Phoenix is smack in the middle of Arizona, and the hotbed for sports in the state. Phoenix and the surrounding area is home to a professional sports team in the four biggest North American sports leagues. Championships haven’t found their way to Phoenix on many occasions, with the Arizona Diamondbacks win in the 2001 World Series the only championship that a Phoenix team can lay claim to, but that hasn’t stopped Phoenix residents from proudly supporting their teams and the lack of success has certainly not hindered the rise of sports betting in the city. The Phoenix Suns of the NBA have made the playoffs for three years in a row and they are built to contend now, so another title could be coming to Phoenix in the near future.
Sports betting is as big as it’s ever been in Phoenix with Arizona legalizing sports betting and regulated sportsbooks launching in the state in September of 2021. I will try to shed some light on the legality of sports betting within Arizona, outline the options Phoenix bettors have and also touch on some of the various land based locations in Phoenix where you can place sports betting and horse racing wagers.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Phoenix?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Phoenix. Both retail and online sports betting was legalized in Arizona in April of 2021 when bill HB2772 was signed into law. The Arizona Department of Gaming was established to be in charge of the regulated sports betting market in the state, and 20 sports betting licenses were made available to be issued. Half of the licenses were given to pro sports teams and organizations in Arizona, and the other half went to Native American tribes that have compacts with the state.
There are now 17 online sportsbooks live and active in Arizona. There are also retail sportsbooks available at several sports venues and tribal casinos throughout Phoenix.
In addition to the wide variety of regulated online and retail sportsbooks, Phoenix residents also still have the option to bet with offshore betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside of the USA (not licensed in Arizona), while accepting American players. Bovada and BetOnline are our two recommended offshore betting sites that fall into this category.
Best Sportsbooks for Phoenix Residents
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
Bovada.lv is our top rated site for American players. Bovada was initially launched to cater solely to the American market and it wasn’t until recently that they started accepting players from certain countries outside of the United States. This focus on the American market has allowed Bovada to build a betting platform the meets the needs of the American bettor and also has allowed them to offer fast and secure deposits and withdrawals, which has been an issue for other sportsbooks in the American market. Check out the review below for more information.
**Bovada is not a licensed Arizona sportsbook. It’s a popular offshore betting site that accepts US players, including Phoenix residents.
Offline Sports Betting in Phoenix
Phoenix currently has three retail sportsbook locations. They can be found at the three prominent sports venues in the city: Turf Paradise, Chase Field and the Footprint Center.
Turf Paradise
Turf Paradise is a popular thoroughbred race track located just 20 minutes north of the Phoenix city central. The race course opened in January of 1956 and recent renovations have made the race course into a state of the art facility. The race track offers live race betting and simulcast betting for races from across the USA. The most notable race that takes place each year at the track is the Turf Paradise Derby, which takes place in mid February and is an unofficial prep race for the Kentucky Derby.
Both Bovada and BetOnline also accept bets on every race that takes place at Turf Paradise.
Major Sports Teams in Phoenix Area
- Arizona Cardinals (Football – NFL)
- Arizona Coyotes (Hockey – NHL)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (Baseball – MLB)
- Phoenix Suns (Basketball – NBA)
How To Bet Online From Phoenix
Follow these easy three steps to place your sports bets online from anywhere in Phoenix at offshore sportsbook Bovada.
Step 1. Join Bovada.lv
Click the above link and complete the sign up form on the home page to open your account.
Step 2. Deposit
After logging into your account click the ‘Deposit’ link under your account drop down menu. Select your deposit method, enter the amount, and follow the instructions to fund your account.
Bovada accepts deposits via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more.
Step 3. Place Your Bets
- Click ‘Sports’ from the top menu bar on the Bovada website.
- Select the sport you want to bet on from the ‘All Sports A-Z’ menu.
- Narrow your search to the competition or league (NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, etc.) you want to bet from the sport specific menu.
- Select the odds of the bet you want to make to add it to your Bet Slip.
- Enter your risk amount on the Bet Slip and click ‘Place Bet’ to lock in your wager.
Ready to bet from Phoenix? Click here to visit Bovada.lv.