Arizona Department of Gaming joins IAGR’s first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week

State regulator warns Arizonans to verify licensed operators as illegal sites target bettors online.

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) is taking part in the inaugural Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (IGAW), a coordinated public education campaign running Nov. 9–13, 2026. The international initiative is organized by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and focuses on helping consumers verify whether an online gambling platform is licensed where they play.

ADG said regulated event wagering (sports betting) and fantasy sports contests are legal in Arizona, but unregulated operators and digital platforms continue to target state residents. The department alleged some of these sites advertise themselves as “legal in Arizona” through digital ads, affiliate marketing networks, and news content.

Over the past two years, ADG said it has issued multiple cease-and-desist orders against unregulated operators conducting business without proper licensure, responsible gaming safeguards, and age verification. The department also pointed to consumer risks including fraud, identity theft, and loss of funds, as well as complaints such as misleading terms, withdrawal difficulties, and accounts frozen after withdrawal requests.

"A sleek website and a familiar logo can easily fool bettors into believing a platform is legitimate," said Jackie Johnson, Director of the Arizona Department of Gaming. "When Arizonans deposit funds on unlicensed, unregulated platforms, they lose all consumer protections. There is no guarantee you will get paid your winnings, personal and financial data may be exposed to fraud, and these platforms operate outside the law. Our priority is ensuring Arizonans can make informed choices, know how to verify their platform before placing a bet, and play responsibly."

As part of the week, ADG is directing consumers to IAGR’s verification resource at www.checkbeforeyouplay.org and to its own tools, including gaming.az.gov/checkyourbet. ADG also said suspected illegal gaming operations can be reported via gaming.az.gov or to the Arizona Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.v