Arizona’s sports betting market has been off to a hot since its launch. According to the state’s Department of Gaming, bettors across the state wagered a total of $499.2 million which set a new state record to end 2021.
Arizona’s Sports Betting Nearly Surpasses $500 Million in December
Arizona’s record-breaking sports betting handle was seven percent higher than November’s $466.7 million. December’s combined handle also surpassed the previous record that was set in October, which showed a total of $486.1 million.
In the first months of operation, sportsbook operators in the Copper State generated a total of nearly $1.75 billion in wagers. The state has quickly become a prominent market in the industry and is easily viewed as a top 10 jurisdiction in the sports gambling industry. The state also welcomed two new sportsbooks into the mix, which include Fubo and Superbook.
Mobile sports betting also set a new record as the online providers that operate in the state brought in $494.5 million in bets which was 7.7 percent higher than November’s $459.3 million. The previous all-time high was also set back in October when platforms accepted a combined total of $479.3 million in wagers.
December’s adjusted gross revenue for the operators was $17.3 million, which is a decrease of 45.8 percent from November’s $31.9 million. The state was only able to collect $1.7 million in taxes to end 2021, while it collected $3.2 million in November.
Arizona Department of Gaming Director Ted Vogt stated;
“With a new record for total wagers and payouts this December, I am excited to see the continued strong start to the state’s event wagering & fantasy sports market,… “I look forward to seeing the benefits to Arizona as the market further develops.”
The record highs can be contributed to what option bettors across the state have to place wagers on different sporting events. The state is home to 18 sportsbook operators, including ten tribes and eight professional sports teams. Arizona’s sports franchises like the Arizona Cardinals and Pheonix Suns were one of the top teams in their respective sport.
Arizona is a Top Market in the Sports Betting Industry
Arizona’s figures brought the industry’s 2021 total to close to $57.8 billion. It was more than 2020’s amount that reached $21.5 million.
New Jersey had the highest sports betting handle for December as it reached a total of $1.34 billion. Nevada was the only other state to hit the $1 billion mark for that month with a handle of $1.015 billion.
The states that rounded out the top 10 were Pennsylvania ($750.4 million), Michigan ($514.6 million), Arizona ($499.2 million), Indiana ($463 million), Colorado ($461.4 million), Virginia ($426.6 million and Tennessee ($341.8 million).
Top Sportsbooks in Arizona for December
DraftKings was the sportsbook operator that brought in a handle that hit $146 million. FanDuel was in second place with ith $131.1 million, while BetMGM was third with $103.7 million. Caesars had a handle of $76 million, and Barstool brought in $20.6 million.
WynnBET Arizona ($14.3 million), Rush Street Interactive ($4.9 million), and TwinSpires Sportsbook Arizona ($1.7 million). The operators that followed were Unibet Arizona ($773,114), SuperBook Arizona ($171,091), and Fubo Sportsbook Arizona ($34,496).
As Arizona continues to be a top market in the industry, Betfred Sportsbook and the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort announced Monday that it will be launching after its soft launch in January. Betfred is offering welcome bonuses up to $3,000 in value that include a risk-free bet up to $1500.
Betfred is also operating in other states across the United States Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Washington. All depending on regulatory approval, the sportsbook is looking to enter Nevada and Virginia. The company has a strong presence in Colorado through a partnership with Colorado Rockies and the Denver Broncos.