Betfred teams up with Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in Arizona.

Betfred USA Sports and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation have officially partnered for Arizona sports betting.

The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort in Fort McDowell will collaborate with two parties to establish a retail sportsbook and launch a mobile and online betting platform under the Betfred Sports brand.

Their intention is to seek regulatory approval for their agreement from the Arizona Department of Gaming, which has already received 10 applications from professional sports teams and 15 from tribes for Arizona sports betting apps.

Betting on the NFL season is now underway as the season kicks off.

In Arizona, 20 sportsbook operators will receive licenses to start betting on Arizona NFL games starting September 9. Ten licenses will be given to sports teams and professional sports facilities, while the other 10 will be reserved for Indian tribes.

The ADG stated in an email on Wednesday that the state is on track to meet the planned launch date.

Bernadine Burnette, President of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, announced that We-Ko-Pa is embarking on a new chapter with the partnership with Betfred Sports. She expressed excitement about the potential for sports betting in Arizona and the opportunity to secure an event wagering license to provide casino sports betting to both retail and digital customers.

In an email on Wednesday, the department confirmed that daily fantasy sports contests in the state are still set to begin on Aug. 28.

The ADG must make a decision on the eligibility of applicants for licenses by August 16, or by August 27 if there are more applicants than licenses available.

According to Mark Stebbings, the chief operating officer of Betfred Group, the company views Arizona as a natural progression for launching their successful products, following their success in other states.

Stebbings expressed enthusiasm for Betfred Sports’ expansion into Arizona, noting successful launches in Iowa, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. He anticipates working closely with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation to leverage their 50 years of bookmaking expertise and deliver high-quality betting options for sports enthusiasts in Arizona.

A recent survey conducted by yengols.com suggests that Arizona residents are anticipated to show significant interest once the market becomes available in early September.

OTHER AZ PARTNERSHIPS

Several operators have announced sportsbook deals with tribes in Arizona, as well as forming partnerships with professional sports teams.

Here is a compilation of the communities that have entered into sportsbook agreements up to this point:

• Cliff Castle Casino Hotel, operated by the Yavapai-Apache Nation, has partnered with PointsBet Sportsbook.
• WynnBet Sportsbook is situated alongside Apache Gold and Sky casinos on the San Carlos Apache reservation.
• The collaboration between William Hill/Caesars and Harrah’s AK-Chin Casino.
• Both TwinSpires and Mazatal Hotel & Casino are owned by the Tonto Apache Tribe.
• BlueBet and the tribes of the Colorado River.
• BetMGM has formed a partnership with the Gila River Community and the Arizona Cardinals.

There are 24 Class III Native American-owned casinos in Arizona, owned by 16 tribes, which opens up possibilities for market growth and expansion.

Six tribes in Arizona that do not have casinos lease out their slot machine rights to other tribes that have their own gaming facilities.