Arizona sports betting has been legal since former Governor Doug Ducey signed HB 2772 into law in April 2021, but the market took a while to find its feet.
The first Arizona sportsbook didn’t go live until September 9, 2021, the first day of the 2021 NFL season. Many of the major American sports betting sites didn’t enter the Grand Canyon State market until 2022 or later.
Fast forward to now, and 2024 was one of the most significant years for Arizona sports betting – for better or worse – with three of the state’s 13 legal sportsbooks launching this year and another four sports betting operations pulled up stakes and left the market in 2023.
Let’s recap the wild changes to the Arizona sports betting market in 2024, and predict what’s next in 2025.
Arizona Sports Betting: 2024 Highlights
Feb. 5: British sports betting giant bet365 went live in Arizona. As part of an agreement with the Ak-Chin Indian Community, bet365 also made a $1 million donation to the tribe.
April 4: Fanatics Betting & Gaming announced a new long-term partnership agreement with the Tonto Apache Tribe to launch a new Arizona sports betting app for iOS and Android devices.
June 4: Unibet officially closed its sports betting operations in Arizona. This was part of a broader move by Unibet’s parent company, the Kindred Group, to leave the U.S. sports betting market.
July 9: SaharaBets announced the closure of its Arizona sports betting site. The sportsbook was owned by Cuban-American billionaire Alex Meruelo, who also owned the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. Like SaharaBets, the Coyotes no longer exist. Merulo sold the team’s franchise rights to the new NHL expansion team, the Utah Hockey Club.
July 19: SuperBook Sports followed SaharaBets’ lead and announced that it would no longer be available in Arizona. The company gave bettors a few hours of notice that it would not accept bets, deposits, or new players.
Aug. 31: Betway parent company Super Group shut down Betway Sportsbook in several states, including Arizona. The company’s executives cited problems breaking into the US market and tough competition from American brands, such as FanDuel and DraftKings.
Sept. 26: Sporttrade officially went live in the Grand Canyon State. The Philadelphia-based sports betting exchange platform partnered with the Quechan Tribe of the Ft. Yuma Indian Reservation, California & Arizona.
Sports Betting: Where Things Stand
Many sportsbooks left the market in 2024, but don’t worry – Arizona sports betting is not going anywhere. The Grand Canyon State has one of the most accessible sports betting markets, with several sports available for betting and very few wagering restrictions. College player props, politics, and award shows are the only major sports betting markets unavailable in Arizona.
Here are the 13 legal Arizona sportsbooks you can use if you are over 21 years old:
- Bally Bet
- bet365
- BetMGM
- BetRivers
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Desert Diamond
- DraftKings
- ESPN BET
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- FanDuel
- Golden Nugget
- Hard Rock Bet
- Sporttrade
Through September, Arizona had taken more than $5.4 billion in total bets in 2024, with a hold percentage of 9.5%. Retail sportsbooks are taxed at just 8% annually, while online revenue is subject to a 10% tax.
Arizona Sports Betting: What's Next?
While the Arizona sports betting market changed significantly last year, we can’t see much happening in 2025. Most of the sportsbooks we expected to leave have already left, and there aren’t many big-name sportsbooks that aren’t operating in the state. We don’t expect to see any major changes from lawmakers either. Arizona lawmakers have been far less proactive about changing tax laws, betting markets, etc., than regulators in other states.
Arizona Sports Betting: Notes and Quotes
A bet365 spokesperson discussing the company’s new Arizona sportsbook:
"Like bet365, the Arizona sporting scene is Never Ordinary and boasts several professional and college teams, earth-shaking, fan-favorite moments, and exhilarating championship events."
Sporttrade Founder and CEO Alex Kane talking about his company’s launch in Arizona:
"We're incredibly proud to announce we've launched in Arizona. There is impressive demand for our offering in Arizona because players want a premium option.”
SaharaBets, speaking on its decision to close down operations in Arizona:
“The decision was not made lightly, and we understand the impact it may have on you as a customer. We want to express our gratitude for your support throughout the years.”
