Arizona Tribe files lawsuit; 18 sports betting licenses approved.

The Arizona Department of Gaming granted operator’s licenses to 18 applicants on Friday, advancing the progress of Arizona sports betting rollout.

Following a lawsuit filed by the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe on Thursday, an announcement was made on Friday to delay the issuance of licenses and the implementation of sports betting in the state.

The department was tasked with issuing a total of 20 licenses, split evenly between Arizona tribes and professional sports teams/venues, to allow them and their partners to participate in daily fantasy sports, as well as mobile and retail sports betting in the state. In the end, tribes received 10 licenses, while professional teams/venues were granted eight.

Arizona sports betting apps began accepting registrations on Saturday, giving new bettors the opportunity to sign up in advance and access promotional deals before the market officially launches.

Discover how to register in advance for the launch of sports betting in Arizona.

24 operators applied for licenses, leading to the department needing an extra eight business days to decide on the recipients.

Legal betting in Arizona will begin on September 9th, with a surge in activity expected on NFL betting sites. Bettors interested in wagering on the Arizona Cardinals can place their bets ahead of the team’s opening game on September 12th.

Which professional teams were granted licenses?

Eight professional sports teams/venues in the Phoenix area were granted licenses.

• In collaboration with the Phoenix Suns, FanDuel Arizona;
• BetMGM Arizona has established collaborations with the Arizona Cardinals and the Gila River Community.
• DraftKings has entered into a partnership with TPC Scottsdale located in Arizona.
• Phoenix International Raceway has teamed up with Penn National Gaming and Barstool Sports.
• Caesars Arizona has established a partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• The Phoenix Mercury has teamed up with Ballys.
• Rush Street Interactive and the Arizona Rattlers have teamed up in a partnership.
• Arizona Coyotes.

Who Received Licenses, Tribes

Ten tribes in Arizona were ultimately authorized to operate sports betting under licenses.

• SuperBook Sports is affiliated with the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe.
• Navajo Nation;
• Quechan Tribe Unibet Arizona;
• The Tonto Apache Tribe is located at Churchill Downs/TwinSpires Arizona.
• Tohono O’odham Nation;
• Hualapai Tribe (Golden Nugget)
• Fubo Gaming now available at AK-Chin Indian Community.
• The San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe’s project focusing on digital gaming.
• The San Carlos Apache Tribe partners with WynnBet Arizona.
• Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation

Implications of the Lawsuit

The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe has taken legal action by filing a civil lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court. They are seeking an injunction that could potentially postpone the rollout of legal sports betting in Arizona. Governor Doug Ducey and Arizona Department of Gaming Director Ted Vogt are both defendants in the lawsuit.

As per a news release, one of the main worries for the tribe is the restricted number of sportsbook licenses accessible for tribes in the compact, along with the process through which the measure was approved and enforced as law in Arizona. Out of the 22 federally recognized tribes in the state, 16 of them run casinos and are keen to engage in sports betting.

Prescott’s license application was denied.

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The lawsuit alleges that Arizona House Bill 2772 was unlawfully passed into law on April 15. The tribe argues that the bill is unconstitutional, as it improperly bypassed the legislative process in Arizona and had a negative impact on certain tribes.

The tribe is requesting a restraining order and/or injunction to stop the licensing of sports betting until the lawsuit is settled. A hearing is set for September 3, as stated on the court’s website.