Arizona Legislature Considering Bill to Expand Sports Betting

Arizona Sports Betting Expansion Bill Making its Way Through Legislature

Senator Sally Ann Gonzales of Tucson has proposed a bill to nearly double the number of Arizona betting app licenses available to the state’s tribes.

Senate Bill 1674 proposes to double the number of licenses available to tribes from 10 to 22, allowing all of Arizona’s federally recognized tribes the chance to provide mobile sports betting at their casinos.

Gonzales stressed to yengols.com the importance of the legislation on Tuesday, highlighting that it offers tribes the chance to attain licensing equality similar to Arizona’s professional sports teams that received licenses in August.

Gonzales told yengols.com that SB-1674 was created in response to the unfairness of the licensing system under H.B. 1772. He emphasized that the new legislation is designed to establish a fairer process for awarding commercial licenses in Arizona.

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Assisting Arizona tribes in reclaiming their rightful possessions.

Gonzales, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council, announced that her bill will allow tribes who were previously ineligible for Arizona sports betting licenses in 2021 to participate in the market.

The bill was forwarded to the Rules and Commerce committees of the Arizona Senate on February 2nd and received its second reading on February 3rd. No progress has been made since that time.

The Democrat representing District 3 is confident that SB-1674 will restore the tribes’ exclusive gambling rights as originally detailed in Arizona’s Indian Gaming Compact of 2003.

Gonzales highlighted the fact that only 46% of tribes (10 out of 22) were given mobile sports betting licenses, compared to all sports teams (10 licenses for eight teams), as proof that the 2021 compact was unfair.

Gonzales emphasized the importance of granting licenses to every tribe under the new bill, which would create a more equitable sports betting market. He pointed out that the tribes lost their exclusive gaming rights in Arizona due to last year’s legislation, making it necessary for each tribe to obtain a license.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe decided not to comment on SB-1674 and the potential pursuit of a mobile sports betting license for Casino Del Sol in the future.

The tribe debuted a new retail sportsbook at their casino on Tucson’s southern edge on November 18. In collaboration with Scientific Gaming, the facility, known as SolSports, provides 4,000 square feet of space, more than 60 televisions, six ticket counters, and eight self-service betting kiosks.

The Pascua Yaqui tribe relies on their casino as their primary source of income, so it is crucial for them to provide a range of sports betting options in order to maximize revenue.

She believes that SB-1674 will provide opportunities for tribes like the Yavapai Apache Nation (PointsBet), Colorado River Indian Tribes (BlueBet), and White Mountain Apache Tribe (MaximBet) who had previously been denied mobile sports betting licenses despite partnering with companies before being rejected by the ADG.

Gonzales pointed out that although these tribes are contributing as much as professional sports teams, they do not have the same rights and opportunities to engage in commercial gaming outside of the reservation.

Who is authorized to operate in Arizona?

During the month of August, the Arizona Department of Gaming granted licenses to a total of 18 operators, including 10 tribes and eight professional sports teams.

In the 2021 compact, tribes are authorized to offer retail sportsbook services on tribal land without the requirement of obtaining a license. In January, the ADG granted Phoenix’s Turf Paradise Racing a restricted sports betting license, enabling the track to open a retail sportsbook.

Mobile Sports Betting Licensees
  • Fubo powers gaming in the Ak-Chin Indian Community.
  • Arizona Cardinals (BetMGM Arizona)*
  • Arizona Coyotes (SaharaBets)*
  • Caesars Sportsbook Arizona sponsors the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  • Arizona Rattlers (BetRivers Arizona)*
  • Betfred Arizona, located on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
  • The sportsbook of the Fort Mohave Indian Tribe is known as SuperBook Sports.
  • The Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe, previously known as Unibet Arizona.
  • Hualapai Tribe (Golden Nugget)
  • The sportsbook at Hard Rock in Navajo Nation
  • The Phoenix Mercury game will be broadcast on Bally’s Sports Arizona.
  • Phoenix Speedway presented by Penn National Interactive, in partnership with Barstool Sports
  • You can place bets on the Phoenix Suns through FanDuel Sportsbook in Arizona.
  • The San Carlos Apache Tribe has partnered with WynnBET Arizona.
  • The San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe’s foray into digital gaming.
  • Kambi Group joins forces with the Tohono O’odham Nation.
  • Tonto Apache Tribe partners with TwinSpires Sportsbook Arizona – updated
  • TPC Scottsdale will be hosting DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona.
Tribal Retail Sportsbooks
  • Caesars Sportsbook located within the Ak-Chin Indian Community.
  • The Betfred sportsbook in Arizona is situated on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
  • BetMGM has formed a partnership with the Fort Mohave Indian Tribe.
  • Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe (Unibet)*
  • The partnership between BetMGM Arizona and the Gila River Indian Community operates the platform.
  • Scientific Gaming collaborates with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
  • The Tohono O’odham Nation has formed a partnership with Kambi Group.
  • The Tonto Apache Tribe collaborates with TwinSpires Sportsbook in Arizona.
  • Yavapai-Apache Nation (IGT PlaySports)*
Non-tribal Retail Sportsbooks
  • Arizona Cardinals (BetMGM Arizona)
  • Arizona Coyotes (SaharaBets)
  • The Arizona Diamondbacks, sponsored by Caesars Sportsbook Arizona
  • Arizona Rattlers (BetRivers Arizona)
  • Bally’s Sports Arizona, formerly the Phoenix Mercury
  • Penn National Interactive and Barstool Sports operate the Phoenix Speedway.
  • The Phoenix Suns are playing at the FanDuel Sportsbook located in Arizona.
  • Visit DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona located at TPC Scottsdale.
Limited License Sportsbooks
  • Turf Paradise (TBA)

* – Operations have been started

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Author

Peterson Christopher

For more than seven years, Peterson Christopher has been reporting on sports and sports betting in Arizona. He has worked for ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News, and is now the primary writer at yengols.com.

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