The state of Arizona has become a well-known location for gambling enthusiasts. With its developing gambling laws, there have been significant changes to the gaming scene. Starting with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that they passed back in 1988.
Within Arizona, there are tribal casinos, retail sportsbooks, and mobile betting platforms that allow people to experience a range of gambling activities. This industry is overseen by the Arizona Department of Gaming regulator.
In this post, we take a look at the gambling landscape in Arizona in 2026, including tribal gaming, recent changes to sports betting, and key information such as age requirements and self-exclusion.
The gambling landscape in 2026
Gaming in Arizona has traditionally been based on agreements between the state and its federally recognised tribes. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts that were put in place in the early 2000s, tribes are authorised to operate Class III gaming.
This includes slot machines, table games, and poker on tribal lands. These regulations have been amended over time and still govern operations in 2026. They cover everything from revenue sharing to responsible gaming requirements. While slots.info has a calendar of new slots for other states that have legalized online casinos, Arizona has not yet passed a bill legalizing online casinos, and it is not being actively debated either, so this may be something Arizona will visit in the future.
Arizona now has a number of tribal casinos across the state. Each venue must contribute a portion of its gaming revenue to the Arizona Benefits Fund. These funds are used to support a range of public services, including education, wildlife conservation, and emergency services.
In recent quarters, the number of tribal contributions that have gone into their programs has reached tens of millions of dollars.
What about sports betting?
A significant change to Arizona’s gambling market came in 2021. This was the year both retail and online sports betting were legalized. A new framework was developed that allows Arizona to issue licenses for commercial sportsbooks.
The sportsbook must partner with a professional sports team, facility, or tribe to meet requirements. The first legal sportsbook opened in September that year, and the market has continued to grow rapidly since.
In the last couple of years, the amount wagered through sports betting in the state has reached billions of dollars. Mobile online betting has accounted for the majority of this. In 2024, revenue from sports betting reached more than $6 billion, and this has continued to grow since.
But it is important to note that online casino gaming, including slots or poker, that is played entirely online, is still illegal in Arizona. Real money casino games over the internet have not yet been legalised.
What are the age and participation rules in Arizona?
Like most other states, Arizona enforces a strict age requirement for anyone participating in gambling. The minimum age is 21 years old for all types, including tribal casinos, retail sportsbook and mobile betting apps.
Operators are also required to verify a player’s age and identity before allowing a wager or account creation. These safeguards are put in place to ensure that minors do not engage in gambling and help the operator to comply with regulatory standards.
What responsible gaming measures are in place in Arizona?
Responsible gaming is an important aspect of Arizona’s gambling framework. One well-established tool is the self-exclusion program. This program allows individuals to voluntarily ban themselves from gambling venues or wagering platforms.
If they wish, a person can opt to exclude themselves from all tribal casinos or from event wagering and fantasy sports competitions.
The self-exclusion can remain in effect for a selected period, which could be one, five, or ten years, and cannot be ended early. Participants on the list are prohibited from gambling and from collecting winnings or accessing casino services.
The Arizona Department of Gaming helps manage the self-exclusion list and distributes it to tribal gaming offices and licensed sportsbook operators. They must then deny access to self-excluded individuals.
Casinos and sportsbooks must also take reasonable steps to enforce these exclusions and report any violations. There are also resources, including a 24/7 confidential helpline and treatment referrals for those who need them.
Looking ahead at gambling in Arizona
As of early 2026, there have been ongoing discussions about updates to Arizona’s gambling laws. This includes the expansion of legal gambling formats. Although unconfirmed, this could see online casino gaming being legalised,
Regulatory changes to sports betting are also being looked at. With mobile betting rising in popularity, regulators and operators are looking at ways to refine age verification and anti-fraud measures to enhance consumer protection and regulatory compliance.
Arizona’s gambling market is growing, and legislation continues to evolve. While the state remains open to future developments, any major changes like legalising online casinos require negotiation between legislators, game providers, and regulators. It will be interesting to see what the next steps are this year as demand for gambling experiences continues to grow in the state.
