Card games that are played for money in Arizona are primarily governed by state laws and tribal gaming compacts. These create a unique landscape where tribal casinos dominate the casino scene. Meanwhile, card rooms are restricted and online gambling is largely unregulated. Here’s how they each compare in the state.
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Online Card Games in Arizona
Unlike states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, Arizona has not regulated online casinos as yet. That means major US-based poker platforms do not operate in the state. However, there are a few alternatives that allow players to enjoy online card games in some capacity, such as offshore gambling platforms. Other states have pushed for online poker to generate tax revenue, and Arizona could follow if the financial benefits are strong enough.
Arizona has already expanded gaming laws with sports betting and DFS, so online poker and casino gaming could be next. Through sites like Discasino.com, modern online casinos offer a vibrant connected community as well as the thrill of gaming. Card games are designed to run smoothly on smartphones, so players can easily jump into favorites like baccarat, blackjack, and poker. To augment the experience, these sites generally also offer perks like instant payouts, large bonuses, and crypto betting.
Because tribal casinos have exclusive gaming rights in Arizona, any online legalization would likely involve them. For now, though, there remains no regulated online casino legislation in the state.
Sweepstakes and Social Casinos
Sweepstakes-based and social casinos are popular in Arizona.
Options include:
- Global Poker – Uses a sweepstakes model where players can use “Sweeps Coins” to enter poker games and tournaments.
- Chumba Casino & LuckyLand Slots – Offer card games like blackjack and video poker under a sweepstakes system.
- ClubWPT – A poker site where players pay a subscription fee rather than betting real money per hand.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and Online Betting
Arizona legalized sports betting and daily fantasy sports (DFS) in 2021, allowing operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM to offer online betting. While DFS and sports betting aren’t traditional card games, this shows Arizona’s willingness to expand online gaming.
Tribal Casinos and Card Games
Arizona has a well-established tribal gaming industry, with 22 federally recognized Native American tribes operating casinos under compacts with the state.
Types of Card Games Available at Tribal Casinos
Arizona’s tribal casinos offer a mix of house-banked games, where players compete against the casino, and player-versus-player (PvP) games like poker, where players compete against each other.
House-Banked Card Games
These games are run by the casino, meaning the house has an edge, and the casino profits from each bet:
- Blackjack – One of the most popular table games, often played with standard Las Vegas rules, including splitting, doubling down, and insurance bets.
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em – Players compete against the house rather than each other.
- Pai Gow Poker – A mix of traditional Chinese Pai Gow and poker, where players form two hands to beat the dealer.
- Let It Ride – A game where players bet on a poker hand that consists of their three cards plus two community cards.
- Baccarat – A high-stakes game popular among serious gamblers.
- Spanish 21 – A blackjack variant with different deck rules and payout structures.
Live Poker Rooms
Unlike house-banked card games, poker rooms in tribal casinos allow players to compete against each other rather than the house. The casino makes money by taking a rake from each pot or charging a tournament entry fee. Some common poker formats found in Arizona’s tribal casinos include:
- Texas Hold’em (Limit and No-Limit)
- Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo
- Seven-Card Stud
- Various mixed games and poker tournaments
Some casinos host daily poker tournaments, with cash games running around the clock.
Future of Tribal Casino Card Games
The 2021 gambling expansion legalized sports betting and increased casino table game offerings, but online poker and non-tribal card rooms remain restricted. However, with shifting gaming trends, there’s potential for future negotiations to legalize online poker or introduce more gaming options.
Other Card Rooms in Arizona: A Limited but Regulated Scene
Unlike states such as California, where standalone card rooms are common, Arizona does not allow traditional, commercial card rooms where players can participate in poker and other card games outside of tribal casinos.
Why Aren’t There Commercial Card Rooms in Arizona?
Arizona’s gaming laws restrict most forms of non-tribal casino-style gaming. Under state law, only federally recognized Native American tribes can operate full-scale casinos, including poker rooms, blackjack, and other house-banked card games. This means that traditional card rooms—where poker and other card games are played for real money—cannot legally operate outside of tribal casinos. However, there are a few legal exceptions where non-tribal card games can be played in limited formats.
Legal Card Game Options Outside of Tribal Casinos
Social and Private Poker Games
Arizona law allows social poker games, but these must be played in a private home or setting, with no rake or collected fees, and all money wagered must go directly to the players. The game also cannot be advertised or promoted publicly. Home poker games remain legal as long as the host does not profit from the game itself. However, if the host starts charging entry fees, taking a cut from the pot, or running frequent games, it can be considered illegal gambling under Arizona law.
Charity Poker and Fundraising Games
Arizona permits charity poker games and other card game fundraisers under strict regulations. These events must be run by a nonprofit organization, receive approval from the Arizona Department of Gaming, follow betting limits and payout restrictions, and ensure proceeds go to charitable causes. Common formats include Texas Hold’em tournaments where participants buy-in for a chance to win prizes rather than direct cash payouts.
Bars and Social Clubs Hosting Poker Nights
Some bars and private social clubs in Arizona host poker nights, but these typically operate under a membership model or a free-entry system where no real-money wagering takes place. As a result, they can’t generally help drive any meaningful job growth in the state.
Without the ability to use real money, these events often award prizes instead of cash, use point systems for leaderboards, or offer free poker tournaments as part of bar promotions. While these settings can mimic the feel of a real card room, they do not function as full-fledged commercial poker rooms where players can gamble for money.
What’s Missing?
In many other states, card rooms operate separately from casinos and offer poker cash games and tournaments, house-banked card games like blackjack (with a third-party banking system), and regulated, taxed gaming revenue outside of tribal oversight. Arizona does not allow this model, meaning that all real-money poker rooms are inside tribal casinos.
Would Arizona Ever Legalize Commercial Card Rooms?
There have been discussions about expanding Arizona’s gaming laws to allow commercial card rooms. However, Arizona’s strong tribal gaming compacts make it unlikely that commercial card rooms will be legalized soon.
Some of the potential reasons for expansion include the growing demand for poker outside of tribal casinos, the successful sports betting legalization in 2021 (which showed Arizona is open to gaming expansion), and the potential tax revenue from licensing non-tribal card rooms.
Conclusion
Arizona’s card gaming landscape is shaped by its tribal gaming compacts, which give tribal casinos exclusive control over real-money card games. Meanwhile, commercial card rooms remain prohibited and online poker is unregulated. Tribal casinos offer a mix of house-banked card games and live poker rooms, providing the state’s primary legal venue for competitive card gaming.
The legalization of sports betting and daily fantasy sports in 2021 has shown Arizona’s willingness to expand gaming laws. Future legislative changes could bring regulated online poker if financial incentives outweigh opposition from tribal casinos.
For now, Arizona’s tribal casinos remain the dominant force in card gaming, while non-tribal and online options exist only in limited form.
