Arizona sports gamblers bet a record $692 million in March

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - Arizonans boosted their sports betting by more than 40% in March from the prior month to $692 million - more than they have spent at any point since the the pastime became legal last year.

The Arizona Department of Gaming said sports books made $37.2 million in gross profits after federal tax, but that was before they gave away $18.6 million in free bets which are designed to get state residents in the habit of gambling under the new law Governor Doug Ducey signed last year.

That left $18.7 million in adjusted profits for the 17 professional sporting teams and tribes running mobile or brick-and-mortar sport books.

The March numbers were a big rebound after February’s take had dipped with the end of the pro football season.

The Department of Gaming attributed the growth to college basketball’s March Madness tournament and other major events.