Chandler
Gila River Hotels & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass
Flagstaff
Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort
Maricopa
Harrah’s Ak-Chin
Scottsdale
Talking Stick
Top 5 Online Casinos in Arizona
Gambling in Arizona
Gambling has a long history in Arizona, dating back to the territorial days when saloons and card games were commonplace. Today, the state has a thriving gambling industry that offers a range of options, including casinos, horse and dog racing, and the state lottery. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, betting on horse and dog racing was also popular, as well as cockfighting and other forms of animal-based betting. By the 1930s, however, the state began cracking down on gambling, and by the 1950s, most forms of gambling were illegal.
In the 1980s, however, the state began to relax its gambling laws, and in 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed, allowing Native American tribes to operate casinos on their lands. Today, there are over 20 casinos throughout the state, operated by various tribes. Tribal casinos in Arizona are listed below.
Current Gambling Legislation in Arizona:
In Arizona, gambling is regulated by the Arizona Department of Gaming, which oversees the state lottery, horse and dog racing, and tribal casinos. The state lottery was first introduced in 1980 and offers a range of games, including scratch-off tickets and multi-state lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions.
Horse and dog racing are also legal in the state, with three tracks operating in Phoenix and Tucson. In 2018, a bill was signed into law allowing tracks to offer off-track betting on races from other tracks across the country.
As for casino gambling, tribes in Arizona are allowed to operate slot machines, table games, and poker, as long as they have a compact with the state. Currently, there are 24 tribes with compacts, and together, they operate more than 20 casinos throughout the state.
However, in 2021, a new law was passed that allows for sports betting to be offered at tribal casinos in the state. The law also allows for daily fantasy sports and keno games to be offered by the tribes. It’s unclear when sports betting will begin in the state, as the regulations and licensing process are still being worked out.
The Future of Casino and Online Casino Gambling:
While Arizona’s gambling industry is currently thriving, there are ongoing discussions about the future of casino and online casino gambling in the state. One of the biggest debates is whether or not to legalize online casino gambling.
Currently, online casino gambling is not legal in Arizona, and there are no bills currently being considered that would change that. However, given the growing popularity of online gambling in other states, it’s possible that Arizona may eventually follow suit. Another issue that has been raised is the possibility of allowing commercial casinos to operate in the state. Currently, only tribal casinos are allowed to operate in Arizona, but some lawmakers and business groups have pushed for the legalization of commercial casinos as a way to boost tourism and revenue.
However, this proposal has been met with opposition from the tribes, who argue that it would violate their compacts with the state and could lead to the loss of jobs and revenue for their communities.
Overall, the future of casino and online casino gambling in Arizona is uncertain, but it’s clear that the industry will continue to evolve and adapt to changing technologies and regulations. Whether or not the state will allow for online gambling or commercial casinos remains to be seen, but for now, the tribal casinos are a major player in the state’s gambling industry and will likely continue to be for the foreseeable future.
Arizona Casino FAQs
Is gambling legal in Arizona?
Arizona has had strict gambling laws since the 1900s, restricting game play to land based casinos on Native American territory. Since Arizona has more Native American lands than any other state (more than 20 million acres), you’ll find 34 casinos to play at! Online gambling is not legalized so you won’t find any Arizona run virtual casinos and whilst there is pressure to legalise Sports Betting like states such as New Jersey have done already, Arizona has not conceded yet.
What’s the best casino in Arizona?
There are 34 casinos in Arizona so you’re spoiled for choice! We’ve listed our top picks above, those casinos rated highest by visitors. If you are in the Phoenix area, Talking Stick Resort is well worth a visit. Plus the Gila River Hotels and Casinos group are very popular with casino players. If you prefer to play online, there are lots of offshore gaming companies that accept players from Arizona.
How old do you have to be to gamble in Arizona?
You must be 21 or over to gamble in casinos in Arizona. State legislature in 2000 changed the minimum legal age of gambling from 18 to 21.
Which tribal lands house casinos?
Your nearest casino in Arizona is housed on Tribal lands belonging to the Indian community resident there.
AK-Chin Indian community – Harrah’s AK-Chin Hotel and casino
Cocopah Tribe – Cocopah Casino Resort
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation – We-Ko-Pa-Resort
Colorado River Indian Tribes – Blue Water Resort & Casino
Fort Mojave Indian Tribe – Spirit Mountain Casino
Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe – Paradise Casino
Gila River Indian Community – Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte Casino, Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino
Navajo Nation – Twin Arrows, Fire Rock, Flowing Water, Northern Edge
Pascua Yaqui Tribe – Casino of the Sun, Casino del Sol Resort
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community – Casino Arizona, Talking Stick Resort
San Carlos Apache Tribe – Apache Gold Casino Resort
Tohono O’odham Nation – Desert Diamond casinos in Tucson, Sahuarita and Why
Tonto Apache Tribe – Mazatzal Hotel & Casino
White Mountain Apache Tribe – Hon-Dah Resort Casino
Yavapai-Apache Nation – Cliff Castle Casino Hotel
Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe – Yavapai Casino, Buck’s Casino