Since the Arizona sports betting bill passed in April, there have been several sports betting partnerships to form. And with the launch date of September 9 inching closer, even more, partnerships are being announced.
Some surprising news was just released regarding partnerships as well. The Arizona Department of Gaming released their final events wagering rules and regulations draft, which includes the announcement that operators are allowed up to two platforms. This means Arizona could see up to 40 sportsbooks. For a sportsbook to apply for a license to offer its app and to open a retail sportsbook, it must enter a partnership with either a local sports franchise or a local tribal casino.
Sportsbooks And Sports Franchises
Arizona is home to several sports teams and hosts a number of sporting events including Spring Training. As of now, all but two of the local teams have partnered with a sportsbook. The Arizona Cardinals and the Arizona Coyotes have not teamed up with a sportsbook as of yet.
DraftKings and the PGA formed a partnership in hopes to open a retail sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale, which is most known for hosting the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Soon after that partnership was announced, FanDuel partnered with the Phoenix Suns. The sportsbook plans to open a retail sportsbook inside the Footprint Center, home to the Phoenix Suns.
Not far from the Footprint Center, Bally Bet is expected to open a retail sportsbook after partnering with the Phoenix Mercury, Arizona’s WNBA team. This deal marked the first time a women’s sports team partnered with a sportsbook.
Caesars Entertainment inked a 10-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks to open a retail sportsbook bar near the Diamondbacks’ ballpark, Chase Field.
The most recent partnership is between NASCAR and Barstool Sportsbook. NASCAR owns and operates Phoenix Raceway, where Barstool Sportsbook now plans on opening a retail sportsbook.
Sportsbooks And Casinos
In addition to sportsbooks teaming up with local sports franchises, there is also the option to partner with a casino owned by a local Indian Tribe.
WynnBET has partnered with the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The Tribe owns the Apache Gold Casino in the city of San Carlos and the Apache Sky Casino in Winkelman. Both locations are anticipating a WynnBET retail sportsbook.
Unibet, part of the Kindred Group, announced a partnership with the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe. The Paradise Casino in Yuma is owned by the tribe, so a retail sportsbook location is expected inside.
PointsBet recently partnered with Cliff Castle Casino Hotel in Camp Verde. The casino is owned by the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
It is interesting that a few of the top casinos in the Phoenix area, such as Casino Arizona at Talking Stick Resort and We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort have not made any partnerships.
List Of Current Arizona Sports Betting Partnerships
- FanDuel – Phoenix Suns (Footprint Center)
- Caesars – Arizona Diamondbacks (near Chase Field)
- DraftKings – PGA (TPC Scottsdale)
- Bally Bet – Phoenix Mercury (near Footprint Center)
- WynnBET – San Carlos Apache Tribe (Apache Gold Casino Resort and Apache Sky Casino)
- Unibet (Kindred Group) – Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe (Paradise Casino in Yuma)
- Barstool Sportsbook – NASCAR (Phoenix Raceway)
- PointsBet – Cliff Castle Casino Hotel (Yavapai-Apache Nation)
What To Expect Next With Arizona Sports Betting
More partnerships are expected to form within the next month. Sportsbooks such as BetRivers, BetMGM, FOX Bet, and Golden Nugget Sportsbook still have the chance to land in Arizona. After all, there are plenty of casinos to partner with, as the state is home to 33 casinos.
Once the final draft of rules and regulations are finalized, Arizona can begin the process of granting these sportsbooks licenses. Sportsbooks must pay a license application fee of $750,000 and $150,000 annually. With these rates, sports betting in Arizona is expected to bring in lots of revenue.
Arizona is planning to launch sports betting on September 9, just in time to place bets on the NFL’s upcoming season, including the Super Bowl.
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