The Arizona Department of Gaming has released a guide to safe and responsible gambling ahead of the NFL season.
“Bet Smart: Your Guide to Legal and Responsible Betting” outlines the ways in which Arizona residents can avoid unsafe and unlawful gambling, such as by using only licensed sportsbook operators. The 2024 edition marks the ADG’s third installment of the “Bet Smart” guide since sports betting launched in the state on September 9, 2021.
Divided into two sections, the document covers “Sports Pools – Know What Rules to Follow” and “Responsible Betting – What to Keep in Mind.”
The former highlights how sports pools, a form of social gambling, are a popular way to gamble during the football season. It then details the laws surrounding social gambling in Arizona, such as:
- The host can’t benefit financially unless they are a participant themselves)
- All money in the pool must be paid out to the winner
- Only those involved in the pool can win the money
- The terms must be equal for all players
It describes the markings of an illegal sports pool, which might include participation fees, unequal odds, administration costs or participants younger than 21.
The second section outlines the advice given by the American Gaming Association in its “Have A Game Plan” campaign, emphasizing responsible gambling practices like setting budgets, understanding odds, treating gambling as entertainment and betting on one of the state’s 17 (though soon to be 20) legal sportsbooks.
