Arizona saw the launch of sports betting in September 2021 with great success. Now, the question is whether it will introduce online gambling.
Sports betting in Arizona
In Arizona, sports wagering was made possible through tribal and commercial licenses. The legislation allows for sports wagering at physical and online sportsbooks. Arizona has ranked among the top ten states for monthly sports betting handles during the first two years. This shows the appetite of the public for gambling. The introduction of mobile casinos where players use mobile apps to bet on casino games could be just as successful.
Economic growth
The sports betting industry already generates significant tax revenue for the state. It has reached over $46.5 million and contributes to education, infrastructure projects, and public services.
The sports industry has also created economic growth through job creation and tourism. The 2023 Super Bowl held in Glendale attracted sports bettors from all over the country. Arizona’s professional sports teams, such as the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns, partner with sportsbooks. This creates new sponsorship opportunities and enhances the engagement of fans.
Dispelling taboos against wagering
Negative views about wagering are changing. This is largely due to regulated frameworks that help to protect players and responsible gaming measures. Players have a safe and secure environment to play in rather than playing at illegal sportsbooks. Gambling is becoming a normal entertainment option. With all the free games online that players love to play, it doesn’t take a large leap to want to play for real money.
Mobile wagering
The sports betting handle in Arizona keeps growing. In peak seasons, the monthly handles exceed $500 million. Mobile wagering accounts for most of the bets. The growth in convenient online sports betting across the United States has led to more interest in other forms of betting. Convenience and accessibility are major factors that drive engagement.
Discussions are currently taking place in Arizona for its expansion into online casino gambling. It could join other states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan that allow online casinos.
A good potential source of extra revenue
The infrastructure and partnerships with tribal operators already in place with sports betting could quite easily adapt to include online casino games. This could bring in more revenue for tribal operators and sportsbooks, particularly at times when sports are slow.
In other states, the revenue from online casinos is much higher than from sports betting. Arizona could attract a wider user base and make extra money from an additional revenue stream.
Challenges to introducing online casinos
It would be necessary to renegotiate gaming compacts with tribal operators to introduce online casinos. Balancing the interests of commercial and tribal operators would be important to prevent conflict. Responsible gaming is always a concern of states when it comes to making online gambling so convenient and accessible. Despite these challenges, Arizona has the potential to transition to online casino gambling given the public support and existing infrastructure.
