Most Arizona residents know that if they want to gamble, they can hop in their car and take a drive over to one of the many tribal casinos in the state. However, what are they to do if they wish to form a more casual gambling hobby? After all, spending a few hours just in the car can be time consuming, and not a good way to blow off some steam after work.
This is where most Arizona residents would turn to the internet, but what of the many laws instituted by both the state and federal government? Many residents of this state fear turning to the internet for their poker, sports betting or casino needs will land them in legal trouble, but this page will help explain why online gambling can sometimes be your best bet when looking for legal Arizona gambling.
When it comes to playing casino games online in the state of Arizona, each resident would do well to look at the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed in 2006. This policy outlaws the facilitation of all forms of internet gambling, and caused a lot of stress for prospective gamblers in the state of Arizona. So what is the good news for Arizona players? This law does not target them.
The only target of the UIGEA is the websites that facilitate gambling themselves. Legal online casinos that accept Arizona residents typically operate offshore, which allows Arizona residents to gamble legally with a legal business, and that tends to make everyone happy.
Federal policy regarding online casino games covers all of that. However, Arizona residents are also subject to a unique set of laws to their state. Fortunately, these follow the template of the federal policy practically to the letter. Just like the federal government, the state of Arizona has no issue with an otherwise honest resident who wants to use a slot machine to gamble or even play a table game like blackjack. The only time the state or Arizona will take issue with a resident over online gambling is if they set up a gambling website of their own and turn a profit from it.
When it comes to land based casino gambling, although there are no state sanctioned facilities, the state houses more federally exempt tribal casinos than practically any other does. Just as its legal to gamble in any of these sanctioned facilities, it’s legal for residents to play in Arizona online casinos.
More so than casino games or even poker, sports betting is the most regulated form of gambling in the US, and the history goes back quite a bit. Back in 1961, Congress passed the Federal Wire Act. While this law specifically did not attack those who bet on sports, it did target all bookmakers based in the US who wanted to transmit betting information across state lines. In 1992, the government passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) which outright banned the facilitation of sports betting in all states except for Oregon, Montana, Delaware and Nevada, although it still left bettors largely untouched.
For this reason, all of those interested in legal sports betting were forced to turn to legal sports betting sites for Arizona players located offshore. Luckily, the crowded market created competition and now there are a great number of superior products available to enjoy.
We say luckily because federal law supersedes state law in this case and makes it impossible for the state of Arizona to sanction any land-based sports betting. This means that in order to interact with a legal enterprise, Arizona residents must turn to the internet, but there are worse fates than betting on future sports events from the comfort of home.
Due to the high level of federal regulation on sports betting, the state of Arizona doesn’t really have anything more to say on the matter. Just as the blueprint of federal law provides, while facilitating sports betting in Arizona is a criminal act, the mere act of betting cannot get a player in and legal trouble.
Just as with casino games, The UIGEA greatly affects poker in the state of Arizona, the difference is this bill hurt online poker much more than it hurt casino games. Due in no small part to “Black Friday,” the day that the federal government shut down several poker sites leading to many US players losing thousands of dollars that they had invested in their poker accounts, the online poker industry suffered a huge blow in Arizona.
Thankfully, as more and more players read and research on the laws, they are realizing that it’s legal for them to play in online poker rooms that accept Arizona residents. While, in accordance with federal policy, it would be a serious crime to facilitate online poker from anywhere in the US, there are no laws against merely participating in it. This has led to a huge rise in popularity in offshore poker sites that are outside of Arizona and US jurisdiction. As long as poker enthusiasts in the state of Arizona stick to these select legal online poker rooms, they are not only safe from legal prosecution themselves, but are playing poker with a host that is also safe from prosecution. This means that their money is secure and free from any risk of seizure by the government.
In addition to legal poker sites, Arizona residents may make use of the many tribal, brick and mortar poker rooms located throughout the state. However, their remote locations and driving distances from populous areas have made online poker the preferred method of most Arizona players. It’s estimated that over a hundred thousand Arizona residents log onto an online poker room for Arizona players every day, and from there legally enjoy one of the world’s most popular games.
We have spent a lot of time explaining how and why Arizona gambling sites are legal, but we have yet to provide any information as to what a player should look for when signing up. All the sites we list here guarantee they will not provide any legal issues for their players, and more than that, their legal status guarantees that all investments players make in them are completely safe both from federal seizure and from outside villains like hackers. The sites we list here are our very favorite, and will give any Arizona resident the very highest satisfaction.
From the imagination from the eccentric billionaire Calvin Ayre, Bovada was born as the brainchild of the most brilliant minds in gambling. Whether you’re looking for the best sportsbook the world has to offer, a world-class online casino or even a poker room chock-full of the best players that the internet has to offer, you’re sure to find all you want and more with this legal Arizona gambling site. After 20 years of service to players in Arizona, it’s safe to say that this network has only grown stronger. Featuring high-speed technology that is accessible both from a computer and from a mobile device, Bovada is the best in the industry. And when you open an account at Bovada you'll understand why they are indeed the best!
What is it that makes this site the top option for Arizona residents? It’s simple. You really don’t have anything if you don’t have ease of use, and Bovada makes it easier than any site on the market to move money in and out of your account. Whether you’re using your credit card to make a lightning fast deposit or you’re requesting a payout via check through the mail, any financial procedure with Bovada couldn’t be faster, easier or more effective. This means you can focus more of your energy on what matters – making that money grow.