Arizona Publishes Sports Betting Figures for December 2023

Concluding another successful fiscal year, The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG), a gaming control board in charge of supervising the state's gaming industry publishes a report regarding a sports betting vertical. As far as the figures show, there’s been a notable increase of approximately 21%, compared to the numbers reflecting December 2022’s wagers.

In addition to this, the department shared a comprehensive report for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, pointing out that the previous year was marked with multiple milestones achieved. According to Jackie Johnson, CEO of ADG, the Department made exceptional progress in several sectors, namely responsible gambling, economic growth, and the integrity of gaming operations.

Founded in 1995 by the Arizona State Legislature, ADG is in charge of governing all gaming segments, including tribal gaming, racing, and unarmed combat sports, as well as pari-mutuel/ simulcast wagering and event wagering/ fantasy sports (EWFS). On top of acting as a regulator, the institution is tasked to provide support and education, alongside prevention and treatment programs to individuals experiencing gambling-related harms.

Notable Increase Compared to 2022

As far as the newest report issued by the Department reveals, bettors in Arizona wagered over $693.3 million on sports in December of 2023. This staggering amount represents an approximate growth of 21% compared to the same month in 2022. Also, the state collected nearly $4.8 million in privilege fees in the month.

The numbers from 2022, which also went up by 14.7% compared to December 2021, reveal a total amount of wagers amounting to over $572 million. As for the fees, they totaled over $3.7 million in the said month. The total sum of privilege fees collected by the state since the start of legal operations amounted to nearly $35 million.

As a small reminder, sports betting in Arizona was launched in September 2021, making up-to-date achievements truly impressive. At the time being, the Grand Canyon State has 26 sportsbooks, with new ones opening doors on a regular basis.

Record-Breaking Contribution from Tribal Gaming

Sports betting aside, another sector where significant growth was noted is tribal gaming. With a considerable sum of over $172 million in contributions to numerous cities, towns, and counties Arizona-wide, 2023 was, without doubt, a record-breaking year.

One of the reasons why this particular segment has been witnessing steady growth for quite some time were the amendments to the Tribal Gaming Compacts made in 2021. The most notable modification was the legalization of craps, baccarat, roulette, and a couple of other games, resulting in a higher volume of visits.

New facilities were open as well, Santan Mountain and Desert Diamond West Valley, thanks to which overall contribution from tribal gaming went up by 24.6%.

Responsible Gambling Remains One of the Top Priorities

Wanting to ensure a safe and secure gambling environment, ADG is also focused on providing support and treatment not only for individuals experiencing gambling-related harms, but their families as well.

During FY 2023, over $1.2 million was spent on problem gambling treatment, helping 948 individuals tackle the issues. In addition to this, a self-exclusion program for event wagering and fantasy sports was established, allowing consumers to take a break from gambling if they feel the need to do so.

Source:

“Arizona Department of Gaming Releases December Sports Betting Figures”, Arizona Department of Gaming press release, February 26, 2024.