COVER STORY

SPORTS BETTING IN ARIZONA

Strong Numbers One Year Later & Super Bowl LVII In AZ—First In A State With Legal Wagering

Arecord 46.6 million American adults (18%) plan to bet on the upcoming National Football League (NFL) season, up three percent year-over-year, according to new American Gaming Association (AGA) research.

Importantly, since the NFL kick-off coincided with the beginning of Responsible Gaming Education Month, 92% of U.S. sports bettors reported awareness of responsible gaming tools. “The sustained interest in NFL wagering reflects the growth and continued maturation of legal sports betting across the country,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Consumers clearly want legal sports betting options and understand the regulated industry’s foundational commitments to responsibility.” As legalization spreads, bettors are moving away from bookies and toward regulated options.

Of American Adults:

• 23 million will place a bet online this season, up 18% from 2021. • 6 million will place a bet in-person at a sportsbook this season, up two percent from 2021. • Just 13 percent of NFL bettors say they will use a bookie, down two points from last year (15%) and five points from 2020 (18%). • Bookie usage is 50 percent higher in states without legalized sports betting. • 90 percent recall seeing or hearing about responsible gaming in the past year. • 51 percent saw or heard more responsible gaming information in the past 12 months than they had in previous years.

Today, more than half (132 million) of American adults can legally wager in their home state, 18 million more than this time last year. Demonstrating consumer confidence in regulated sportsbooks, nine in 10 (89%) of past-year sports bettors say it is very or somewhat important that they bet with a legal, regulated sportsbook. Consumer protections are central to the legal marketplace, and past-year sports bettors recognize the industry’s responsibility commitments.

Responsible Gaming

The majority of past-year sports bettors believe responsible gaming programs are very or somewhat effective (82%) and that the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and combatting the issues of problem gambling (81%). “Responsibility is an underpinning of regulated U.S. sports betting and a clear competitive advantage as we continue to build a sustainable marketplace,” Miller added.

Among NFL bettors, the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9%) are the most popular picks to win Super Bowl LVII, followed by the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs (8%) and the Dallas Cowboys (7%). The Super Bowl will be played in a legal sports betting jurisdiction (Arizona) for the first time in February 2023.

Americans have legally wagered more than $50.4 billion on sports in the first seven months of 2022, generating more than $809 million in federal, state and local taxes.

Here In Arizona

September 9, 2022 marked one year of legal sports betting in the state of Arizona. Through July of 2022, Arizonans have wagered over $5 billion on sports, highlighting the excitement for new gaming opportunities in the state.

“In April of 2021, Governor Doug Ducey signed legislation and the amended Tribal-State Gaming Compacts legalizing sports betting and a number of other casino games in the state. In just under five months from signing, ADG worked diligently with the public and stakeholders to efficiently and responsibly set up these new industries.” said Ted Vogt, Director, ADG.

Currently, Arizona has 18 mobile sports betting operators and 25 different authorized retail sports betting facilities. Retail sports betting facilities can be found in locations throughout the state, ranging from tribal casinos, professional sports arenas, racetracks and off-track betting locations.

“With Arizona already a top-ten sports betting market in the U.S., I am excited to see the positive impact these new games will make on the state as we move past our first year of legal wagering,” said Ted Vogt. “Sports betting gives another opportunity for tourists to visit our state, particularly for major sporting events. For example, ADG is preparing for Super Bowl LVII next February, which will be the first time the event is held in a state with legal sports betting.”

July 2022 Sports Betting Revenue Report

Bettors in Arizona wagered over $290 million during the month of July, according to a new report just released by the Arizona Department of Gaming. Privilege fees collected in July totaled nearly $1.5 million, resulting in over $18 million in total privilege fees to the state since the start of legal operations. You can view the full report on their website at Gaming.AZ.gov.

How To Bet Responsibly

September was Responsible Gaming Education Month and ADG joined the American Gaming Association to promote responsible sports betting in the state. As part of the American Gaming Association’s Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ campaign, here are some tips if you plan on placing a wager: • Set a Budget – Make sure to set a limit – and stick to it – if you plan on wagering. • Keep it Social – All gambling, including sports betting, is a form of entertainment. It is not a way to make money. By playing with friends and family, you can keep it fun and responsible. • Know the Odds – What’s a parlay? Over/under? Moneyline?

These are all key terms you should know before placing a sports bet. Before wagering any money, make sure you are informed and know the basics of sports betting. • Use Legal Sportsbooks – Whether you are placing a wager on your phone or at a physical sportsbook, make sure you are using a legal operator in the state. You can view a list of legal operators in the state at Gaming.AZ.gov.

ADG’s Division of Problem Gambling (DPG) works to increase community awareness about the effects of problem gambling by maintaining partnerships with individuals, agencies, and community groups to help support a community-based approach to problem gambling education and prevention. DPG maintains a self-exclusion list that allows interested individuals to voluntarily ban themselves from all Arizona Indian gaming facilities along with event wagering and fantasy sports. Self-exclusion prohibits these individuals from collecting any winnings or recovering any losses. DPG also subsidizes treatment for both individuals with a gambling problem or anyone affected by problem gambling through the Treatment Assistance Program. This can be accessed by visiting the DPG website and by calling 1-800-NEXTSTEP or by texting 'NEXTSTEP' to 53342. DPG's NEXT-STEP helpline number is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Calls are screened and can be assigned to Masters Level Clinicians trained in Problem Gambling who are able to make referrals to Arizona clinicians as well as to speak with anyone regarding their problem gambling concerns. Established by the Arizona State Legislature in 1995, ADG is the state regulatory agency for tribal gaming, racing and parimutuel/simulcast wagering, event wagering/fantasy sports and unarmed combat sports. $