Leaving Las Vegas? Nevada Sports Betting Market Could Lose To Arizona

Nevada has historically been the benchmark for sports betting. However, this began to shift when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was repealed in 2018.

Some Nevada residents are starting to move out of state to benefit from new sportsbook opportunities, less than five years later.

More sportsbooks are emerging across the country, offering innovative and diverse betting options. However, Nevada’s sports betting operators have comparatively remained stagnant despite the nationwide surge in creativity and expansion.

Nevada sportsbooks seem to be taking their time to match the competition beyond state borders. For instance, while many states offered various betting options for the NFL Draft, Nevada sportsbooks reduced their offerings, even though the event was hosted in Las Vegas.

Some Nevada sportsbooks may discontinue NFL Draft betting in the coming year. Even with scaled-down betting menus and the absence of remote sports betting app registration, Nevada is experiencing unprecedented success in sports betting. As per the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the state saw a 69% surge in sports betting revenue in 2021 compared to 2020.

The theory that “a rising tide lifts all boats” seems to be holding true for Nevada sportsbooks. As sports betting becomes more mainstream, the handle, or the total amount of money wagered, on sports in Nevada is on the rise.

Nevertheless, the boat might encounter choppy waters as a neighboring state starts climbing the ranks of states that offer legal sports betting. Although this seems to be benefiting Nevada, there might be a deceleration as sports betting becomes legal in surrounding states.

Nevada residents beginning to visit Arizona to bet on sports

A noticeable trend is emerging with Nevada sports bettors going to Arizona to place their sports bets. However, Geocomply, a geolocation software company, reports that the numbers aren’t significantly high yet.

The current number of Nevada sports bettors may not be migrating to Arizona in significant numbers. However, this could change as the sports betting market in Arizona develops and if Nevada’s market remains static.

Sports bettors in Nevada are consistently seeking an edge. It appears that someone is seeking advice on traveling to Arizona solely to make some online wagers.

18 sportsbooks in Arizona

Arizona has traditionally not been viewed as a competitive player in the sports betting industry, but this perception may be shifting. Legal Sports Report states that Arizona currently has 18 sportsbooks. Despite some of these sportsbooks also functioning in Nevada, they provide different betting options and odds in other states.

1. Bally Bet
2. Barstool
3. Betfred
4. BetMGM
5. BetRivers
6. Betway
7. Caesars
8. Desert Diamond Digital
9. DraftKings
10. FanDuel
11. Fubo
12. Golden Nugget
13. Hard Rock
14. SaharaBets
15. SuperBook
16. TwinSpires
17. Unibet
18. WynnBET

Despite sports betting only recently becoming legal in Arizona, the state already has more sportsbook operators than Nevada. Brands such as BetMGM and Caesars provide a wider range of betting options and various promotions in Arizona that are not offered in Nevada.

For instance, BetMGM in Arizona provides a $1,000 bonus bet for new clients, which is significantly more generous than their Las Vegas offerings. To illustrate, a pair of friends from the east coast who visited last November only received a few drink tickets as an incentive to sign up for BetMGM at Aria.

Arizona sportsbooks have compelling betting options and promotions

Certain bettors seek extensive options when they opt to visit Arizona solely for sports betting. On the other hand, some bettors may be interested in claiming a bonus not available in Nevada.

Regardless of the reason, the enticing betting menu and offers from Arizona sportsbooks are convincing enough for Southern Nevada bettors to bear the steep gas prices just for sports betting. Some bettors will even make a stop right after they cross the Arizona border.

Residents of Nevada are visiting Arizona to exploit the extensive betting options and promotions, mirroring patterns seen in other states new to sports betting. For instance, when New Jersey legalized sports betting, many visitors from bordering New York and Pennsylvania would travel there solely to place a bet.

People are now paying attention to New Jersey to see if the state is losing business to New York. It might be possible, but it’s unlikely that Nevada will ever lose a significant amount of revenue to Arizona.

Perhaps Nevada Gaming and sportsbook operators will take assertive measures to prevent residents of the Silver State from crossing state lines to wager on sports not offered in their own state.

Arizona standing strong among states with legal sports betting

In March, Arizona sportsbooks achieved a historic high of $690 million in handle. The majority of sports wagers in Arizona, over 99%, were made online and through mobile devices, facilitated by user-friendly betting apps and regulations. DraftKings and FanDuel were the leading individual sportsbook handles.

To put it into perspective, Nevada recorded a handle of $863 million in March. Although Nevada is leading, a significant amount of sports betting is taking place in a state roughly 30 minutes away from the Vegas Strip.

While Arizona may not rival Nevada in terms of sports betting handle, it’s not insignificant either. In March, the state ranked 6th in the US for sports handle.

• $1.645 billion – New York
• $1.121 billion – New Jersey
• Illinois – $971.3 million
• Nevada – $863.283 million
• Pennsylvania – $714.976 million
• Arizona – $690.9 million

The argument that Arizona could potentially rival Nevada may surface from an angle the sportsbook industry hasn’t thought of. While sportsbook operators anticipate some Arizona gamblers to prefer betting at home, hardly anyone has talked about the possibility of Nevada residents crossing state lines to place their sports bets.

Sportsbook operators in Arizona are aiming to attract new customers. To achieve this, many are providing special offers like substantial deposit bonuses for new customers.

Nevada should not underestimate the competition posed by Arizona. This competition is compelling Nevada residents to travel to Arizona to participate.

Look out for California

Nevada’s regional competition typically stems from California, if there’s ever a concern. With two large markets – Los Angeles and San Diego – within driving distance to Las Vegas, California poses a significant threat. Furthermore, the northern part of the state houses another large market, the San Francisco bay area, which is conveniently close to Reno and Lake Tahoe.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s latest Las Vegas Visitors Profile reveals that in 2021, 30% of Las Vegas visitors hailed from California.

The survey also revealed that approximately 11% of the 2021 tourists in Las Vegas were from Arizona.

In total, over half of the visitors to Las Vegas come by car from neighboring states. This is not a recent trend, as it has been consistently observed for more than the last five years, as indicated in the latest Visitor Profile.

Legal sports betting might be on its way to California, but it may not resemble what Nevada or other states offer. Several bills that could determine the future of legal sports betting in California may be decided upon soon.