Best Arizona Online Casinos

While there are many online casinos for players to play at, unfortunately not all are trustworthy. It is crucial for the players’ safety to research a casino before signing up. Of these online casinos, several are available to players in Arizona. However, Arizona has some ambiguity around its gambling laws. To understand whether it’s legal to gamble in Arizona, players must first understand the history of gambling laws in the US and Arizona.

History of Gambling 

In the USA, each state has its laws that govern that state while still beholden to Federal Law. That’s why it’s important to understand the federal laws on online gambling as well as Arizonian laws.

Gambling Laws In The USA

When it comes to online gambling, two federal laws impact state laws. Regardless of their laws, all states need to follow the federal ones. The first law is the Federal Wire Act of 1961. This law states that interstate sports betting is illegal in the US. This means that no sports betting, online or otherwise, can cross state borders. However, it doesn’t outlaw sports betting altogether. Online casinos can still provide sports betting, as long as the player is in the state of the casino.

The second law is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, shortened to UIGEA. The UIGEA doesn’t state that online gambling is illegal but prohibits financial transactions with online gambling service providers. This law caused some offshore licensed casinos to prohibit American players and caused social casinos to be created. Social casinos are free casinos where players can’t play for real money. Instead, they can purchase in-house coins, like any mobile game, and play games. They can also possibly win cash prizes while playing these games.

Gambling Laws In Arizona

Gambling laws in Arizona are a bit of a grey area, with ambiguous laws and tribal laws regulating gambling, online or otherwise. Arizona has a long history of tribal gambling, and it was  the 1990s when Arizona tribes installed the first slot machines. The US government had created the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This act allowed Native American tribes to open casinos on their reservation lands. This was because it recognizes gaming as a method for the tribes to promote economic development and self-sufficiency.

In 1992, they created a law stating that Arizona tribes needed a compact before operating slot machines. Whereas before, they had been operating slot machines without one. This resulted in most Arizona casinos closing their doors. A compact refers to an agreement between the individual tribe and the US government. From 1992 to 1994, the US government signed 16 compacts with different tubes, with the 17th compact being signed in 1998.

Now, tribes have exclusive rights to operate their casinos in Arizona. Sports betting was also legalized in 2021 for both online and land-based bookmakers in Arizona. However, when it comes to other forms of online gaming, the laws are slightly more ambiguous. None of the gambling legislation in Arizona specifically addresses online gambling. There is nothing prohibiting new online casinos, but there is also nothing regulating them. As such, it’s more important than ever for players in Arizona to make sure the online casino is a trustworthy one. While Arizona doesn’t have an iGaming license, players can still play at various offshore licensed casinos.

Must-Haves For The Best Online Casinos

When it comes to playing online in Arizona, players have many offshore licensed casinos available to them. Before any player in Arizona signs up with such a casino, they need to ensure that the casino is trustworthy and reputable. While regulations for these gambing providers have become even more strict and fair, there are still those that have unfair terms. That’s why there are certain elements players in Arizona need to look for in the best casinos. These elements are licensing and security, compatibility, banking, support, game selection and bonuses.

Licensing and Security

All the best online casinos are licensed. If a casino isn’t licensed, it means it’s not regulated and there is almost no protection offered to players. As Arizona doesn’t offer an online gaming license, players will often encounter offshore licenses. However, there are several well-known and trustworthy offshore licenses. This includes the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, Gibraltar Gambling Commission and Curacao eGaming. Malta Gaming Authority and Kahnawake licenses are also popular. Other names that frequently pop up are the Panama and Costa Rica licenses. These licenses are all regulated by their gaming authority, ensuring the providers are both fair and above-board.

There are also other elements to see if casinos are secure to play at. Players in Arizona can check if their games use RNG and are tested for fairness by testing agencies including iTech Labs and TST. The best online casinos will also have notable seals and certificates. This includes testing agency, security and SSL encryption seals, or even casino awards.

Using Online Casinos

Since online casinos are only accessible through a device, the website or app for the casino must run smoothly. It should be available across all devices, from smartphones and tablets to desktops. This includes all brands, from iOS and Android to Mac and Windows devices. If the online casino has a mobile casino available through an app, this is a huge plus. This app should be available on the App Store or the Google Play Store to ensure its legitimacy. Some websites even offer Quick Access software players can download onto their phones, tablets or desktops.

Not only should the website be usable on all devices, but it needs to be designed in a user-friendly way. This means ensuring that registering is easy and that players can easily navigate to different pages or find different games. This can be done by providing navigation bars and a search tab. It’s even better if the online casino allows no registration play and demo games. No registration play means gamers in Arizona can try out the free demo game versions of slots and table games before signing up with the casino. This allows them to get a feel for the casino before registering or spending real money.

Banking Methods

Because of the UIGEA, several card providers and banks don’t allow any transactions with online gambling service providers. This means players in Arizona have to have access to alternative payment methods.

The best payment method for Arizonian players is PayPal, as it’s a popular payment method most Americans have access to. Online banking (ACH) is another popular method. However, these payment methods are not often offered by international casinos. Players in Arizona will generally have to use alternative methods of payment, such as e-wallets.

By virtue of being international casinos, offshore licensed casinos generally offer several other payment methods. These methods include various e-wallets like Neteller, EcoPayz, Skrill and more. It also offers different online banking options such as Trustly and Interac. Unfortunately, these methods aren’t always available to Arizonian players. Several gaming websites offer cryptocurrencies, from Bitcoin to Ethereum.

Players should also know the payout speed of the casino, with most casinos offering payouts between one and five days. They should also check any transaction fees, as international payment methods often have high fees attached. If the casino also attaches a commission fee, players might risk having double the fees levied on their withdrawals.

Customer Support and Protection

Since players in Arizona mostly only have access to offshore licensed casinos, having good customer support in place is key. Players need to protect themselves with the casinos being online and not regulated by the US government. This is done by selecting a licensed and secure casino and ensuring they have the support they need. The best gaming websites offer 24/7 live chat for players to have quick access to support queries, however big or small.s They should also offer a support email for complaints or more complex inquiries. 

Further, if an online casino offers a complaint submission form, it’s even better. This allows any players in Arizona to send complaints or report a casino directly to the regulating authority. It provides them with more protection than if the casino management finalizes all complaints or dispute resolutions.

Another form of customer support is if they offer responsible gaming tools. There are various tools to support and protect players who have or are developing a gambling problem. This includes personal limits like deposit and betting limits. It also includes session limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion.

Game Quantity and Variety

For Arizonian players, there are many different options for game selection. On account of being internationally available casinos, offshore casinos often have a wide variety of games on offer. This includes slots and all its varieties, namely classic, 5-reel, video and 3D slots. Table games are also a casino favorite, with several varieties of blackjack, baccarat, roulette, poker, etc., offered. Players can also access video poker and several different progressive jackpots from top game providers.

The best Arizona online casinos offer games from top game providers around the globe, such as Microgaming, Betsoft, IGT and more. They should also offer live casino games and sports betting to players in Arizona.

Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses and promotions are very much the highlight of online casinos. Bonuses at gaming websites are often more lucrative than their land-based counterparts. The best Arizona casinos offer welcome bonuses for new players and other daily, weekly and monthly bonuses. The welcome bonus is usually a first deposit match bonus, although it can sometimes be a staged bonus spanning over the first five deposits. Players can receive between 100% and 500% bonus cash upon making a deposit. Some casinos also offer between 10 and 50 free spins with a deposit bonus. Sometimes, no deposit bonuses are also available to players in Arizona. However, these no deposit bonuses usually have heavy restrictions.

Restrictions on bonuses are the online casino’s way of ensuring players don’t just sign up, claim the bonus cash and withdraw the money. These restrictions include wagering requirements between 1x and 50x and a minimum deposit in the case of deposit bonuses. Bonuses also have an expiration period and a maximum winnings limit.

The Best Arizona Online Casinos for You

Keeping the common elements of the best online casinos in mind should allow players in Arizona to make an informed decision when registering at an online casino. With multiple offshore licensed casinos being available in Arizona, players have their pick and can even play at multiple casinos at once. The most important factors for the best online casinos are that they should be licensed and regulated, accessible on all devices, offer multiple banking options, good customer support, a large game selection and lucrative bonuses. By ensuring these elements are present, players can easily choose the best Arizona casino for them.

FAQs

Can I get in trouble playing at online casinos in Arizona?

As there are no proper laws surrounding online gambling in Arizona, players cannot be persecuted for playing at online casinos.

Why should I play at Arizona online casinos instead of land-based casinos?

Online casinos are available from the comfort of your home, while Arizonian land-based casinos are usually in quite isolated areas. Arizonian land-based casinos are also more limited in their games, mostly offering slots and some table games and sports betting. Online casinos can have hundreds to thousands of different games. If you find that the online casino doesn’t have a game you’re looking for, it’s easy to switch to a different online casino.

Are online casinos legal in Arizona?

While there is no legislation prohibiting online casinos, the online casinos must not be owned or operated within Arizona. Social and offshore casinos are thus the best option for Arizona players.