In the Las Vegas area, one can visit a hundred different sportsbooks and place a bet at a window with a live person. It has been legal in Vegas for over 70 years.

Legalized in Arizona back in April, 18 of the 20 authorized sports betting licenses were awarded in August to tribal casinos throughout the state and to Arizona’s professional sports franchises.

A target date for legal betting to begin in the state was set for Sept. 9, coinciding with the start of the NFL season. The sports betting scene in Arizona withstood a last-minute lawsuit challenging the legislation’s viability and is now up and running — though in a largely-virtual manner, for the time being.

While numerous online betting sites and apps are now operating, the only full-fledged sportsbook open in the Phoenix metro area is the FanDuel Sportsbook. It operates out of the Footprint Center, home to the Phoenix Suns.

The FanDuel Sportsbook is open seven days a week. It offers lounge seating alongside numerous large-screen TVs showing any and all live sporting events. Parking is located directly across the street, food is served — and in addition to live betting windows, about 25 self-serve kiosks are on the premises.

The only other non-virtual betting station in metro Phoenix is just down the street at Chase Field, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks. A few betting windows and kiosks are located there. A full two-story sportsbook and bar is slated to open there in April 2022, in time for the start of the new baseball season, at the site of the former Game 7 Grill.

Other live sportsbooks in the works are months or even years away with no set opening dates, such as at the various local casinos.

TPC Scottsdale, host of golf’s Phoenix Open, is planning a sportsbook of their own, the idea being to open it in time for their annual PGA Tour event in January 2023. It would also operational in time for Super Bowl 57, which will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

As far as virtual sportsbooks are concerned, the online sites and apps are too numerous to list, but most are offering significant bonuses for new users to sign up. A simple internet search for “arizona free bet” can reveal most available promotions.

Read the fine print and bet responsibly, if you bet at all. Enjoying the game with the family sans betting is still a good option.