Arizona Department of Gaming warns media on Illegal Gambling Awareness Week coverage
By Peter Tolan
Published
Editor Note : The release is framed as an informational memo and does not provide dates for IGAW, details of specific cease-and-desist orders, or names of operators targeted. Editors may want to request those specifics for stronger context.
Regulator urges outlets to verify licensed operators and avoid linking to illegal online casinos and offshore sportsbooks targeting Arizona residents.
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has issued new media guidance for Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (IGAW), urging reporters and publishers to verify whether online gaming platforms are authorized in Arizona before describing them as legal or linking to them.
In the memo, ADG says illegal online gaming platforms—often offshore and unregulated—are increasingly targeting Arizona residents and sometimes market themselves as “legal in Arizona.” The Department warns that similar claims can surface in affiliate marketing, digital ads, and even news content, creating confusion for consumers about what is legally authorized.
ADG says it has issued “multiple cease-and-desist orders against unlicensed operators over the past year,” but adds that the lack of a public enforcement letter does not mean an operator is legal. The regulator points media to its “Check Your Bet” resource (gaming.az.gov/checkyourbet) to confirm authorized platforms and to its enforcement notices in the Department’s Media Room when available.
The memo also flags statutory risk for publishers, noting that under A.R.S. § 13-3303, promoting unlicensed gambling enterprises “carries statutory liability.” ADG recommends editorial teams review affiliate links, sponsored content, and advertising to ensure they are not directing readers to unlicensed operators or amplifying misleading legality claims.
As a baseline legal reference, ADG states that online real-money casino games (iGaming)—including “internet table games, such as blackjack, poker and roulette”—are illegal in Arizona and “No online casino operators are licensed by the state.” ADG also advises outlets to include problem gambling help information in wagering-related coverage, using the suggested language: "If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, you can get help now by calling the Arizona Department of Gaming's Division of Problem Gambling confidential helpline at 1-800-NEXT-STEP (1-800-639-8783), texting 'NEXTSTEP' to 53342, or visiting problemgambling.az.gov. Support is available 24/7 for individuals, families, and communities."