Arizona Online Gambling
The Arizona online gambling environment became significantly more permissive in 2021 when it ended its longstanding prohibitions on sports betting and daily fantasy sports.
Other Arizona online gambling options include advance deposit wagering for horse races and online lottery sales via third-party ticket courier apps.
Other forms of online gambling, including casino games and poker, are prohibited in Arizona. Sweepstakes casinos serve as a close alternative to online casinos in Arizona, but recent enforcement actions against unlicensed operators suggest that those platforms are living on borrowed time.
Read on for a thorough Arizona online gambling guide detailing residents’ legal options, prohibited activities, responsible gambling resources, and frequently asked questions.
Legal Arizona Gambling Sites
21+ and present in AZ. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342.
Arizona Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age to play) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under ARS §§ 13-3301-3305 |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Not explicitly banned by statute but targeted by ADG as illegal gambling |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Illegal under general online gambling laws |
| Online Sports Betting (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal under ARS §§ 5-1301-5-1321 |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal under ARS §§ 5-1201-5-1213 |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Licensed operators may offer peer-to-peer pick’em contests |
| Online Lottery Sales (21+) | Legal/Unregulated | Not endorsed by AZ Lottery but couriers like Jackpocket permitted |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal under ARS §§ 5-101-5-131; regulated by ADG |
Arizona Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in Arizona.
State criminal code, specifically ARS § 13-3301, defines gambling broadly to include risking something of value on a contest of chance, which encompasses casino-style games like slots, blackjack, and roulette.
Arizona’s prohibition of any form of gambling that isn’t explicitly authorized by the state applies to online casinos. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has issued public service announcements informing consumers that online casinos that claim to be legal are fraudulent and should be reported.
Arizona’s tribal-state gaming compacts allow Class III gaming on reservations, but these do not extend to real-money online casinos.
In 2024 and 2025, the Arizona Department of Gaming reinforced the state’s strict stance when it issued multiple public service announcements and cease-and-desist orders to operators promoting illegal online gambling.
No legislative proposals to legalize online casinos in Arizona advanced in recent sessions amid concerns over revenue cannibalization and impacts on tribal compacts. The outlook for legalization remains dim, given Arizona’s history of conservative gambling expansion.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Arizona
Arizona law does not explicitly address sweepstakes casinos, but the ADG considers them illegal and has stepped up its enforcement efforts against operators.
Although some operators claimed compliance through “free-to-play” models avoiding direct consideration, the Arizona Department of Gaming disagrees and has classified many as promoting illegal gambling under state law.
In April and June 2025, the Department issued cease-and-desist orders to several sweepstakes operators, including major platforms, for providing access to slot-style games and other prohibited activities.
Additional enforcement actions are likely, so any sweepstakes casinos still accessible in Arizona face a growing risk of being forced out of the market. The implications for players are not good:
- Sweepstakes casinos are unregulated in Arizona and lack critical consumer protection mechanisms
- Any given sweepstakes casino could be forced out of the market with little-to-no advance warning for current customers
- Future legislative action is likely, which could result in an outright ban of sweepstakes casinos in Arizona
Arizona Online Poker
Online poker is illegal in Arizona.
Poker’s classification as gambling under state law prohibits Arizona poker sites alongside other forms of online gambling.
Offshore poker sites may be accessible, but using them violates state law and exposes players to risks like fraud and lack of dispute resolution. The ADG actively monitors and warns against illegal online gambling, including poker.
No bills to legalize online poker have been filed recently. Expansion efforts are unlikely without broader online gambling reforms, which face opposition from tribal operators protective of in-person revenue.
Arizona Online Sports Betting
Online sportsbooks are legal and regulated in Arizona.
The Arizona legislature legalized online sports betting in 2021 via HB 2772. Legal Arizona betting sites operate through partnerships with professional sports venues and federally recognized Native American tribes.
Licensed online sportsbooks may offer:
- Bets on professional and college sports
- Pregame and in-play wagers
- Prop bets (except on college games), moneylines, totals, parlays, teasers, etc.
- Welcome bonuses and rewards programs
Some of the most successful Arizona online sportsbooks include:
Per state law, users must be 21+ and physically present within state borders to place wages online.
Operators must implement responsible gambling tools, such as deposit limits and self-exclusion. The ADG regulates online sports betting to ensure the fair treatment of customers, promote responsible gambling, protect the integrity of sports, and monitor licensees for compliance.
Arizona Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports contests are legal in Arizona.
The 2021 law that authorized online sportsbooks in Arizona also legalized daily fantasy sports, implemented consumer protection regulations, and granted the ADG regulatory authority over DFS platforms.
Previously, Arizona was one of the few states where major DFS sites did not operate due to the state’s broad definition of “gambling.” The law officially carved out an exemption for paid fantasy sports contests and established a regulatory framework.
Fantasy sports operators must acquire licenses from the ADG, undergo annual compliance audits, and bar anyone under 21 from participation. The ADG maintains a public list of licensed fantasy sports apps in Arizona to curb unregulated platforms.
Fantasy Pick’em Contests in Arizona
Peer-to-peer fantasy pick’em contests are legal in Arizona.
Fantasy pick’em apps like PrizePicks and ParlayPlay offer over/under-style prediction contests in which players predict whether athletes will meet their projected stat totals.
In 2023, the ADG cracked down on fantasy pick’em contests played against the house and issued cease-and-desist letters to several high-profile operators.
Operators like PrizePicks and ParlayPlay temporarily ceased offering fantasy pick’em contests in Arizona but later returned after developing legally compliant peer-to-peer variants played against other players.
Arizona Online Lottery Sales
Online lottery sales are legal but unregulated in Arizona.
The official Arizona Lottery does not sell tickets directly through its website or a proprietary app. However, residents can buy Arizona lottery tickets online via third-party lottery courier services like Jackpocket and TheLotter.
Customers can place orders for games like Mega Millions, Powerball, Fantasy 5, Pick 3, The Pick, and various scratchers via lottery couriers, which purchase official tickets on their behalf directly from licensed AZ Lottery retailers.
Reputable lottery couriers notify users when they win and deposit winnings directly into their user accounts. In the case of larger wins, couriers contact winners to arrange the transfer of the winning ticket, which players can redeem from the AZ Lottery.
The Arizona Lottery does not endorse lottery couriers, and it offers zero regulatory oversight or dispute resolution services.
However, the Arizona Lottery apparently appreciates the increased sales courier services offer because it frequently mentions couriers by name when players win large jackpots via tickets ordered through mobile apps.
Online Horse Racing Betting in Arizona
Online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in Arizona.
The ADG regulates online horse racing betting and requires advance deposit wagering platforms (ADWs) to obtain licenses before offering their services to residents.
Individuals must be 21 or older to bet on horse races online and use licensed ADWs exclusively. The ADG maintains a list of approved operators for customers to verify before placing bets online.
Permitted Arizona ADWs:
- TwinSpires
- FanDuel Racing
- Xpressbet
Licensed ADWs may offer wagers on races held nationwide or worldwide and connect bettors to every racetrack’s pari-mutuel wagering pools. Standard features include welcome bonuses for new customers, daily cashback rewards, customer loyalty programs, and live-streaming video.
Arizona Gambling Regulators
Arizona’s gambling oversight is centralized, with additional tribal involvement for compact-related activities:
- Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG): The primary regulator for tribal gaming, sports betting, DFS, horse racing, and charitable gaming; enforces laws, issues licenses, and handles compliance.
- Tribal Gaming Commissions: Each tribe, such as the Gila River Gaming Commission, regulates on-reservation activities under compacts with the state.
- Arizona Lottery Commission: Oversees lottery games and retailers, ensuring compliance with sales restrictions.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Arizona
Numerous resources are available in Arizona for help with problem gambling, including self-exclusion programs and helplines supported by the Division of Problem Gambling within the Arizona Department of Gaming.
Statewide self-exclusion list programs are available for tribal casinos, sports betting, and DFS.
Arizona Self-Exclusion Resources
- Tribal Casino Self-Exclusion: Voluntary ban from all Indian gaming facilities for 1 year, 5 years, or lifetime; managed by the Division of Problem Gambling.
- Event Wagering and DFS Self-Exclusion: Operators must offer self-exclusion under A.R.S. § 5-1320; the ADG also offers statewide self-exclusion from all regulated online betting and fantasy sports activities.
- ADW Self-Exclusion: Individual platforms provide tools; no centralized list for horse racing.
Arizona Responsible Gambling Organizations
- Division of Problem Gambling: Offers free treatment, counseling, and education; helpline: 1-800-NEXT-STEP (1-800-639-8783).
- Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling (AZCCG): Provides support groups and referrals; helpline: 1-800-777-7207.
- National Council on Problem Gambling: 24/7 helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER; chat at 1800gamblerchat.org.