Arizona sports betting is now live just in time for the start of the NFL season.

The Arizona sports betting market officially launched at 12:01 a.m. local time on Thursday, marking the start of a new era.

After receiving licenses from the state Department of Gaming on August 27, the launch date for 18 Arizona betting app operators has been revealed. Out of these, ten are in partnerships with local tribes, while the other eight are in partnership with professional sports teams in Arizona.

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The launch of the process smoothly overcame a legal challenge on Labor Day, with Maricopa County Superior Court Judge James Smith denying a motion by the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe to overturn the 2021 gaming compact.

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The tribe did not challenge Smith’s decision, thus allowing sports betting to begin on Thursday as scheduled.

The market was debuted in perfect timing for NFL betting in Arizona, coinciding with the kickoff of the first game on Thursday featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Dallas Cowboys.

Betting on the Arizona Cardinals is expected to generate a lot of interest as they begin their season against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Who will be working on Thursday in Arizona?

Six operators will be launching in Arizona on Thursday: BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, WynnBET, and Unibet.

TwinSpires will be launching soon, and the remaining 11 licensees are anticipated to open their shops in the state later this year.

The 11 remaining companies include reputable industry leaders like Penn National Gaming/Barstool Sports, Bally’s, Rush Street Interactive/BetRivers Arizona, Golden Nugget, Fubo Gaming, Betfred Arizona, and Digital Gaming.

The Journey to Our Current Location

Sports betting in Arizona began in February with the introduction of Arizona House Bill 2772 in the state legislature.

The bill sponsored by Reps. Jeff Weninger, Alma Hernandez, Ben Toma, Shawnna Bolick, Daniel Hernandez, Sonny Borrelli, Cesar Chavez, Jennifer Jermaine, Thomas Shope, David Cook and Becky Nutt successfully passed through the state House with a vote of 48-12 and the Senate with a vote of 23-6 in April.

Legislation legalizing sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and additional Keno games was signed into law by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on April 15.

Arizona HB 2772 has changed the process for Arizona’s tribes and sports teams to apply for one of the 20 licenses in an updated tribal gaming compact.

In his remarks in April, Ducey hailed the bill as a landmark occasion, representing the most substantial modifications in nearly two decades. He commended the compact amendment and associated laws for advancing the prosperity of the tribal-state collaboration and establishing a mutually beneficial situation for tribes, the state, and taxpayers.

The economic benefits of sports betting in Arizona

According to Dennis Hoffman, an economics professor at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, the legalization of sports betting is expected to provide a substantial economic boost to Arizona, with projections showing that the industry could generate over $200 million in business activity and contribute more than $30 million in tax revenue.

Hoffman’s projections align with the Arizona Department of Gaming’s forecast of $34.2 million in annual General Fund revenue from legalized sports betting by the 2024 fiscal year.

Hoffman pointed out that our current approach in this situation is based on speculation. The key issue at hand is whether sports betting will yield any economic advantages by creating residual or multiplier effects. He contended that choosing to invest money within Arizona rather than in offshore accounts would be more advantageous in the long run.

It is important to acknowledge that in the past, money may have been leaving Arizona and going to other states or countries. However, we are now able to collect taxes on that money and keep it within the state, which is advantageous for the economy.