. It means you stay in control and helps you keep track of your spending. Setting aside a weekly or monthly budget - that you can afford to lose - is the best way to bet.
- Spread your action around. For casual bettors, it’s a better idea to place five $20 bets than a single $100 bet. It mitigates risk and it means you get five times the excitement.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 21+. T&Cs apply. Gambling Problem?
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- National Council on Problem Gambling –
- Gamble Aware –
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or go to
