Arizona Gambling Laws – Can You Get in Trouble?
In this article we are going to closely look into the Arizona gambling laws. Despite being so close to Las Vegas, the state has been strict towards the local gambling scene. For you to be fully prepared, we will first discuss the local casino regulations in general, and then, go into details about each individual gambling sector.
Gambling in Arizona – Laws and Regulations
When compared to some other states like New York, for example, gambling laws in Arizona seem very rigorous. The state not only abides by all federal laws regarding gambling-related activities but has implemented at least a dozen additional regulations. Anyhow, most forms of the aforementioned type of entertainment do exist in Arizona, but in lesser numbers. You can find gaming casinos, horse and betting, lottery, bingo, and more.
| Arizona Gambling | Status |
|---|---|
| Casino Gaming | Legal – Highly Regulated, Only Tribal Casinos |
| Poker | Illegal – Unless in Indian Tribal Casino |
| Sports Betting | Illegal |
| Horse Race Betting | Legal – Highly Regulated |
| Lottery | Legal – Highly Regulated |
| Bingo | Legal – Highly Regulated |
| Online Gambling | Illegal |
In some instances, where the federal laws see just to facilitate and regulate gambling, the state of Arizona takes it to another level. According to section 13-3301 heading four, Arizona defines gambling as “risking or giving something of value for the opportunity to obtain a benefit from a game or contest of chance or skill or a future contingent event”. Ultimately, this wide-ranged definition sanctions all popular forms of gambling with unregulated vendors.
Furthermore, the legislative document outlines that there will be a legal punishment when placing any bets or wagers in relation to what the state of Arizona defines as gambling. Participating in unregulated gambling in Arizona is seen as a class 1 misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of $2,500 up to six months in jail. However, according to the records, there has not been a single prosecution of an otherwise honest citizen of Arizona for just betting and wagering.
The penalty for gambling is usually added on Arizona residents with already existing charges that are already being prosecuted. But the Arizona gambling laws go one step further. The state recognizes the act of promoting gambling as a class five felony, as written in chapter 13-3303. Such a crime can be met with over two years in state prison. Finally, we would like to point out that there might be differences between the states in terms of legal gambling age.
Casino Gambling Laws in Arizona
As stated earlier in our Arizona gambling laws article, the state seems solid in its position against all kinds of gaming. However, unlike some other forms of gambling, there are a few legal and licensed casinos within the state of Arizona. They are all exempt under the Indian Gaming Act, a federal law established in 1988 to govern Indian gaming.
All residents of the state are free and welcome to visit the said Indian Casinos and gamble within their premises.
But these visitors should know, these gaming facilities are not amongst the most glamorous and luxurious looking places that they have entered. In other words, interior wise the casinos in Arizona are not as impressive as these in California, but they still offer all kinds of gambling games!
Poker Gambling Laws in Arizona
Many states make an exception with poker and classify the game as a game of skill rather than chance. However, as we already know from section 13-3301, Arizona is not one of these states. Because of that, there are no state-sanctioned poker rooms within the territory of Arizona.
However, you can find dedicated poker rooms on Indian territory. In addition, social poker is another way that the residents of Arizona have found to bypass strict restrictions.
What is unique about social poker games is that they cannot involve any fee or rake, or even any “voluntary donations”. There are some social poker bar-leagues, of course, without any entry fee or cash prizes.
Sports Betting in Arizona
So far, sports betting is remaining prohibited in Arizona due to unfavorable gambling laws. However, it becomes more and more promising that change is coming. In 2019 and once again in 2020, lawmakers in Arizona introduced bills to legalize and regulate sports betting. Unfortunately, both bills stalled out before they could be added to the state law. But what is more important is that it became clear there Is some support for the legalization of sports betting amongst the state lawmakers.
Horse Race Betting Laws in Arizona
The Betting options for the citizens of Arizona are, unfortunately, limited to just horseracing. Furthermore, Arizona is one of just a handful of other states in the United States that offer horse racing throughout the whole year. Currently, there are three legal horse race locations.
In order to participate in the betting, you can either go to the racetracks in person or bet online. In addition, there are two county fairs in the state of Arizona that offer live racing, Santa Cruz County, and Cochise County.
Lottery & Bingo Betting Laws in Arizona
Now, let us move onto the lottery betting in Arizona. We would like to confirm it is legal and even more, Arizona has a state lottery. The Arizona state lottery includes draws and instant games, and even participates in the inter-state draws like Mega Millions.
Regarding the bingo gambling laws in Arizona, it is also heavily regulated but legal. Moreover, for a place to host a bingo game, they need advanced licenses. You can join a game of bingo in the tribal casinos and at charity events.
Arizona Online Gambling Laws
Despite two attempts in 2019 and 2020, online gambling in Arizona is illegal. However, due to the heavy Arizona online gambling laws, many residents of the state have turned to play on online casinos. Some Arizona players turn to the best US online casinos sites, while others look beyond the borders of the United States
Because these gambling sites are on foreign territories, they are exempt from both Arizona online gambling laws and federal law, which is highly appealing to many players. If the citizens of Arizona play at a foreign but well-regulated and licensed online casino, then they should not have to worry about anything.
Tribal Casinos in Arizona
The state of Arizona is home to 22 separate tribes within its territory, and residents of the state can drive up to one of the 20 tribal casinos with ease. There, regardless of the restrictions and regulations in the rest of the state, visitors can play all the casino games that they want. The tribal casinos look impressive from the inside and out. The total annual gaming revenue from these casinos is estimated at $2 billion. That ranks Arizona as the fifth largest Indian gaming state.
If you are wondering how these tribal casinos came to be, we will tell you all about them in this chapter. As mentioned earlier in our Arizona gambling laws article, in 1988, the US Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). They recognized gaming as a way to promote the tribal economic development, and with it, to stimulate self-sufficiency and strong tribal government.
Moreover, by the early 1990s, there were several tribes in Arizona that had installed slot machines in their casinos without even having a license. Through negotiations, it was enacted that if a tribe wants to engage in Class III casino-style gaming, it must first sign a Tribal-State Gaming Compact (Compact) with the state. Currently, all the 22 tribes in Arizona have a gaming compact, which lasts for 10 years.
FAQ About Arizona Gambling Laws
As we have reached the end of our article on the gambling laws in Arizona, it is the perfect time to look at the most frequently asked questions. Not only that, but we will carry on with some research of our own and provide you with the answers for each of these carefully selected questions.
