Legal sports betting has arrived in The Grand Canyon State. And if you've arrived on this story, you're likely one of the thousands of people looking to get started at one of the state's new online sportsbooks.
Arizona has never had any type of legal sports betting, nor daily fantasy sports until a few weeks ago. So Thursday's launch is uncharted territory for most.
It's easy to get started betting on sports in Arizona. Here's how:
How to Bet on Sports in Arizona
1. Pick Your Sportsbook Site
There are a handful of books going live on Thursday morning, so you have plenty of options. A dozen more are on the way in the coming weeks and months. Here are some books already live:
Every book will offer hundreds of dollars in free bets to get you on board, so pick one to get started:
Line shopping is critical, which is why you will want to sign up at multiple sportsbooks.
2. Sign Up
Just sign up. It sounds simple. And it is!
Once you've clicked a promo above, simply follow the sign-up flow and put in your name, address, date of birth and contact info. Most sportsbooks will ask for the last four digits of your social security number, as well.
One note: If you're not from Arizona, but happen to be in Arizona, don't lie about your address. It's perfectly legal to sign up as yourself as long as you're in the state, even if you live in California or somewhere else full-time. If you put an incorrect address, it will be difficult to verify your identity to deposit and cash out.
3. Deposit Online, Not in Person
Arizona's sports betting legislation got the big thing right — online sign ups, deposits and betting. Some states have in-person only sign ups, or worse, in-person only betting.
You can deposit at BetMGM with the following methods. Some credit card companies may flag your initial deposit, so using your bank account or PayPal is often an easier option.
- Credit card
- Bank account
- PayPal
- Wire transfer
- And more…
Here’s what the deposit screen will look like at BetMGM. You'll be prompted to log into your account, so there's no need to fetch your routing and account numbers.
4. Place Your First Bet
Now, the fun begins. It's time to place your first bet.
Early September is among the best times to get legal sports betting with the NFL and college football starting, the MLB playoffs fast approaching, and basketball and hockey right around the corner.
Here's how to place a bet at DraftKings:
- Click on a sport
- Find the team you want to bet
- Click the corresponding cell
- Navigate to the bet slip
- Enter your bet amount
- Submit
Legal sportsbooks offer a whole new world of possibilities. You're no longer stuck with only one line with poor odds. You won't be limited to four props for an NFL game.
Here's more about how to improve your sports betting, and what to bet this weekend:
