State of Arizona gambling law

View the AZ Senate Bill 1158, which went into effect in the fall of 2021. While sports wagering is permissible under Arizona state law, coaches, staff and student-athletes are still bound by NCAA rules relating to sports wagering. 

NCAA rules

NCAA legislation prohibits SDA student-athletes and staff members from gambling or wagering on any sport (amateur, professional or otherwise) in which the NCAA conducts a championship or bowl game. The legislation defines wagering as any arrangement in which an individual agrees to give up anything of value (e.g., cash, shirt, meal) in exchange for the possibility of gaining another thing of value. Thus, the NCAA gambling prohibition would apply to pools or fantasy leagues that require fees to enter and provide entrants opportunities to win prizes or money. Additionally, SDA student-athletes and staff members are prohibited from:

• Providing information (e.g., reports concerning team morale, game plans or injuries to team members) to individuals involved in organized gambling activities (including informal pools) concerning intercollegiate athletics.
• Engaging in activities designed to illegally influence the outcome of an intercollegiate contest (e.g., point-shaving).

An individual's failure to abide by this legislation can result in severe penalties such as permanent ineligibility for student-athletes and loss of employment for staff members. In addition to violating NCAA rules, providing any information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities is against the State of Arizona law.

• For information relating to problem gambling, please visit the State of Arizona website relating to problem gambling.

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