The California Gambler’s Guide to Sports Betting in Arizona

The future of legal sports betting in California remains uncertain, after Prop 26 and Prop 27 failed in landslides in the Nov. 8 election. However, there is another option for folks in California eager to get in on the sports wagering action.

Arizona is a young and growing sports betting market. And it’s also within decent driving distance from Southern California.

Most of Arizona’s retail sports betting focus is in the Phoenix area and surrounding cities. However, as the market continues to grow, more options will pop up in California-Arizona border cities. There’s already one right on the border in Yuma.

Here, we will give you a roadmap on Arizona retail sportsbooks, online sports betting apps in the state, and more in this guide designed exclusively for Californians.

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Arizona Retail Sports Betting

Californians planning to travel to Arizona for sports betting must reconcile with the fact that there will be some travel involved.

If you are in Northern California, your best bet is to get a flight or drive to Nevada.

But the trip isn’t so bad if you are in Southern California.

There are currently 16 retail sportsbooks up and running in Arizona.

• FanDuel Sportsbook at Footprint Center: 201 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
  • Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m. – Midnight
• Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field: 401 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
  • Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-1 a.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-1 a.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
• BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium: 1 Cardinals Dr, Glendale, AZ 85305
  • Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino: 15406 N Maricopa Rd, Maricopa, AZ 85139
  • Hours:
    • Sportsbook kiosks open 24/7
    • Sportsbook counter hours: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Caesars at Arizona Downs: 10501 E. Route 89A, Prescott Valley, AZ 86315
  • Hours: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily
• TwinSpires Sportsbook at Mazatzal Hotel and Casino: Highway 87, Mile Marker 251, Payson, AZ 85541
  • Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – Midnight, Saturday and Sunday 24 hours
• BetMGM at Gila River Hotel and Casino at Vee Quiva: 15091 S Komatke Ln, Laveen Village, AZ 85339
  • Hours: 24 hours
• BetMGM at Gila River Hotel and Casino at Wild Horse Pass: 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85226
  • Hours: 24 hours
• BetMGM at Gila River Hotel and Casino at Lone Butte: 1077 S Kyrene Rd, Chandler, AZ 85226
  • Hours: 24 hours
• SolSports at Casino Del Sol: 5655 W Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85757
  • Hours: 24 hours
• Betfred at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort: 10438 WeKoPa Way, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264
  • Hours: 24 hours
• Desert Diamonds Casino Tucson: 7350 S. Nogales Highway, Tucson, AZ 85756
  • Hours: 24 hours
• Desert Diamonds Casino Sahuarita: 1100 W. Pima Mine Road, Suhuarita, AZ 85629
  • Hours: 24 hours
• Desert Diamonds Casino West Valley: 9431 W. Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85305
  • Hours: 24 hours
• Unibet Sportsbook at Paradise Casino: 450 Quechan Drive, Yuma, AZ 85364
  • Hours: 24 hours
• Unibet Sportsbook at Turf Paradise: 1501 W Bell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85023
  • Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Turf Paradise notes these hours adjust during football season
  • Currently, you can find six betting kiosks while a larger-scale sportsbook is being designed

Both Los Angeles and San Diego are about a 6-hour drive from Phoenix, where most of Arizona’s retail sportsbooks are.

However, there is one retail betting spot that will take folks in those cities half the amount of time to get to.

Yuma, AZ

The Unibet Sportsbook is located at Paradise Casino in Yuma, AZ. It’s billed as Yuma’s first-ever sports betting lounge. 

Bets can be placed at any of the eight self-service betting kiosks or at the sportsbook counter. Sports fans can elevate their gambling experience with a huge HDTV wall and luxury seating.

Paradise Casino is a 4.5-hour drive from LA and less than a 3-hour drive from San Diego.

Unibet Sportsbook  

450 Quechan Drive

Yuma, AZ 85364

Phone: (888) 777-4946

paradise-casinos.com

While Yuma may have the closest current retail sports betting location, another Arizona town could soon become a hot spot for traveling Californians interested in sports betting.

Coming Soon: Lake Havasu

Currently, there are no sports betting venues near Lake Havasu in Arizona. However, the popular vacation spot is expected to get at least one in the future.

Australia-based wagering operator BlueBet is in a partnership with the Colorado River Indian Tribe, and they plan on bringing a retail sports betting venue to the BlueWater Resort and Casino in Parker, AZ. It’s about a 4.5-hour drive from LA and San Diego.

As of now, there isn’t a date set on when the BlueBet Sportsbook will launch.

BlueWater Resort and Casino

11300 Resort Drive

Parker, AZ 85344

Phone: (888) 243-3360

bluewaterfun.com

Retail Sports Betting in Phoenix

Arizona sports betting is thriving. Retail sportsbooks are open at Arizona tribal casinos as well as sports venues. No area in the state is capitalizing more on in-person sports betting than Phoenix.

The capital city of Arizona is the fifth-most populous city in the US, according to 2020 census data. When sports betting became legal in September 2021, both online and retail options became readily available.

Most of Arizona’s in-person betting options are in Phoenix, and the most popular ones are near the home stadiums of the state’s favorite pro sports teams.

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FanDuel Sportsbook at Footprint Center (Phoenix Suns)

The FanDuel Sportsbook at the Footprint Center, home to the Phoenix Suns, is arguably Arizona’s most popular retail sports betting location. The venue opened the same day legal sports betting launched in Arizona.

The state-of-the-art sportsbook is 7,400 square feet and offers in-person betting with five betting windows, a VIP window, and 26 kiosks. The sportsbook also has a full-service bar and food options. Bettors can check out live games on one of the 40 televisions located on the 35-foot wall, complete with individual seating.

An outdoor terrace is also available with seating and televisions. If you’re really living large and have courtside seats, you are given access to a private betting room. While the Suns are on the court, an average of 2,000 fans enter the sportsbook.

FanDuel Sportsbook at Phoenix Suns Footprint Center

201 E Jefferson St

Phoenix, AZ 85004

fanduel.com/sportsbook-footprint-center

Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks)

The Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field features a nearly 20,000-square-foot, two-story venue. It has indoor and outdoor seating complete with wall-to-wall TV screens, betting kiosks, a bar, a restaurant, and seating for fans who want to enjoy sports action and place bets. The Caesars Sportsbook Chase Field restaurant is a concept from celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

Customers will not need tickets for an Arizona Diamondbacks game to enter the Caesars Chase Field Sportsbook, as there will be a separate secure entrance. Fans with tickets for the game can also enter and enjoy the action. However, betting will not be available during Diamondbacks’ home games. Fans at the game must use the Caesars Sportsbook app or another mobile sportsbook app to place any wagers.

Caesars Sportsbook at Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field

201 S 4th St

Phoenix, AZ 85004

Phone: (702) 790-0574

mlb.com/dbacks/ballpark/caesars-sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium (Arizona Cardinals)

BetMGM Sportsbook kicked off the start of the 2022 NFL season in historic fashion by debuting the first sportsbook at an NFL stadium. Football fans looking to bet on the NFL can do so just steps away from State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.

The two-story, 17,000-square-foot entertainment spot is open year-round, providing customers with a place to bet, watch sports, eat, and enjoy other amenities. Bettors can place a wager at the desk or use one of the sportsbook’s more than 25 betting kiosks on site.

There is a 265-square-foot video wall and indoor and outdoor dining options. The venue also serves as an outdoor music and comedy amphitheater throughout the year.

BetMGM Sportsbook at Arizona Cardinals State Farm Stadium

9591 W. Sportsman’s Park North

Glendale, AZ 85305

azcardinals.com/stadium/sportsbook

Retail Sportsbooks in Arizona Opening Soon

• DraftKings Sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale
  • Expected opening in Fall 2024
• A Barstool Sportsbook at Phoenix Raceway has been rumored, but there are no dates or plans set
• BetMGM Sportsbook at Santan Mountain Casino
  • Expected to open at the end of 2024

Online Sports Betting in Arizona

Californians are allowed to register with sportsbook apps in Arizona. You don’t need to be a resident. However, you will need to physically be in Arizona to place a bet.

Here’s a list of the 18 online sports betting platforms Californians can use during a visit anywhere in Arizona:

• DraftKings Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• BetMGM
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• BetRivers
• Betfred
• Unibet
• WynnBET Sportsbook
• Barstool Sportsbook
• Sahara Bets
• Desert Diamond Sports
• Golden Nugget
• Bally Bet
• Betway
• SuperBook Sports
• Hard Rock
• Fubo Sportsbook
• TwinSpires
  • TwinSpires only offers horse racing betting on its platform

Here’s a fun fact: Online sports betting accounts for nearly 99% of all money wagered in Arizona. Meaning, Californians can just make a quick trip across the border if they really want to place a bet.

That can also generate some added excitement if you are venturing to a place that doesn’t have a retail sportsbook. For example, you can place a bet on the Los Angeles Clippers to win the NBA Championship during a trip to the Grand Canyon.

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Best Time to Visit Arizona

Once again, Arizona is still a young sports betting market. However, it has always been a prime tourist destination.

Folks from all over the country find excuses to travel to Arizona. The same can also be said of Californians. And there are a few times during the year that are perfect for eager sports bettors planning a trip to Arizona.

MLB Spring Training

For Major League Baseball, Spring Training ushers in the new year. Players report early to get back in playing shape. Managers decide who stays on the big league roster and who heads to the minors. Fans are in the stands. Hot dogs are sold.

Bettors can get in on the action, too. With Cactus League games in Arizona, sportsbooks will often offer odds on Spring Training games. In all, 15 MLB teams, including all five of California’s MLB teams, are a part of the league and send their best players to prepare for the season in Arizona.

Spring Training is a great time for fans from across the US to come to watch their team’s young stars. It is also an excellent opportunity to get involved in Arizona sports betting.

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Super Bowl 

Californians could head to Arizona in waves as soon as this winter. Arizona will host Super Bowl LVII in February 2024. It will be the first Super Bowl held at a stadium that also has a retail sportsbook.

The Super Bowl is annually the single biggest sporting event in the US. It attracts the most betting handle. From traditional spread and Over/Under betting to ridiculous prop betting, the Super Bowl offers it all.

There is a chance we could see a California team in the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers appear to be one of the better teams in the NFC and could make a run in the playoffs. The Los Angeles Chargers have more of an uphill battle ahead of them in the AFC, but stranger things can happen.

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Waste Management Phoenix Open

“The People’s Open,” or as it is sometimes called, “The Greatest Show On Grass,” is always a hit in Arizona. The Waste Management Phoenix Open is held by the PGA every year at TPC Scottsdale. It is one of the premier golf events.

The star-studded event is the perfect time to dabble in some sports wagering. DraftKings Sportsbook will be opening a retail location at TPC Scottsdale. It is expected to open in fall 2024.