Things to be aware of regarding the launch of sports betting in Arizona
Sports betting in Arizona will officially commence at midnight on Thursday, as per Arizona time.
Arizona will launch a total of 18 mobile sports betting apps, with ten partnering with Arizona tribes and eight aligned with state-based sports teams. These apps have been preparing for months to offer betting options for Arizona NFL games.
On August 28th, registration was opened for bettors to access promo codes for Arizona sportsbooks.
Arizona residents should be informed about the new legislation and regulations surrounding sports betting in the state.
Legal Challenge
The launch scheduled for Thursday is taking place shortly after a legal challenge to the state’s recent sports betting law was rejected.
The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe lodged a legal challenge against the 2021 gaming compact, contending that it infringed upon the 2002 compact that granted tribal gaming rights in the state. They alleged that it was unconstitutional.
Judge James Smith of the Maricopa County Superior Court sided with the state in the lawsuit against the tribe, concluding that the tribe failed to present sufficient evidence that the new compact had a direct negative impact on them. The tribe has the option to appeal the ruling.
Smith’s order denies the Tribe’s Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and a Preliminary Injunction, stating that they did not demonstrate that H.B. 2772 likely infringes on their rights related to event wagering compared to Sports Franchise Owners. The Tribe also failed to prove that public policy supports their request for injunctive relief.
Not only did Smith’s court decision point out the last-minute timing of the tribe’s lawsuit, but it also emphasized that the filing occurred on Aug. 26, a mere 11 days before the planned launch of sports betting.
Smith ruled that courts must uphold laws that align with the VPA, constitutional rights, procedural requirements, and other regulations while also balancing the need to not disrupt the democratic process. The Tribe was unable to prove that H.B. 2772 would violate their rights regarding event wagering in comparison to Sports Franchise Owners or show that public policy justified their request for an injunction.
Who has the authorization to operate in Arizona?
In the initial application round, licenses were awarded to a combined total of 18 operators, including eight professional sports teams and 10 tribes, to run sportsbooks.
The approved operators included:
FanDuel Arizona has partnered with the Phoenix Suns.
BetMGM has formed a partnership with the Arizona Cardinals and Gila River Community in Arizona.
TPC Scottsdale has teamed up with DraftKings Arizona.
Phoenix International Raceway has joined forces with Penn National Gaming and Barstool Sports in a new partnership.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have partnered with Caesars Sportsbook in Arizona.
Bally’s has formed a partnership with the Phoenix Mercury.
BetRivers Arizona has teamed up with Rush Street Interactive and the Arizona Rattlers for a partnership.
Arizona Coyotes (TBA)
SuperBook Sports has formed a partnership with the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe.
Navajo Nation (TBA);
The Quechan Tribe in Arizona has formed a partnership with Unibet.
Churchill Downs and the Tonto Apache Tribe have joined forces to introduce TwinSpires Arizona.
Tohono O’odham Nation (TBA)
The Golden Nugget and the Hualapai Tribe have partnered together.
Fubo Gaming has partnered with the AK-Chin Indian Community.
Gaming in the Digital Age by the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe
WynnBET has collaborated with the San Carlos Apache Tribe to debut in Arizona.
Betfred Arizona has formed a partnership with the Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation.
In Arizona, where can bettors place their wagers?
In downtown Phoenix at the Footprint Center, Arizona sports bettors can visit the FanDuel Sportsbook location to place their wagers in person. This venue is also where the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury play their home games.
The operator is set to open its facility on Thursday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned as part of the grand opening festivities for sports betting in the state.
In addition, a Caesars Entertainment sports betting kiosk will be located outside Chase Field, the home stadium of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Caesars will be hosting an event on Thursday to commemorate the introduction of sports betting in the state.
The company operator announced that a sportsbook will be opening inside the stadium, replacing Game 7 Grill, in time for the start of the 2022 MLB betting season and regular season.
By Thursday, most operators will have mobile sportsbooks up and running in Arizona, giving sports bettors in the state a plethora of options to choose from.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Author
For over seven years, Peterson Christopher has been reporting on sports and sports betting in Arizona. He currently holds the position of lead writer at yengols.com, and has previously worked for ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News.
Acknowledged by prominent media sources, such as: