Arizona is one of the top states for sports betting as legal U.S. sports betting celebrates its fifth anniversary.
Sports bettors are celebrating the fifth anniversary of the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which granted all states the right to legalize sports betting. A recent study has shown that Arizona is one of the top states for sports betting.
Yengols.com conducted a study that ranked Arizona as the seventh state out of 30 where sports betting has been legal and available for more than a year.
Despite being a latecomer to the sports betting scene, Arizona surpassed other states in various metrics after launching in September 2021, three years after New Jersey.
From March 2022 to February, Arizona sportsbooks have gathered nearly $6.2 billion in bets. Arizona ranks third in the nation for per capita handle at $1,071, behind only New Jersey and Colorado.
Arizona Sports Betting Adheres to Industry Standards
The study shows that Arizona has incorporated successful strategies from early adopters, establishing itself as one of the most competitive states for sports betting in the U.S.
Arizona offers a variety of 17 sports betting apps, ranking among the top states in terms of options. The state’s low 10% state tax on online revenues makes it an attractive destination for sportsbooks, tying for the fourth-lowest rate in the nation.
Arizona’s strong sports betting market is enhanced by the Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, and National Hockey League teams in the state. Furthermore, Arizona boasts two well-known Power 5 college sports programs.
Furthermore, the Phoenix area has recently hosted the Super Bowl and will be hosting the NCAA Final Four next year.
Arizona made history by hosting the first Super Bowl with legal sports betting in the state. The game helped push the total betting handle for February to over $600 million. State Farm Stadium, which is home to the Arizona Cardinals and the Fiesta Bowl, now includes a BetMGM Sportsbook Arizona retail location on site.
Arizona is falling behind in funding for problem gambling initiatives.
By increasing its investment in problem gambling services, Arizona has the potential to improve its ranking. In the 2021 fiscal year, Arizona allocated just 41 cents per adult towards problem gaming and responsible gaming services and education, placing it 15th nationally. In contrast, Oregon, the top-ranking state, spent more than $2 per adult on these services in the same year.
While the PG/RG services in Arizona are supported by tribal gaming revenues, none of the funds from sports betting are allocated to these programs.
According to the study on yengols.com, New Jersey was ranked as the top state, with Iowa, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, and Arizona following closely behind.
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Steve, a seasoned journalist with more than twenty years of experience, is an accomplished reporter with expertise in covering a diverse array of topics including gaming, sports, politics, and business. His articles have been published in renowned publications such as the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, and The Center Square. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Steve has extensively reported on the expansion of sports betting in the United States and various other gaming-related issues.
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