Arizona Casino Guide
Facts About Gambling & Online Casinos in Arizona
Players will find plenty of land-based casinos in Arizona. These casinos are owned and operated by more than a dozen Arizonan tribes. In addition, as of 2015, the state has no taken steps to keep Arizona residents from playing legally in online casinos that allow U.S. players. This opens the doors for players in Arizona to play in online casinos and play in tribal casinos.
History of Gambling in Arizona
After the 1988 enactment of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal casinos became legal in Arizona. Despite being legal, several casinos faced raids over their possession of slot machines. Seven years later, the Arizona Legislature passed new laws establishing the Arizona Department of Gaming and creating the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact to help avoid any confusion of whether a casino could have slot machines within the premises. These compacts last 10 years and are then renewable for a total of 23 years.
Age Restrictions for Gambling in Arizona
While casinos in Arizona are governed by tribal rules, the tribal casinos must follow federal age restrictions on gambling. Players entering casinos or playing online in Arizona must, therefore, be 21.
Arizona’s Casino Gambling Outlook
As the compacts last 10 years, the casino outlook in Arizona changes regularly. While tribes have the right to open a casino, they cannot skirt the development laws, and this does help regulate the growth of the casino industry in Arizona.
In fact, the Tohono O’odham Nation discovered the risks in 2015 when a representative proposed a bill that will block the tribe from opening a casino in Glendale, Arizona. If this bill passes, the tribe can keep their land, but they will not be able to build their casino until 2027.
Local Casinos
If you don’t want to play in an online casino in Arizona, there are more than a dozen tribal casinos in Arizona. They include:
Apache Gold Casino – There are more than 600 slot machines, in addition to the bingo hall, poker room, and Blackjack tables.
Blue Water Casino – Bordering the Colorado River, Blue Water houses bingo, Blackjack, poker, and more than 500 slots.
Bucky’s Casino and Yavapai Casino – These neighboring are on Highway 69 in Prescott and house more than 500 slot machines. Bucky’s is also home to Blackjack and Poker rooms.
Casino Arizona – There are over 900 slot machines, Keno, and the popular Sportz Bar with video poker machines.
Casino del Sol and Casino of the Sun – These adjacent casinos in Tucson have bingo, slots, poker, and table games. Casino del Sol is the larger of the two with close to 1,000 slot machines.
Cliff Castle Casino –Slots, table games, and video poker make up the popular option in this casino. There is also the Club 52 Poker Room for interested players.
Cocopah Casino
Desert Diamond – With four Desert Diamond casino locations, you’ll have no problem finding a place to play. Look for these Tohono O’odham-owned casinos in Sahuarita, Tucson, West Valley, and Why. Desert Diamond also has an online Arizona casino where you can play for fun.
Fort McDowell Casino – In addition to a large card room, you’ll find slots, bingo, and Keno at Fort McDowell.
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino – Part of the Caesars family, you’ll find slots, table games, bingo, Keno, and poker at Ak-Chin.
Hon Dah Casino – The resort and casino offers a great mix of games, including poker and slots, in Pinetop, Arizona.
Lone Butte Casino, Vee Quiva, and Wild Horse Pass – Gila River Gaming Enterprises run these three tribal casinos in Laveen (Vee Quiva) and Chandler. Look for slots, table games, and poker at each casino.
Mazatzal Casino – Find bingo, poker, slots, table games, and video poker here.
Paradise Casino – Over 500 classic and video slot machines are found in this Yuma casino.
Spirit Mountain Casino – Located in the Mohave Valley, this smaller casino has over 200 gaming machines.
Talking Stick Resort – In addition to slots and a sports bar with video poker, this location has close to four dozen poker tables.
Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort – Find bingo, poker, slots, and table games in this Flagstaff, Arizona, casino.