According to a news release from the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG), the sports betting handle in Arizona reached over $610 million in September 2023. This represents a 13.5% increase compared to the same period in 2022. The majority of the wagers, around 99%, were placed with online operators, amounting to $605 million. The remaining $5 million in bets were placed at physical casinos. These numbers reflect a significant shift in the market, as regulated sports bets were previously only placed through mobile operators from the launch in 2021 to early 2023.
The start of the NFL season on September 7 was identified as a major driver of sports betting activity in the state. This surge in activity resulted in approximately $32.5 million in revenues for the sports books, generating $3.24 million in tax revenues for the state.
DraftKings and FanDuel emerged as the leading players in the Arizona sports betting market. DraftKings secured the largest share of the handle, with over $218 million, while FanDuel followed closely with a figure exceeding $179 million. BetMGM, Caesars, and Desert Diamond also had significant shares of the market.
This monthly handle of $610 million represents the fifth largest handle recorded by the ADG in 25 months. It resulted in a 52% increase in revenues compared to August 2023 and only a 6% decrease compared to September 2022. The cumulative total handle for the state over 25 months has reached almost $12.3 billion, potentially generating around $656 million in adjusted revenues and $65.5 million in tax revenues for the state.
Overall, the sports betting industry in Arizona continues to see substantial growth and is contributing significantly to the state’s revenue.