Arizona has one of the most robust bet catalogs in the US, keeping them in line with neighboring Nevada. While they don’t allow e-sports, there is no shortage of sports and leagues available to wager on.
Below are some of the sports and leagues that Arizo-naians can bet on.
NFL
Football dominated the US sports landscape, and the NFL is King. The league features 32 teams from around the country who compete to become Super Bowl cham-pions. Arizona has a massive NFL fanbase, thanks to a team in Phoenix and a population of fans from around the country. You can find bars and restaurants dedicated to different teams, making it one of the country's most unique and inclusive NFL markets. NFL betting sites have reported big numbers from the Copper State, show-ing just how much they love the NFL.
The Super Bowl
The NFL’s Championship game is an unofficial holiday across the country. Americans gather around their TVs with friends and family on Super Bowl Sunday to watch the league’s top two teams face off. Super Bowl betting sites always offer a unique set of prop bets, including things like the length of the National Anthem before the game. This gives bettors of all levels plenty of ways to wager on the big game.
NCAA Football
While the NFL is the country’s top sports league, NCAA football is right behind it. Arizona features two Division 1 football programs and hosts multiple bowl games after the regular season. Glendale’s State Farm Stadium also routinely hosts the National Championship game, which brings in fans from around the country. The state allows NCAA football betting sites to offer bets on in-state teams, giving bettors options to wager on the Arizona State Sun Devils or Arizona Wildcats.
NBA
The NBA has been growing over the last two decades and is now one of the most popular leagues in the coun-try. They play 82 games each season, with NBA games occurring nightly between October and May. Arizona, particularly Phoenix, are known for its love of the NBA. The Phoenix Suns have been arguably the most popular team in the state, thanks to their history of success. Fans can choose from various NBA betting sites or visit Fan-Duel’s retail sportsbook at the Sun’s arena.
NCAA Basketball
While NCAA basketball takes a back seat to football, a giant fanbase still supports the state's Division 1 pro-grams. Like with college football, Arizona has also hosted in-season tournaments, NCAA tournament games, and several Final Fours. Arizona NCAA basketball betting sites are allowed to accept wagers from bettors on in-state schools, though player prop bets are prohibited.
March Madness
Each NCAA basketball season ends with one of the most exciting events in sports, March Madness. The tourna-ment takes the nation’s top teams to compete in a gigan-tic single-elimination tournament. Each season, bettors take to March Madness betting sites in hopes their knowledge of the regular season will win them some money. Arizona has hosted several memorable March Madness games and is a common host for the Final Four.
Baseball
MLB
Baseball may not be as popular as it once was, but Ari-zona still has plenty of fans. The state is home to the Ari-zona Diamondbacks, who have had one World Series title since their formation in 1998. MLB betting sites offer a variety of bet types for bettors, including moneyline, total, and run-line wagers. Play props are also popular, as bettors can bet on everything from a single at-bat to state totals. If you want to bet on sports in the summer, the MLB is the way to go.
Hockey
NHL
The NHL remains America’s fourth favorite sport, but they still have one of the most loyal fanbases in the coun-try. NHL betting sites offer many of the same bet types as those in the MLB, including a puck line usually set at 1.5 goals. Arizona has a complicated history with the NHL, as the Arizona Coyotes have struggled to find sup-port and may soon be leaving the state. However, Arizo-na’s population features many people who moved from other states and brought their hockey allegiances with them. While the Coyotes may struggle, hockey fandom is very much alive in the desert.
Golf
PGA Tour
While the golf landscape is changing, the PGA Championship tour is still king in the US. The Tour has dozens of tournaments throughout its season, but its four “majors” are by far their most popular. Scottsdale has one of the tour’s most famous tournaments, the Phoenix Open. The tournament is unique in that it features stadium-style seating and a rowdy section of fans. It has endeared the sport to Arizona fans, who have enjoyed being able to wager on the tournament winners.
LIV Golf
LIV Golf is a controversial league currently attempting to merge with the PGA. While they failed to capture enough market share in the US, they are home to the world’s best golfers in a unique team-themed tournament. Golf betting sites allow the same bet types as those from the PGA, with the addition of being able to bet on the results of teams instead of just players. While the future of this league is unknown, the talent level makes it an exciting one to wager on.
Motorsports
NASCAR
While open-wheel racing has seen a spike in popularity in the US, NASCAR still dominates US motorsports. Arizo-na is no exception, as the state hosts two annual races in the league's top circuit. Bettors can wager on things like the race winner or head-to-head results at NASCAR betting sites, making it an exciting and potentially profitable league to bet on.
Formula 1
The F1 series has taken the country by storm over the last couple of years, and sportsbooks have seen an influx of bets. Formula 1 betting sites offer many of the same bet types as NASCAR but with an extra focus on the manufacturers along with the drivers. Each race is filled with celebrities and wealthy patrons, giving it a more premium feel than with NASCAR. While Arizona doesn’t currently host a race, that could change in the near fu-ture.
Combat Sports
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is by far the most popular MMA sports league in the US. The league is filled with colorful fighters, TV series, and massive pay-per-view events. Each event features many fights, giving bettors a lot of options to pick straight-up winners or par-lay several different fights. UFC betting sites see mas-sive numbers during the league’s premier events, show-ing just how large their fanbase has become. Arizona has a large UFC fanbase, with many fans taking the short drive to Las Vegas to watch the league’s premier fights.
Boxing
The sport’s golden age has been over for some time, but that doesn’t stop bettors from heading to boxing betting sites for the few marquee fights they still offer. Few sports can top the feeling of a heavyweight battle in Las Vegas, which is something that will always keep boxing as a pillar of the American sports landscape. Bettors have similar options as they do for UFC, though the lack of media coverage can make it more difficult.
Soccer
Major League Soccer, and the sport in general, continue to grow in popularity in the US. The MLS consistently sees high attendance numbers and growing TV viewer-ship. Soccer betting sites offer wagers on America’s top league and others from around the country. While Arizo-na does not have an MLS team, Phoenix, in particular, features a massive fanbase for the sport.
Tennis
While tennis is not considered a major sport in the US, tennis betting sites are flooded with wagers during the sport's biggest tournaments. Tennis tournaments are unique in that they take days or even weeks to complete, meaning bettors have hundreds of wagers to choose from. Arizona’s warm climate makes tennis a popular sport among residents, leading to much support for the pro leagues.
Daily Fantasy Sports
While many states consider daily fantasy sports to be separate from sports betting, Arizona legalized both in 2021. The industry is dominated by FanDuel and DraftKings, but several other sportsbooks have gotten in on the action. Arizona bettors have the option to play in a variety of DFS leagues throughout the year, and they have seen similar success as sports betting AZ.
Horse Racing
While horse betting is the least popular sport on this list, it remains a staple of the sports betting industry. Several online and retail sportsbooks feature racebooks that allow you to wager on races nationwide. Many also offer live streams of many different tracks, allowing bettors to watch their wager play out live. While the fanbase for horse racing may be small, it will likely remain a staple of US sports betting for decades to come.
College Sports Betting in Arizona
Arizona’s bet catalog is robust and includes a full slate of college sports. Bettors are allowed to wager on college athletics, including on in-state teams. It's hardly surpris-ing, given the massive fanbases for the Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils. While Arizona favors their pro sports teams more than college, plenty still looks to wager on the local colleges.
The most significant restriction when betting on college sports is college player prop bets. That means you can-not bet on the play of individual players in any college sport. Arizona followed the example of many other states that have enacted the same restrictions.
College player prop bets have caused concerns over the safety of college athletes, who could suffer from harass-ment and threats after a poor performance. We have seen this happen in other states, so it is unlikely that Ari-zona will change the rule any time soon.
Prohibited Sports Betting in Arizona
While Arizona has an extensive bet catalog available, there are some things that are prohibited under their sports betting law. If you are planning to bet on sports in the state, be sure to note that the following are not al-lowed:
- College player prop bets
- Betting on leagues you are involved with (player, coach, reg, team employee, etc.)
- High school games or events where more than half of the participants are under the age of 18
- Wagers on politics, award shows, and e-sports
Outside of the above, Arizona bettors can enjoy a wide selection of bets year-round.