HomeArizona Daily Fantasy Sports

Arizona Daily Fantasy Sports

First officially becoming legal in the United States in 2016, with Virginia being the first state to adopt legislation, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) has taken the country by storm. Arizona is one of the latest states to join in on the DFS craze, officially going live in August 2021. Today, we will dive into Daily Fantasy Sports in Arizona and provide you with all the information you need to know.

Johnny Covers By: Johnny Covers
Table of contents

Yes, DFS became legal in Arizona on August 28, 2021, with DraftKings and FanDuel becoming the first legal operators in the state. With the launch in The Grand Canyon State, Arizona became the 44th state to legalize some form of DFS, as the desire for daily contests that require research and skill became too much for lawmakers to ignore.

Signed into law on April 15, 2021, House Bill 2772 covered both DFS and sports betting, as Governor Doug Ducey officially put pen to paper to give Arizona sports gamblers what they wanted and increase state tax revenue in the process. Regulated by the Arizona Department of Gaming, the state approved applications for DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo, FFPC, Fantasy Sports Shark, and Underdog Sports.

What are the best DFS sites in Arizona?

As is the case throughout the United States, DraftKings and FanDuel are by far the most popular and best DFS sites in Arizona. They aren’t the only players though, as we take a closer look at the top five best DFS sites in AZ.

  • DraftKings: Initially hitting the U.S. market in 2012, DraftKings DFS leads the way in terms of having the best DFS app in the country. Not only is it intuitive and easy to use, but all the daily, weekly, and season-long DFS contests are laid out in a concise way that is easy for users to navigate. DFS players in Arizona can access all the same great features they can on the desktop site, directly from the mobile app. It’s not just their mobile app that sets DraftKings Arizona apart, as they also offer the widest range of sports and contests to play on a daily basis. New players in The Grand Canyon State can also take advantage of one of the best welcome offers in the space, with new players receiving a $20 sign-up bonus. Click the “Get Bonus” button at the top of this page to take advantage.
  • FanDuel: FanDuel DFS was the first to market in 2009, and is right up there with DraftKings as one of the best DFS sites in Arizona. Falling only slightly behind DraftKings in terms of the number of markets available, FanDuel DFS offers daily, weekly, and season-long contests on all the major sports including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, UFC, and more. FanDuel DFS Arizona also offers a best-in-class mobile app, where players can access all of the same great offerings from their desktop site. In terms of contests, FanDuel DFS is best known for its Sunday Million, which awards $1 million to the first-place winner. Like DraftKings, FanDuel has a terrific welcome offer for new players, offering a $100 bonus for deposits of $10 or more. Click the “Get Bonus” link at the top of this page to automatically have it applied to your new account.
  • Yahoo Fantasy Sports: Known for its robust traditional fantasy sports offerings before venturing into DFS, Yahoo DFS Arizona is quickly gaining market share amongst the smaller DFS companies in the space. The contests at Yahoo DFS mirror DraftKings and FanDuel, but because of their size, offer smaller payouts and less competition. Yahoo has also partnered with BetMGM to launch its own sportsbook category.
  • Underdog Fantasy: One of the newer DFS companies in the space, Underdog Fantasy has quickly gained a loyal following in Arizona. Originally known for their “best ball” NFL contests, Underdog Fantasy AZ has expanded to other sports offering both traditional daily DFS contests and others that focus on props.
  • PrizePicks: Advertised heavily by the popular online brand NELK and others, PrizePicks continues to expand its offerings and customer base. PrizePicks contests have a unique twist, as they focus on player prop parlays, where customers must pick at least two over/under selections. As with traditional parlays, the more selections in your PrizePicks DFS card, the higher the payout should they all hit.

How to get started with Daily Fantasy Sports in Arizona

With Daily Fantasy Sports in Arizona being relatively new, many will be venturing into DFS in The Grand Canyon State for the very first time. Let’s dive into the steps required to get started with DFS in Arizona today.

  1. Get Bonus: To make sure you take advantage of the generous welcome offers available, click the “Get Bonus” link at the top of this page. From there, you will be redirected to the DFS site and your Arizona betting bonus will be automatically applied to your account. Just make sure to follow the terms and conditions to receive your bonus.
  2. Register: With your bonus applied, you will be sent to the Daily Fantasy Sports in Arizona sign-up screen to provide your new login credentials such as username, email address, password, phone number, and more.
  3. Confirm your legal identity: With your basic information entered, you’ll now be asked to provide your first and last name, date of birth, legal address, and the last four digits of your social security number.
  4. Accept terms: Now that the DFS site in Arizona has your basic and legal information, check the boxes to agree to any privacy policies and terms and conditions.
  5. Fund account and find contest: Your account has officially been set up and your welcome offer has been applied, now for the fun. Choose one of the dozens of payment options available to fund your account, and then go find the daily, weekly, or season-long contest that catches your eye.

What kinds of DFS leagues can I bet on in Arizona?

DFS players in Arizona have zero shortage of DFS leagues they can bet on, with a wide range of contests available for each sport. Let’s take a peek at some of the most popular kinds of DFS leagues customers can bet on in Arizona.

  • UFC: Personally, nothing beats betting on and entering DFS contests than the UFC. For every weekly UFC card, both free cards and PPV events, DFS sites in Arizona offer contests where you are given a bankroll and must select a short roster of fighters.
  • NFL: Arizona Cardinals fans have a plethora of options when it comes to entering contests focused around the NFL. Everything but contests focused around a given week, from the afternoon games on a Sunday to primetime matchups such as Monday Night or Thursday Night Football are covered on a weekly basis.
  • NBA: Perhaps no team in the Valley of the Sun has more buzz than the Phoenix Suns, as their superstar core has brought exciting basketball back to AZ. NBA contests are abundant on the DFS sites in Arizona, with everything from daily contests to weekly contests centered around the league. NBA best ball has become popular, where players enter contests that span weeks throughout the season with drafts held every single week.
  • MLB: From the start of the regular season all the way through the World Series, fans of MLB in Arizona have a plethora of DFS contests to sign up for. Whether it be on the Arizona Diamondbacks or any other MLB team for that matter, MLB DFS continues to gain steam year after year in AZ and beyond.
  • NHL: Despite getting less advertising than the other leagues on our list, NHL DFS also has a robust menu of offerings in Arizona. Phoenix Coyotes fans can select their players for the daily and weekly contests, as well as players from any of the other 31 teams in the league.
  • Golf: One of the states with the most golf courses in the country, available to play year-round, Arizona loves its golf. It should come as no surprise that PGA Tour DFS contests have exploded since launch in 2021, as players can enter contests focused around the weekly events, as well as season-long contests. DFS contests on the four majors in golf are amongst the most popular DFS contests in the state.

Timeline of Daily Fantasy Sports Legislation in Arizona

It was a long road for Daily Fantasy Sports legislation in Arizona, as the state finally got there in 2021 following many twists and turns. Let’s take a quick look at the timeline of Daily Fantasy Sports legislation in Arizona and how we got here today.

  • 2014: Arizona’s first attempt to legalize DFS came via Senate Bill 1468, which would have exempted fantasy sports from illegal gambling on the basis they required skill. It was opposed by tribal leaders in the state and shot down quickly before reaching a Senate vote.
  • 2016: Initially signed into law by George W. Bush in October of 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was put in place to stop the flow of illegal online gambling companies from popping up across the country. A portion of this new law allowed DFS operators, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, to begin the process of coming to market.
  • 2016: Senate Bill 1515 was another attempt at exempting fantasy sports from Arizona’s definition of illegal gambling, but was once again shot down by tribal leader gaming operators, never reaching a Senate vote.
  • 2019: Following many other states, lawmakers in Arizona finally came around to the idea of sports betting, with tribal casinos on board to host the operations at their casinos.
  • 2021: House Bill 2772 was officially written and approved, officially legalizing both sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports in the state. The Arizona Department of Gaming officially took over as the primary governing body, reviewing and approving applications for both DFS and sportsbook operators.

Tips for playing Daily Fantasy Sports in Arizona

With many in the state venturing into DFS for the first time, it might be daunting with the number of DFS operators and contests available. With that in mind, here are some of my top tips for playing Daily Fantasy Sports in Arizona.

  • Take advantage of welcome offers: Due to the increasing number of DFS operators in Arizona, each of them offers welcome offers designed to entice new customers. Be sure to take advantage of that, finding the best promotional offers for new customers, many of which offer bonus bets or free entries to cash contests simply for signing up. Be sure to check the “Get Bonus” links at the top of this page for the very best offers available.
  • Become a specialist: Whether it be one of the sports leagues mentioned above or another, pick a sports league to focus your attention on and study the players and teams. By narrowing your focus, you can find trends and other player-specific information that others might miss to boost your chance of winning a contest.
  • Know the rules: With hundreds of daily and weekly contests offered at DFS sites in Arizona, each is unique in terms of how the scoring works and other rules. Make sure to be aware of all the rules and scoring systems, so you can choose the best players to fill your contest roster. The more unique the scoring system, the better chance other players won’t notice some of the irregularities; something you can take advantage of.
  • Know the number of entries: While some contests can offer entries for thousands of players, others have caps where only a few dozen can enter. Though the payouts might be smaller, the less competition in the contest the higher your chance of winning.

FAQ

Do I pay taxes on Daily Fantasy Sports winnings in AZ?

Yes, you must pay taxes on Daily Fantasy Sports winning in AZ, beginning with the federal tax rate of 25%. In most instances, DFS operators will take out the taxes upon payouts of larger sums, but you should consult with a tax professional for your specific situation.

Can you play DFS using DraftKings in AZ?

Yes, you can play DFS using DraftKings in Arizona, with the DFS operator officially going live in 2021 in the state.

Author Details

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers is a researcher and author at Betting AZ. He is an experienced analyst in the sports betting industry, providing handicapping insights for nearly ten years. Throughout his career, he has contributed his expert knowledge to numerous publications, such as All-In Magazine, Blitz Predict, FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, Golf Monthly, and OddsChecker.