Arizona sets record with nearly $500 million in event wagering in fourth month of operation
Mar 8, 2022, 10:58 AM
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHOENIX — Gamblers in Arizona set a record with nearly $500 million in total event wagering in its fourth month of operation, the state’s gaming department announced Tuesday.
About $499.2 million in event and fantasy sports bets was wagered in December, surpassing November’s total of $466 million.
Bettors in the state have gambled about $1.7 billion in four months, with reports for January and February still to come.
“With a new record for total wagers and payouts this December, I am excited to see the continued strong start to the state’s event wagering & fantasy sports market,” Ted Vogt, director of the Arizona Department of Gaming, said.
“I look forward to seeing the benefits to Arizona as the market further develops.”
Arizona collected $1.7 million in taxes for its general fund, down from $3.2 million in November.
DraftKings was again the most popular app, taking in $146 million. FanDuel remained the second most popular, bringing in $128 million.
There was a bump in free bets handed out, with $21.3 million provided to players in December.
There were $31 million free bets in Arizona in September and another $26 million in October before $18.3 million in November.
The credits for those free bets, which are designed to lure people to the online and retail sports books, phase out over several years.
They start at 20% of gross receipts in the first two years then drop to 15% and then 10% before ending in the sixth year.
