Following federal approval of land purchase, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe plans to build a casino on property in Tucson, near Interstate 10 Highway. That additional casino will bring even more opportunities for Tucson-area residents and visitors to take part in Arizona’s burgeoning gaming industry.
Also, Barstool Sports has opened a sports bar in the Old Town section of Scottsdale. The location does not include a retail sportsbook, but patrons can log on to their Barstool mobile accounts if they wish to wager on sports while on-site.
Arizona Gaming Growth Continues
Proposed Tucson Casino on West Grant Road
According to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, they plan to build a casino on what was once Old Pascua Land, but currently features Old Century Park 16 Movie Theater. The site is roughly a 30-acre parcel that the tribe has been pursuing for nearly two years. In December, President Biden signed a bill authorizing the tribe’s purchase and granting federal recognition of the nation. That clears the way for Pascua Yaqui Tribe to build a new casino.
The Tucson area currently has three casinos: Desert Diamond; Casino of the Sun; and Casino Del Sol, the latter two of which are owned and operated by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. But a facility near I-10 would be the most centrally-located and accessible in the region.
The aim of the tribe is to invigorate the local economy. The new Tucson casino could create as many as 600 jobs.
“It’s a game-changer for the tribe,” Casino Del Sol CEO Kim Van Amburg told KOLD 13 News. “Without the passage of that bill, there was no possibility of casino development at that intersection, and now, although there are a few extra steps the tribe has to take, the land will be put into trust.”
The projected plan calls for groundbreaking as early as the next 12 months.
The Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona received federal designation as a historical tribe in 1994. According to the National Congress of American Indians, the Pascua Yaqui has approximately 19,000 members. The nation governs a 2,000-acre reservation just southwest of downtown Tucson in Pima County. For several decades, the Pascua Yaqui have provided services such as health care and housing for their members, as well as contributing assistance to the Tucson community.
Barstool Offers Sports Bar Atmosphere in Old Town Scottsdale
Sports bettors in Arizona are familiar with the Barstool sportsbook app, but now Scottsdale has a dining/drinking establishment from those same people. No, it’s not a retail sportsbook, but Barstool Scottsdale is a neighborhood sports bar with an appeal. This is Barstool’s third-themed restaurant. The brand, which began as a sports newsletter from founder David Portnoy in Massachusetts two decades ago, has restaurant locations in Chicago and Philadelphia. (Hey Eagles fans, check out the best Philadelphia Eagles Bars in Arizona)
Barstool Scottsdale, located at 4321 N Scottsdale Rd., offers a food menu, as well as liquor, and a draft beer selection. It’s open from 4 p.m. until 2 AM Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Happy Hour is offered Mon-Fri from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Barstool sports betting app is available in Arizona, as well as Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Barstool May Seek Retail Sportsbook at Phoenix Raceway
The top sports betting apps in Arizona based on total bets placed are FanDuel and DraftKings. Barstool’s sports bar in Scottsdale signals an effort by the sportsbook to increase awareness of its brand in the state.
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Barstool is rumored to be seeking a retail sportsbook location in Avondale through its partnership with NASCAR at Phoenix Raceway.
Arizona Sports Betting Generated $24 Million in Taxes in the First Year
Sports betting in Arizona had a great first year. Last August, Arizona reported a 24% increase in total handle when it soared to $360 million.
In October, the numbers swelled, as total handle from mobile sports betting grew to more than $611 million, and retail sportsbooks reported just over $6 million in wagers accepted. That meant that in its first 12 months of legal sports betting in the state, Arizona operators handled more than $6 billion in wagers, and as a result, $24 million was paid to the state in taxes.
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