Arizona’s first year of legalized sports betting cashes in on surprising success; more than $5B wagered

Arizona’s first year of legalized sports betting cashes in on surprising success; more than $5B wagered

Article brief provided by Cronkite News
  • Tom Aizenberg, Cronkite News
September 10, 2022 6:47 PM
  • Tom Aizenberg, Cronkite News

Exactly one year ago, the flood gates opened. Arizona legalized sports betting for the first time outside tribal gaming on Sept. 9, 2021. For many, the amount of money generated has been jaw-dropping.

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In the state’s first full year of gambling, more than $5 billion was wagered. By most accounts, Arizona has more than met expectations in its inaugural stage.

“A year ago, I was thinking maybe if the state is lucky, it might at some point this year hit $500 million for wagers in a single month,” said Chris Boan, lead writer for BetArizona.com. “And it’s hit that number three times, and two other months it was above $490 million and was within an eyelash of that $500 million benchmark.”