Legal Sports Betting For Arizona Residents
When it comes to legal sports betting for Arizona residents, there are a few things you need to know. As of right now, there are certain legalities that impact the state’s ability to offer legal Arizona sports betting. To help explain how those laws impact sports betting in the state, we go over those laws in detail further down on this page. You have several options when it comes to legal sports betting for Arizona residents. You could fly to one of the states that has land-based sports betting or you can use an online, offshore sportsbook. One of these is much easier than the other. On this page, you’ll find a number of the top legal Arizona sports betting sites available to residents, along with some details about those specific books. We also explain any questions you might have about betting on sports online and about legal sports betting in general.
Is Now Legal To Bet On Sports In Arizona With PASPA Overturned?
The Supreme Court ruling on PASPA does open up the possibility of land-based opportunities for legal sports betting in Arizona. There are no longer any restrictions on the state opening their own sportsbooks, it just comes down to lawmakers writing sports gambling laws and enacting the necessary regulatory framework. Arizona lawmakers are working on that framework right now. There is a sports betting bill (SB 1158) being considered by the State’s Congress to legalize and regulated land-based sports betting. This bill could also help lead the way to legalize state-licensed online and mobile sports betting as well. Until this bill passes, going to an online offshore sportsbook is your best bet to get into the action while you are in Arizona.
Residents of Arizona can place their online sports wagers without worrying about facing prosecution under state or federal gaming laws. Without land-based sports betting options in the state, online sportsbooks are the only viable legal sports betting option in Arizona. On this page, we recommend a number of legal online sports betting sites that provide the full experience to Arizona residents.
Sports Betting Laws in Arizona
After taking a look at the Arizona penal code, we have determined that there are no state laws that mention sports betting. In this search, we also discovered that there is no language in the state code that touches on Internet gambling, either. Without these two laws in place, we feel confident in saying that legal Arizona sports betting can be done at online sportsbooks. To further explore Arizona gambling laws, visit the Arizona Department of Gaming website.
In the state of Arizona, there have been no arrests or convictions for online gambling. Without these, we can confidently say that we do not believe that you will go to jail for online sports betting in Arizona. There is a lack of prohibitive laws in the state penal code that can be used for any such prosecution, but in addition to that, the federal sports betting laws in the US do not go after the bettor themselves. Rather, those laws target the person(s) operating the sportsbook and taking wagers.
We first looked at Bovada's sportsbook, as they have been operating for well over a decade. In this time, Bovada has risen to the top. By offering a bonus higher than most others, a set of betting odds far more favorable than any sportsbook in Vegas, and some of the easiest deposits around, Bovada has secured our #1 position. A 50% to $250 match bonus can be found on the first deposit. If you are a football fan that welcome bonus can be boosted to give you $1,000. Just enter the promo code BVNFL1000 for NFL bets and BVNCAAF1000 if you are betting on college football. Bovada covers lines on every major sport, many minor sports, and even a number of different entertainment and political events. Their specialty lies within the NBA, so if you prefer to bet on this sport, we can recommend Bovada above the others. Of course, they offer odds on nearly any sport you would want to be on as well, so check out Bovada to get started with your sports betting journey.
When it comes to BetOnline, you will be able to bet on a number of different sports. They do not show preference to any one sport, as they will take bets on nearly all of them. While some sportsbooks have branched out to not sporting events, BetOnline has done no such thing. They accept bets of all types, including spread bets, the total score, the moneyline, parlays and more. Our experience with BetOnline was nothing short of excellent, with deposits processing rapidly through Bitcoin, VISA, wire transfers or money orders, while withdrawals came even quicker. They have a 50% match to $1,000, which is one of the largest bonuses to ever been seen in an online sportsbook. All you need to do to get this bonus is enter the promo code BOL1000 when you make your first deposit at the cashier. Provided you know what you are doing, BetOnline could become one of the more profitable websites you ever visit online.
There are a lot of sports teams here which means there is a lot of money that can be made! MyBookie is one of the premier online sportsbooks out there for fans to use but what makes it even better is the fact there are all the sports and games that are played by Arizona teams will be on here. This is why fans here in Arizona love to have a MyBookie account. The bets here are set up for players to win and the money is there for them to capitalize on. The banking methods are easy to use as well so for the most part putting your money on your account is easy.
Federal Laws That Impact Arizona Sports Betting
Federal laws have the power to dictate what states can and cannot do. In the case of legal Arizona sports betting, there are two federal laws that impact how and where sports betting can take place. These laws, however, are not as influential as you might think on the current sports betting environment.
The first of these laws is the Wire Act. Passed in 1961, it was written in order to keep wagers from crossing state lines, to better assist states in enforcing their own sports betting legislation. The Wire Act states that no person can accept a wager placed over a wire of communication. The language in this law clearly targets the person taking the bet, not the person placing the bet. Under the Wire Act, someone in Nevada could not take a wager from someone in Arizona. However, this does not really have a strong impact in sports betting. Sure, it makes it harder to place your sports bets over state lines, but that is unlikely ever going to be an issue for you. There is also the fact that online offshore sportsbooks are outside of the country and they operate legally, even with the Wire Act in place.
This does not actually count as a law because it is no longer effective, but it is still worth knowing the history. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act prohibited 46 states from regulating their own sports betting operations. Nevada was the only state that can regulate a full array of sports betting. In conjunction with the Wire Act, PASPA eradicated domestic sports betting everywhere except Nevada and partially in Delaware, leaving online, offshore sportsbooks as the only viable sports betting for decades. On May 14th, 2018, the law was overturned by the Supreme Court due to violating the Tenth Amendment. There is no longer any federal restriction on legal Arizona sports betting. Arizona is now free to choose for itself if the state wants to legalize and regulate sports betting.
The second federal law that does still impact legal sports betting in Arizona is the UIGEA. This law prohibits online gambling sites from accepting wagers and processing transactions from US bettors. As a US law, however, the UIGEA does not have the authority to enforce the first part of its law. So, the UIGEA can only be enforced at American financial institutions. Under the UIGEA, you might have to deal with a declined credit card. Other than that, this law is relatively null. The best way for you to get around this is to use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Litecoin.
One of the unique things about Arizona’s legal gambling ages is that they’re the same across the board. It doesn’t matter if you’re hitting a casino, playing bingo, or betting on sports. The legal Arizona sports betting age is 21.
Mobile betting sites correspond to a larger online sportsbook. They’ll offer all of the same sports, wager types, and perks that their online counterparts do. Because of this, the best mobile betting sites are the ones that are associated with your online sportsbook. Look for one that is compatible with all operating systems, offers a perk for trying out the mobile site, and allows you to participate in all of the same activities you would on the computer is the perfect way to find the best mobile betting site available at legal Arizona sports betting sites.
Do Existing Federal Laws Apply to Arizona Citizens Placing Sports Wagers?
Federal laws apply to anyone in the US. Arizona residents attempting to place sports wagers should know that while there are federal laws that limit how and where sports betting can be done, there are no laws that actually pertain to the bettor. These federal sports betting laws target the person taking wagers or operating sports betting venues.
How Do I Find A Legal Arizona Sports Betting Site?
This is actually pretty simple. When you find an online sportsbook that appeals to you, head to their about page. If it says that they accept American players, it’s a pretty sure bet that they’ll take Arizona residents. So long as these sportsbooks are located overseas, they constitute a legal Arizona sports betting option.
Can An Online Sportsbook Be Trusted?
All of the legal Arizona sports betting sites recommended on this page can be trusted. When picking an online sportsbook, make sure you choose one that is licensed and regulated by a gaming commission. You can find this information out by heading to their about page.
What Sort Of Wagers Are Available At Legal Arizona Sports Betting Sites?
One of the main advantages of having an online sportsbook at your disposal is the different wager types available to you. You’ll see things like straight moneylines, spreads, and totals for the whole game, a half or quarter, or even available for live betting. You’ll also find adjustable lines for certain games as well. This is in addition to a wide variety of props, futures, parlays, round robins, and if-bets.
How Do You Read American Odds?
American odds might look confusing but are actually quite simple to understand once you know what everything means. The (+) and (-) symbols denote the favorite (-) and the underdog (+) when you’re looking at a moneyline. When you look at the number behind the symbols, it shows what you stand to gain (+) based on a $100 bet or what you have to stake (-) to earn $100.
- Arizona Cardinals -130
- New York Jets +170
In this example, you’ll see that the Cardinals are favored. If you bet on them, you’d need to put down $130 to win $100. Conversely, if you bet on the underdog and they win, you’d only have to stake $100 to win $170. American betting odds are the most common style of odds you’ll see at any legal Arizona sports betting site.
Professional:
- Arizona Cardinals (NFL)
- Phoenix Suns (NBA)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
College:
- University of Arizona
- Arizona State University
- Grand Canyon University
- Northern Arizona University