Arizona Governor Doug Ducey January 13 called for sports betting on and off of the reservations. The betting would include fantasy leagues, instant keno and mobile wagering.
This would require the legislature to repeal laws that prevent such activities. It would also require lawmakers to approve of new compacts that Ducey negotiated with the state’s gaming tribes. The existing 20-year compacts expire in 2022.
The governor says the new deal will be more profitable for both the state government and the tribes than the current arrangement.
A spokesman for Ducey commented, “Our goal is to bring Arizona gaming into the 21st century,” adding, “A lot has changed since the first compacts were signed, back when cellphones weren’t the thing they are now. The world looks a lot different today and our proposal is intended to reflect the way people live their lives today.”
Ducey has been pushing for new sources of revenue for several years. Three years ago he advocated keno being added to the games the Arizona Lottery offers, but that hit the brick wall of the existing compacts.
Some sports betting exists in the state at OTB and racetracks, where betting is allowed on horse and dog races. Those businesses are expected to lobby to get some share of what Ducey is proposing.
