Our Guide to Gambling In Arizona
The Arizona gambling industry is continuously evolving, with the most recent changes coming in 2021, following the legalization of online sports betting in the Grand Canyon State.
The state also allows residents to participate in Daily Fantasy Sports, betting on horse races at two venues, and visiting any of the 25+ land-based casinos to play slots, blackjack, or live poker games. However, online casino gambling is one of the few services that still eludes AZ players.
To further clarify, I will answer two questions that every Arizona resident may have, so read on for more information.
Is it legal to gamble online in Arizona?
Online gambling in Arizona is legal if you’re engaging in DFS or online sports betting, thanks to the signing of House Bill 2772. However, the bill doesn’t mention online casino gambling, so playing virtual slots or casino games remains illegal in the state.
Unlike the buzz that came before the state legalized online sports betting, there is no whisper or push to indicate that online gambling on Arizona online casinos will be legal any time soon.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Arizona?
Arizona sweepstakes casinos are legal since they don’t allow players to gamble for real money, but state laws restrict access to players who meet the legal gambling age of 21 or older.
By allowing players to use sweeps coins and offering an alternative method of entry (AMOE), which eliminates any form of consideration, these casinos meet the guidance set by the American Bar Association (ABA) to operate a legal sweepstakes platform.
Additionally, while sweepstakes casinos don’t need a license to operate, they still follow specific rules and standards set by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other laws specific to the Grand Canyon state, such as state consumer protection laws, age restrictions, and advertising laws to maintain their operations.
However, while AZ sweepstakes casinos remain legal, changes in state laws may affect their operations, like the events unfolding in Michigan, where Golden Hearts Games has been forced to discontinue operations by the Attorney General. At the same time, operators like VGW have already decided to shut down operations in the state.
Sweepstakes Casinos vs Online Casinos
Since real-money online casinos aren’t available in AZ, many residents may be wondering if sweepstakes casinos are truly the best option. To help put things into perspective, I’ve made a comparison between sweepstakes and real-money casinos across various areas in the table below:
| 🌀Area | 🎰Sweepstakes Casinos | 💰Real Money Online Casinos |
| ✍️Sign up Bonus | Typically comes with a no deposit bonus | Usually requires a deposit to claim |
| 💵First purchase bonus | Available on many sites as 200% extra coins or discount offers | Mainly available as a match bonus |
| 🎁Ongoing player promotions | Several promotions are available, and they usually don’t require a deposit to claim | Promotions are limited and typically require deposits to claim |
| 📅Daily promotions | Always available | Not a common bonus option |
| 🎲Game selection | Although not as many as real money casinos, they have slots, table games, live dealer games, and unique games like fish games, Plinko, Crash, and Dragon Tower | Large game selection but limited to popular categories like slots, table games, and live dealer games |
| 🧑💻Game developers | A few recognized names with in-house game developers | Games from big names like BTG, Pragmatic Play, Evolution, and more |
| 💳Payment options | Supports recognized payment options, with a few sites accepting cryptocurrencies | Supports recognized payment options, but no legal site accepts crypto |
| ☎️Support | Available via live chat, email, phone, or social media | Live chat, email, or phone are available, but social media may not be very active |
Other Alternatives
Although sweepstakes casinos have secured their place as the best online casino alternatives, Arizona players still have other options like social casinos, internet sweepstakes cafes, and land-based casinos. However, the big question is: How do these options fare against sweepstakes casinos?
For the social casinos, while they offer legal online gambling like sweepstakes casinos, they don’t allow you to redeem winnings for cash prizes.
On the other hand, internet sweepstakes cafes are physical locations that allow you to buy internet access (like your coins) to play online casino games for free. However, in addition to the inconvenience of leaving your home, these cafes are notorious for using software that isn’t trustworthy and their failure to pay out winnings to some players.
A land-based AZ casino like Harrah’s Ak-Chin or Talking Stick Casino Resort is excellent in many ways. Still, they don’t offer as many bonuses and free play options as sweeps casinos, and it’s also inconvenient since you must go to its location to enjoy all it offers.
Your final option is an offshore digital casino, but this is the only option I outrightly avoid. I recommend you do the same since they’re illegal services unregulated by US laws, and there is a high chance you will lose your deposits and winnings, if any.
Sweepstakes Casino Purchases & Cash Redemptions
Offering a unique process that prevents direct deposits and withdrawals of funds is what makes sweepstakes casinos legal. The process involves the purchase of coins, which you can use to play games, and the option to redeem winnings from the promotional play mode as cash prizes.
Generally, the process is similar across all social gaming sites, but each operator will have specific requirements and rules you must follow to purchase and redeem your winnings.
Coin Purchases
Instead of a direct deposit, sweeps casinos allow you to purchase a gold coin package. These purchases are not necessary since you’ll always receive free coins through various promotions, but you’ll often find a first purchase bonus that is worth claiming.
However, you cannot buy sweeps coins directly, so most sweepstakes casinos will give you as a bonus when you purchase a coin package. The package prices vary for each casino, with some offering packages as low as $0.99 to $999.99+.
Cash Redemptions
The option to redeem SC winnings for cash prizes makes sweepstakes casinos attractive to residents of the Grand Canyon state and other states where online casinos are illegal.
There are conditions and requirements you must meet to redeem cash prizes at a casino, including the following:
- You must complete a 1x playthrough of every SC you claim as a bonus.
- There is a minimum withdrawal requirement, which varies depending on the casino but typically starts from 25 SC for gift card payouts.
- You must verify your account to ensure you’re playing from a legal location and are within the age limit.
If you meet these requirements, you can process a payout, but you should also note that there is a coin-to-dollar conversion rate. I love playing on AZ sweepstakes casinos like Pulsz Casino and WOW Vegas that offer a 1 SC to $1 conversion rate, but you may also have to play on sites like Fortune Coins that offers $1 for 100 FC if you’re interested in fish table games.
Payment Methods
It’s interesting to note that the top Arizona sweepstakes casinos accept purchases and redemptions through standard payment options, and using debit/credit cards is the most common method.
Other options to complete payments are PayPal, Skrill, Trustly, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, some casinos offer redemptions through gift cards, while a few sites will let you purchase coin packages with your SC winnings.
Summary
Arizona sweepstakes casinos may not have strict regulations like real money casinos in the US, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t safe to visit. If anything else, the fact that they allow you to play for free and win real money should pique your interest since you have nothing to lose.
As a player in Arizona, the potential for real money online casinos to become legal anytime soon is low, so now is the best time to start trying out sweepstakes casinos.
Despite the option to play for free, you should still remember to develop and follow your responsible gaming habits since these are transferable skills that are crucial for casino gamers.