Quick answer: Bovada accepts Arizona players. You can sign up, deposit, bet, and withdraw without issues. Arizona legalized sports betting in 2021, but Bovada operates offshore and doesn’t care what your state laws say.
So why would anyone in Arizona use Bovada when you’ve got DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and a dozen other legal options?
Actually, there are a few solid reasons.
The Arizona Sports Betting Scene
Arizona went legal in September 2021. The state handed out licenses to tribal casinos and professional sports teams. That’s why you see books like “FanDuel at Footprint Center” - the Suns literally partnered with FanDuel.
The market is mature now. Competition is fierce. Promotions are decent but not as crazy as the early days.
Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in America. The sports culture here is strong: Suns basketball, Cardinals football, Diamondbacks baseball, Coyotes hockey (until they’re not), ASU and U of A everything.
And plenty of those fans have Bovada accounts.
Why Some AZ Bettors Use Bovada
Poker. This is the biggest one. Arizona’s legal sportsbooks don’t offer online poker. Bovada does. Their anonymous tables run 24/7 with decent traffic. If you play poker from Scottsdale or Tempe or anywhere in the Valley, Bovada’s one of your only options.
No account limits. Legal books will limit you if you win consistently. Bovada’s more patient with winners. Not unlimited patience, but they don’t cut you off after a couple good weekends.
Prop bet variety. Bovada tends to have deeper prop markets than Arizona’s legal books, especially for smaller college games and international sports.
Casino games integrated. Some people want to bounce between sportsbook and slots on the same site. Bovada does that seamlessly.
The Deposit Situation from Arizona
Arizona banks are hit-or-miss with offshore gambling sites. Wells Fargo, Chase, Bank of America - they sometimes block card transactions to Bovada. It’s not consistent. Your Chase card might work while your friend’s doesn’t.
The solution everyone uses: crypto. Buy Bitcoin or Litecoin through Coinbase or Cash App, send it to Bovada, done. Takes maybe 10 minutes once you’re set up. Deposits are instant. Withdrawals come back in under 24 hours usually.
If you’re in the Phoenix metro area, there are Bitcoin ATMs scattered around if you don’t want to use an exchange. Higher fees but more anonymous.
Suns, Cardinals, and the Rest
Bovada covers every Arizona team with full betting markets:
Phoenix Suns - Full game lines, player props, futures. The Book era has made them a popular national bet. Lines move fast on Suns games.
Arizona Cardinals - NFL is NFL. Every market you’d expect. Prop bets on Murray, DeHop, whoever’s healthy.
Arizona Diamondbacks - Dbacks games have good prop depth during baseball season. Run lines, totals, pitcher strikeouts.
Arizona Coyotes - While they exist. Hockey betting is solid on Bovada actually - sometimes better than the legal books.
ASU Sun Devils / Arizona Wildcats - Here’s where Bovada can be better than legal options. College game props are deeper, especially for the rivalry game.
Legal vs Offshore: The Practical Difference
Using FanDuel in Arizona:
- Download app from App Store
- Enter info, SSN, verify identity
- Deposit with bank/card instantly
- Bet
- Withdraw to bank in 2-3 days
- Everything reported for taxes
Using Bovada in Arizona:
- Sign up on website
- No identity verification up front
- Deposit with crypto
- Bet
- Withdraw with crypto in hours
- You’re responsible for your own taxes
The legal path is cleaner. The offshore path has advantages in speed and flexibility.
Most people who use both do it for specific reasons - poker, line shopping, or avoiding limits.
The Tax Thing
Arizona doesn’t have a specific gambling winnings tax, but you still owe federal income tax on gambling profits. Legal books send you (and the IRS) a W-2G for big wins. Bovada sends nothing to anyone.
You’re still supposed to report your winnings either way. The difference is documentation. Some people prefer the clean paper trail from legal books. Others prefer handling it themselves.
Not tax advice. Talk to someone who does taxes.
Phoenix vs Tucson Experience
I’ve talked to bettors from both cities. Phoenix people generally lean toward legal books because the whole infrastructure is there - Footprint Center has a sportsbook lounge, you can bet at casinos in the Valley, the apps work fine.
Tucson folks seem to use offshore options slightly more. The legal sports betting presence isn’t as in-your-face. U of A basketball drives a lot of betting volume, and some prefer Bovada’s college props.
Totally anecdotal. But the pattern seems real.
My Take on Using Both
If I lived in Arizona, I’d probably have accounts at two legal books and Bovada.
Legal books for: daily NFL/NBA bets, promos and boosted odds, clean tax records.
Bovada for: poker, line shopping when the number matters, late-night degenerate casino sessions, and as a backup when my main accounts get limited.
You don’t have to pick one lane. Use what works.
Getting Started
Already betting with AZ legal books: You know what you’re doing. Add Bovada if you want poker or a secondary option. Crypto deposit is the way.
New to sports betting: Honestly start with a legal book. DraftKings or FanDuel are easy. You can always add Bovada later once you know what you want.
Poker player in Arizona: Bovada is your move. Legal options don’t exist. Sign up, deposit, play. The anonymous tables are actually nice - no HUDs tracking your every move.
FAQ
Does Bovada work in Arizona?
Yes. Bovada accepts Arizona players. You can sign up, deposit with crypto, bet on sports, play poker and casino games, and withdraw without issues.
Is Bovada legal in Arizona?
It’s complicated. Bovada operates offshore, outside US jurisdiction. Arizona has no law against players using offshore sites. You won’t get arrested. Whether it’s technically “legal” depends on how you interpret various laws. Most lawyers would say it falls into a gray area.
Should I use Bovada or a legal Arizona sportsbook?
Depends on what you want. Legal books are more convenient for casual betting. Bovada’s better for poker, avoiding limits, and deeper prop markets. Many people use both.
What’s the best way to deposit to Bovada from Arizona?
Crypto. Bitcoin or Litecoin specifically. Cards get blocked too often. Crypto deposits are instant and free.