Arizona Online Casinos
Despite recent legalization efforts, official Arizona online casinos remain in a gray area, as there are no state-regulated options.
Players who want to enjoy online casino gaming only have access to offshore sites outside state laws.
If you’re interested in finding viable and reliable online casino options that accept players in the Copper State, keep reading.
In this article, I’ll share the top casino sites that our team has thoroughly reviewed and tested, learning more about what they offer regarding games, banking, and bonuses.
You’ll also learn about the laws governing casinos within the state so you know what to expect.
RANK | CASINO | BONUS | PAYOUT SPEED | LICENSED | TOTAL GAMES | SLOTS | OUR RATING | CLICK TO PLAY |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DuckyLuck Casino | BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-5 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 751 | SLOTS 646 | OUR RATING 4 / 5 | Play Now |
2 | SlotsandCasino | BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-2 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 691 | SLOTS 594 | OUR RATING 3.9 / 5 | Play Now |
3 | BetUS | BONUS 150% up to $3,000 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-7 days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 491 | SLOTS 367 | OUR RATING 4.5 / 5 | Play Now |
4 | Super Slots | BONUS 250% up to $6,000 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-7 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 552 | SLOTS 372 | OUR RATING 3.8 / 5 | Play Now |
5 | Red Dog Casino | BONUS $8,000 Welcome Bonus | PAYOUT SPEED 1-3 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 1564 | SLOTS 1312 | OUR RATING 4 / 5 | Play Now |
Best Arizona Online Casinos
Arizona players seeking safe and enjoyable online casino options can find reliable platforms that welcome residents. These casinos offer a wide range of games, secure banking methods, and player-focused features.
Whether you enjoy classic table games, engaging slots, or live dealer options, these trusted platforms deliver a top-tier gaming experience.
Below, you’ll find details about two standout online casinos catering to Arizona players.
DuckyLuck – Best Overall Online Casino
DuckyLuck offers an exciting gaming experience tailored for players seeking variety and rewards. Arizona residents can enjoy a vast collection of games, including jackpot slots and traditional table games.
The platform’s welcome bonuses, regular promotions, and VIP rewards system enhance the overall experience, while secure banking options and prompt payouts provide peace of mind.
Main Features
- Premium games with unique features.
- Play on mobile or desktop.
- Explore low to high-betting options.
Bovada – Reliable and Versatile Casino Site
Bovada is a trusted online casino known for its user-friendly interface and diverse game selection.
Arizona players can explore an array of slots, table games, and live dealer options, all backed by secure payment methods and fast withdrawals.
Bovada also features regular promotions and a responsive support team, making it a dependable choice for players looking for quality and convenience.
Top Features
- Licensed in the Union of Comoros.
- Dual casino and bettings platform.
- Complete live dealer and poker offerings
Are Online Casinos Legal in Arizona?
- You can play at online casinos regulated outside of the state.
- It’s illegal to open an online casino based in Arizona.
- There is no prosecution recorded for using online casinos.
- The legal age for online and commercial casinos is 21+ in Arizona.
Legal Casino Facts for AZ Players
Here are some facts about AZ online casinos that you need to consider before playing.
- The Arizona online game market is unregulated and features offshore casinos.
- Most online casinos that serve AZ have licensing in other jurisdictions (e.g., Curacao).
- You can find games online that aren’t available in Arizona tribal casinos, like Banana Jones and Fish Catch.
- Some AZ online casinos offer live dealer gaming, which feels like a tribal casino atmosphere.
- You cannot deposit and withdraw with a US bank account at many offshore sites.
- Cryptocurrency banking (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) is available at most online casinos in Arizona.
- Most offshore gaming sites feature large welcome bonuses for new players.
Arizona Casino Laws Summary
Arizona has legalized almost every type of gaming. It features tribal casinos, sportsbooks, poker rooms, daily fantasy sports (DFS), lotteries, and charitable gambling.
As of September 2012, online sports betting is available in the Copper State. You will also have access to many offshore online casinos. Here’s a summary of the main AZ laws that you need to know before playing locally or online.
Category | What You Need to Know |
---|---|
AZ Online Gaming | Online sports betting is legal and regulated in Arizona. Offshore online casinos and poker sites are also available and easily accessible. |
Land-Based Casinos in Arizona | Arizona has 26 tribal casinos, with most offering Class III gaming (a.k.a. slots & table games). The casinos with Class III gaming collectively provide almost 20,000 slot machines. |
Sports Betting | Online sports betting is legal and regulated in Arizona. Offshore casinos and poker sites are also available and easily accessible. |
State Lottery | The Arizona Lottery features drawings, scratch cards, and the multi-state Mega Millions and Powerball drawings. |
Charitable Gambling | Qualified charities can offer bingo, horse racing days, pull tabs, and raffles. They can complete a survey with the Arizona Department of Gaming before holding a gambling fundraiser. |
Poker | Arizona offers eight poker rooms, with the largest ones near the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. |
Horse & Dog Racing | Arizona has only one operating horse racing track, with most races taking place in the winter and spring. Dog racing is illegal here, as it is in most other states. |
Fantasy Sports | DFS sites have been legal and regulated in the Copper State since HB 2772 passed in 2021. |
Social Gambling | Social gaming is legal, provided nobody collects rake from games or profits in any other way. |
Taxes on Winnings | Yes, you need to pay taxes on casino winnings in Arizona. Arizona taxes gambling winnings like income. For example, you would pay a 2.59% state rate as a single filter that makes $0-$26,000. Certified public accountants suggest players keep detailed records and report all earnings. Please visit our exclusive gambling taxes article for more information. |
Disclaimer: The information on this page does not, nor does it intend to, constitute legal advice. This page is for learning purposes and may not have the most up-to-date information year-round. Readers should contact their attorney and/or accountant for advice concerning any particular legal matter. Do not take any action without first contacting a lawyer in your state.
Gaming Laws: A Deep Dive
The Copper State seemingly has a tough stance on gaming.
The Department of Gaming notes that “all gambling is illegal in Arizona unless a statute excludes it as legal.” State authorities will take action against anybody who operates an illegal gambling business on AZ soil.
However, the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) 13-3302 carve out a number of exceptions. You can see further details on what forms of gaming are legal and illegal in this state below.
Land-Based Casinos
Arizona may be overshadowed in gambling by its northern neighbor, Nevada. However, it has a surprisingly large gaming industry with 26 tribal casinos.
Desert Diamond (West Valley) is the largest AZ casino, featuring 1,400 slot machines and 75 table games. Tribes gained the right to offer Class III gaming in 2021 as part of HB 2772.
Former Gov. Doug Ducey negotiated for years with tribes to usher in legal Arizona sports betting. The result: many Native-American casinos now resemble Nevada gaming venues with slot machines, blackjack, and other traditional games.
Poker Rooms and Clubs
All Arizona poker rooms are inside tribal casinos. This situation differs from nearby California, which has dozens of standalone card rooms.
The biggest AZ poker venues are Talking Stick Casino (47 tables), Desert Diamond (30), Gila River (30), and Casino Del Sol (10). Talking Stick’s Arena Poker Room is noteworthy because it hosts the annual Arizona State Poker Championship.
Bingo, Lottery, and Charitable Gambling
The Native-American casinos that do not offer Class III gaming focus on bingo and other games. The Bingo Hall (Casino Arizona), Casino of the Sun, and Riverboat Bingo Hall offer bingo consistently.
Approved charities also feature bingo, plus horse-racing charity days, pull tabs, and raffles. The Department of Gaming provides a survey that helps charities operate within state laws.
The Arizona State Lottery offers another gaming outlet for state residents and visitors. It features several draw games like Fantasy 5, Pick 3, and Triple Twist.
You can also purchase scratch cards, Mega Millions, and Powerball tickets at licensed retailers.
Horse & Dog Tracks
Arizona Downs is the only active horse track in Arizona, and it runs races from May through December.
Arizona used to be one of the biggest states for dog races, boasting five tracks at one point. But these tracks slowly closed over the years as the sport began dying. The state officially ended any hopes of a revival by banning greyhound racing in 2016.
Social Gambling at Home
(ARS) 12-3301.9 notes that social gaming is legal as long as:
“[It is] not conducted as a business and that involves players who compete on equal terms with each other […]”
Therefore, you can play poker and other card games in Arizona households. Other notable rules behind social gambling include that all players must be 21 and no cheating occurs.
Sports Betting
The Copper State legalized sports betting in April 2021 through HB 2772. The latter allows for licensed retail sportsbooks and online betting sites.
Retail sportsbooks are available at Native American casinos and sports arenas, such as Chase Field, Footprint Center, and State Farm Stadium.
You must be 21 years old and within state lines to use Arizona betting apps. Mobile sportsbooks employ geolocation software to ensure that you are within AZ borders.
Casinos in Arizona
Regarding in-person gaming, there are over 30 legal options across the state. Native tribes run all casinos on reservations, and you won’t find any commercial locations like the Vegas strip.
While there are many land-based casinos, none of them have a license for online gaming. Some locations may offer social gaming platforms without the opportunity to win real money.
This interactive map shows you the locations of Arizona’s land-based casinos and poker rooms.
Top Arizona Casinos
- Casino Arizona
- Talking Stick Resort
- Harrah’s Ak-Chin
- Desert Diamond Casino – Gila River
- Wild Horse Pass Casino
Summary
- Total Casinos: 26
- Poker Rooms: 8
- Tribal Casinos: 26
Arizona Vs. Neighboring States
Most US regions have a similar stance regarding gambling. The Southwest is the same, although Utah is an outlier. You can see how Arizona compares and differs from its neighbors below.
State | Is Gambling Legal? | Legal Gambling Age | Legal Land-Based Casinos | Playing at Online Casinos | Legal Sports Betting | Legal State Lottery | Charitable Gaming |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona | Yes | 21 | Legal (Tribal Only) | Offshore Only | Legal | Legal | Legal |
California | Yes | 18 – 21 | Legal (Tribal Only) | Offshore Only | Not Legal | Legal | Legal |
New Mexico | Yes | 18 – 21 | Legal | Offshore Only | Legal | Legal | Legal |
Nevada | Yes | 21 | Legal | Offshore Only | Legal | Not Legal | Legal |
Utah | No | N/A | Not Legal | Not Legal | Not Legal | Not Legal | Not Legal |
Arizona is similar to most of its neighbors regarding legal forms of gambling. It offers casinos and charity gaming like three other bordering states. Meanwhile, it has legal sports betting like New Mexico and Nevada. Most of its neighbors also tolerate offshore online casinos.
Again, Utah is the oddball with no forms of legal gambling. Ardent gamblers will fare better in any other states listed above.
A Brief History of Arizona Gambling
Arizona outlawed gambling in 1912 as part of its conditions for statehood. It had to close all in-state casinos at the time to meet this condition. The Grand Canyon State did not explore gambling again until the 1950s, when it ventured into racing.
Horse and greyhound racing started with the Arizona Racing Commission in 1958. The industry boomed while it held a monopoly. Like other racing industries, it declined sharply when other forms of gaming came in.
Arizona state lottery hit the scene in November 1980. It was the first time a state west of the Mississippi River approved a lottery.
The history of casinos in Arizona is one of the most unusual in the United States. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988. This limited reservations to bingo, off-track betting, and lottery-type drawings.
Slot parlors started opening in 1990 based on ambiguous legislation but were ordered to shut down in 1992. After a raid on five tribes that didn’t budge, gaming pacts started getting signed once again later that year.
Today, Arizona has a healthy network of land-based casinos dotting its reservations. Poker rooms, race betting, and state lottery thrive with more legislation on the horizon.
Former Gov. Doug Ducey began sports betting negotiations with tribes after PASPA fell in 2018. The two sides had to negotiate so the state did not violate tribal gaming compacts. They agreed to a deal in 2021, the same year sports betting became legal in the state.
Responsible Gambling Initiatives
The Arizona Division of Problem Gaming works with tribes and licensed state operators to curb gambling addiction. It offers a self-exclusion form that gamblers can fill out to ban themselves from “Class III Arizona Gaming Facilities.”
Players can get this form from the Division’s website or tribal gaming locations. Other resources available for those with a gambling problem include:
If you want to know more about the topic, visit our responsible gambling page.
In Summary: Arizona’s Gambling Journey
The Grand Canyon State offers most forms of gambling, ranging from land-based casinos to poker rooms. Sports betting is the most recent inclusion, with retail and online sportsbooks launching in 2021.
Online casinos and poker are the only types of unregulated gambling in Arizona. Offshore online casinos and poker sites have been filling in for the past 25+ years.
I do not see this situation changing for at least a few years. Regulated mobile poker and casinos would require more negotiations with tribes, which appreciate where they currently are with land-based casinos.
You still have many Arizona gambling options to keep you busy. And if you feel like playing online poker or casino games, casino sites are widely available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have any more questions on the legality of Arizona online gambling? The following FAQs further clarify what you can play in the Grand Canyon State.
Is gambling legal in Arizona?
Arizona offers several forms of legal gambling, including bingo, casinos, charities, daily fantasy, lotteries, sportsbooks, and social games. It also tolerates offshore poker and casino sites.
How do tribal casinos differ from commercial casinos in Arizona?
The Copper State does not have commercial casinos like Hollywood Casino or MGM. Instead, all its casinos are owned and run by Native American tribes. As of 2021, tribal casinos can offer Class III slots and table games just like commercial casinos in other states.
Is there any risk of playing at online casinos regulated outside of Arizona?
Nobody has ever gotten busted for playing at online casinos from Arizona. Therefore, the odds of you getting in legal trouble for enjoying offshore casinos are little to none.
Who regulates online casinos in Arizona?
Online casinos that serve Arizona are unregulated and have offshore licensing. Most of these casinos hold a license in Costa Rica or Curacao
What is the minimum age to gamble in Arizona?
21 is the minimum age to gamble in Arizona, including tribal casinos, the state lottery, and wagering on races.
Why are craps, roulette, and baccarat illegal in Arizona?
Craps, roulette, and baccarat are illegal in Arizona casinos because they are entirely chance-based. All permitted table games have some skill involved. Video versions fall loosely under slots classification, so some virtual tables exist.
Disclaimer: The information on this page does not, nor does it intend to, constitute legal advice. This page is for learning purposes and may not have the most up-to-date information year-round. Readers should contact their attorney and/or accountant to obtain advice concerning any particular legal matter. Do not take any action without first contacting a lawyer in your state.