Arizona Online Casinos

When it comes to gambling in the “Grand Canyon State,” the laws are a little more relaxed than in other states in the US. This does not make the state any different than others when it comes to online gambling, however. While land-based casinos are legal in Native American reservations, online casinos are still not allowed to operate within the state’s boundaries. That said, players can enjoy a convenient and straightforward gambling experience in offshore online casinos.

In this guide to the Arizona online gambling scene, we’re going to delve into the legality of online gambling in this state. We will also discuss the history of gambling in Arizona and what the future holds for the industry here. In addition, we will take a look at some of the land-based establishments available to players.

Top 10 Arizona Online Casinos

Is Online Gambling Legal in Arizona?

Arizona is one of the most “gambling-friendly” US states when it comes to land-based casinos. But things are not so great in the “Grand Canyon State” when it comes to gambling online. Discussions about the legalization of online casinos have been opened up many times, but no plans for such action are in place at the moment.

You can make an account in a legal online casino while you’re in Arizona. Some casinos even offer free games to players from states where online gambling is illegal. This way, you won’t be able to win any money, but you could have a blast if you’re in it for entertainment.

When all this is taken into account, offshore casinos are the best option for Arizona-based online gambling aficionados. There are many options when it comes to online casinos based in other countries, such as Panama, Costa Rica, Dominica, etc. Some of these casinos allow users from the United States to register, although we would still recommend using a VPN to protect your privacy.

History of Gambling in Arizona

The journey this state went through to get where it is today has been quite unique.

The Indian Regulatory Gaming Act of 1988 was instrumental in creating the Arizona casino scene. This is nothing out of the ordinary since most non-Las Vegas or Atlantic City casinos started this way, too.

If you’re not familiar with US gambling regulatory history, here’s what you need to know — this act essentially allowed Native American tribes to open and run casinos on reservation territories.

However, in order to obtain the license to operate, tribes had to negotiate agreements with state governments. Unfortunately, many tribes decided to open casinos on their reservations without negotiating with the state in the early ‘90s.

The National Indian Gaming Commission issued a statement in May 1992, clarifying that all tribes must have a signed agreement with the state of Arizona in order to operate slot machines legally. Since not all casinos complied, the state’s governor at the time asked the FBI to take action.

Fort McDowell Casino Raid

A huge moment in Arizona’s gambling history happened when the FBI decided to raid the Fort McDowell Casino operated by the Yavapai Indians. This was not a large casino — it had about 300 slot machines. At the time of the raid, several other casinos had their machines seized by the FBI, so the tribe was prepared to defend its property.

Federal agents converged on the casino on May 12, 1992. They began loading the slot machines into trailers to take them away. The tribe then used large vehicles and heavy-duty machinery to block the only entrance, preventing the agents from leaving with their slots.

After a tense few hours, the FBI agents finally agreed to leave without the machines, and the tribe managed to negotiate an agreement with the state a few weeks later. Arizona ended up signing deals with 22 of its tribes, 16 of which are still running at least one casino.

Future of Online Gambling in Arizona

As is the case with most US states, the law is a bit restrictive when it comes to gambling in the state of Arizona. There are, of course, a couple dozen Native American casinos that Arizona residents can drive to that offer excellent service to their customers. The problem is that most of these establishments are a few hours away for most people, as there aren’t any casinos in major urban centers like Tucson or Phoenix.

There’s also the option of taking a long trip to Vegas or flying there for the ultimate gambling experience. But if you’re just looking to play baccarat or poker casually on a weeknight, this is not the most practical proposition.

Thankfully, we live in a digital age and the unstoppable spread of the internet over the past couple of decades has led to a massive number of online casinos on the web.

These websites host a wide variety of casino games, offering traditional gambling experiences, as well as innovative twists. It is no surprise that online casinos are becoming increasingly popular among gamblers, thanks mainly to the sheer variety of games on offer.

Another reason for the popularity of online casinos is the fact that they usually offer much better deals than brick-and-mortar casinos. If you think about it, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Land-based casinos generally have much higher costs of operation, having to spend more on staff and infrastructure. Since most of these costs do not exist for online casinos, they can afford to offer special deals and bonuses to their patrons.

Online casinos can also afford to spend more of their revenue on developing their sites and games, improving the overall user experience. Being able to hop from one casino to the other with just a few clicks allows users to always get the best deals.

The best promotional deals offer users free spins or a chance to get extra money once they make a deposit. Many reputable online establishments operate in Arizona, and there is stiff competition between them, which is always a good thing for the customers.

Gambling is a massive business in the state. Tribal casinos alone make more than $2 billion annually. Add the online market to that and you’ll realize that these numbers are much higher.

In the United States as a whole, online gambling has reached epic proportions in terms of growth. The industry is estimated to grow by more than 8% until 2024 globally, with North America leading the charge.

The future of gambling in Arizona seems to be online, just like in the rest of the world. There’s a lot to look forward to if you’re an Arizonian who enjoys gambling, with new deals and game innovations popping up all the time.

Land-Based Casinos in Arizona

There are 23 land-based facilities operating in the state of Arizona at the moment. All these casinos are located on the territory of Indian reservations. There’s a variety of options in terms of available games, as long as you’re a fan of slot machines and other machine-based games such as video keno and video poker.

We’ve compiled a list of all Arizona land-based casinos below:

• Ak-Chin Indian Community
  • Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino

• Cocopah Tribe
  • Cocopah Casino Resort & Conference Center

• Colorado River Indian Tribes
  • Blue Water Resort & Casino

• Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
  • We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center

• Fort Mojave Indian Tribe
  • Spirit Mountain Casino

• Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe
  • Paradise Casino

• Gila River Indian Community
  • Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
  • Lone Butte Casino
  • Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino

• Navajo Nation
  • Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort

• Pascua Yaqui Tribe
  • Casino of the Sun
  • Casino del Sol Resort

• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
  • Casino Arizona
  • Talking Stick Resort

• San Carlos Apache Tribe
  • Apache Gold Casino Resort

• Tohono O’odham Nation
  • Desert Diamond Tucson
  • Desert Diamond Sahuarita
  • Desert Diamond Why

• Tonto Apache Tribe
  • Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

• White Mountain Apache Tribe
  • Hon-Dah Resort Casino & Conference Center

• Yavapai-Apache Nation
  • Cliff Castle Casino Hotel

• Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe
  • Yavapai Casino
  • Bucky’s Casino