In September, sports betting revenue in Arizona reached a record $77.4 million (£61.5 million/€73.9 million), with the return of the NFL contributing to the second-highest handle since the Grand Canyon state legalized sports betting.
Arizona sports gamblers wagered $732.1 million in September through online and retail outlets. This is 19.9% ahead of the September 2023 handle. However, it falls short of Arizona’s all-time monthly revenue record of $759.8 million, which was established in March 2024.
It amounts to $719.6 million wagered online, with an additional $12.5 million coming from retail stores operated by Caesars, Desert Diamond, DraftKings, and FanDuel.
Arizona sports betting licensees paid out $655.7 million in prizes, resulting in adjusted gross receipts of $77.4 million. This is a 28.8% increase over September 2023 and exceeds the record $70.9 million in sales achieved in January 2024, when the NFL playoffs were underway.
It also recommends a statewide hold of 10.5% for the month before promotional credits.
See also:
- Dutch trade associations step up their campaign against unlawful gambling with Meld Vals Spel
- KSA fines Blue High House over €1m for illegal offering
- Underage gaming is on the rise, according to BAGO
According to the Arizona Department of Gaming, operators issued $39.7 million in promotional credits, just as competition for players heats up before the NFL season begins. After subtracting that, adjusted gross receipts totaled $37.7 million.
Arizona sports betting licensees pay an 8% tax on retail gross receipts, which rises to 10% for mobile betting. After deducting $447,593 in retail earnings, operators paid $35,807 in state taxes. This amount is overshadowed by the $3.2 million contribution from internet operations.
FanDuel holds off DraftKings in Arizona
Looking at individual operators, Flutter-owned FanDuel retains the market leader. During September, FanDuel reported a handle of $231.5 million and adjusted gross receipts of $27.4 million, representing an 11.8% hold. However, it includes $10.7 million in free bets.
In September, players gambled more on DraftKings, but a worse hold of 10.1% resulted in $26.6 million in total income on a $263.9 million handle. It was even more generous than FanDuel, offering $13.5 million in free bets.
BetMGM is the closest contender, with $86.6 million wagered on its platform in September. Thanks to a 10.4% hold, its total income for the month was $9.0 million, which was severely reduced by $4.0 million in free bets.
Caesars follows with $39.6 million in handling and $3.6 million in revenue.
How are the up-and-comers doing?
Meanwhile, Fanatics continues to gain market share. It earned $3.8 million in sales from $34.9 million in handling, representing a 10.9% hold, but due to extensive promotional spending, income after deductions was only $805,721.
Bet365, on the other side, benefited from a solid 11.9% hold, earning $3.4 million off $28.7 million in wagers. ESPN Bet’s adjusted total receipts before deductions exceeded $1 million in September, with users gambling $16.4 million on its app, up from $11.6 million in August 2024.
Join us on all our social channels and groups
Gameongazette is present on:
