Sports betting news is coming in on a daily basis in Arizona and will be a huge source of revenue for the Grand Canyon State. It was officially legalized in April 2021 and the Arizona Department of Gaming states that it will launch on September 9th. This is — non-coincidentally — coinciding with the NFL season.
The state is extremely aware of the potential tax revenue from betting during the football season. With that, we will take a full look at the entire landscape of The Valley and its imminent sports betting launch according to ArizonaCasinos.com.
Arizona Sports Betting Legalization Updates
- April 2021
- April 12th: Senate approves sports betting bill, HB2772, legalizing sports betting.
- April 15th: Bill is signed into legislation by Gov. Doug Ducey.
The legalized sports betting bill opens the state up to 20 different sportsbooks (i.e. a place to bet on sports):
- June 2021
- June 2nd: Arizona Department of Gaming sets a date of Sept. 9th for a sports betting launch.
- June 17th: Sports betting rules for Arizona are released.
- July 2021
- July 2nd: Tax structure to bring money into the state is announced.
- Retail wagers will be taxed at an 8% rate, mobile wagers 10%, and licenses will cost $850,000 for the sportsbooks.
- July 26th: Arizona sports betting rules become official. Sportsbooks can now begin submitting applications to operate in the state.
Arizona Sports Betting Launch Date
Arizona is expected to launch sports betting on Thursday, September 9th, 2021.
The targeted date is purposely in advance of the NFL season where they expect to make a majority of their money. September 9th is the exact date of the first game of the NFL season.
The Dallas Cowboys travel to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Thursday Night Football. Arizona would like to start taking bets on this game immediately. Expect the odds to be available prior to the game in order to limit the volume of bettors at a given time.
Every Arizona Sports Betting Partnership
| Sportsbook | Partner | City |
| Bally Bet | Phoenix Mercury | Phoenix |
| BetMGM | Gila River Indian Community | Chandler |
| Caesars Sports | Arizona Diamondbacks | Phoenix |
| DraftKings | TPC Scottsdale/PGA Tour | Scottsdale |
| FanDuel | Phoenix Suns | Phoneix |
| Barstool Sports | Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale |
| UniBet | Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuman Indian Reservation | Yuma |
| William Hill | Ak-Chin Indian Community | Maricopa |
| WynnBET | San Carlos Apache Tribe | San Carlos |
Top Performers In The Market
A few companies immediately jump off the page. Below we will break down who could really grab major market share in the Grand Canyon State.
FanDuel Sportsbook: This is the most obvious choice. They have the biggest market share across all sports betting companies already. Their massive user base has helped them cash in with the number one sports team in Arizona. Their major partnership with the Phoenix Suns undoubtedly will help them put out great promotions, marketing, and presumably a sportsbook in the Footprint Center.
DraftKings Sportsbook: It is the clear intention from DraftKings to be active in the golfing market here. Golf is one of the fastest growing sports to bet on in the United States. Expect that to continue to grow.
Barstool Sports: The ever growing, and controversial, “Stoolies”, are making headlines left and right. They are now sponsoring the Arizona Bowl — now called the Barstool Bowl. Sponsoring a bowl game in the Grand Canyon State will dramatically influence their sportsbook business as well as the brand as a whole.
The Best Arizona Sports Teams To Bet On
Phoenix Suns
The reigning Western Conference champions! Chris Paul came in and the whole league changed. This will be an interesting offseason. They are presumably a player or two away from winning the actual title in 2022.
However, Chris Paul is a free agent and will want to be paid handsomely for his contributions this year. The Knicks will be used as leverage this offseason making the entire situation murky. Hopefully, Suns Owner Robert Sarver, will pay Paul and add a piece or two to keep this team in title contention. The Suns are tied for the 4th best odds in the NBA at +900 on PointsBet to win the title this year.
Arizona Cardinals
The most fun team in the NFL? Kliff Kingsbury has that Hollywood swag, Kyler Murray is one of the most electrifying quarterbacks we have seen in years, and De’Andre Hopkins is a top 3 receiver in the league.
In a loaded division, the Cardinals will need to show an improved offensive line and defense to compete. They have a really good foundation so anything is possible with an MVP candidate behind center. They are +4000 to win the Super Bowl on FanDuel. It should be a fun season.
Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are a middle-of-the-pack team in the NHL West. The expectation is that they could get even better as they traded their Goalie Darcy Kuemper to the Avalanche for a haul. Hopefully, they can sneak into the playoffs this coming season.
Noticeably missing from this list are the Arizona Diamondbacks. That team is in such disarray it is impossible to say they are “fun to bet”. They are currently losing 69% of their games and are in last place. It is fun to bet on winning teams, the Diamondbacks are not winning at this time.
