The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has received 25 event wagering operator license applications (i.e., applications to operate sports betting) but has only 20 licenses to issue. August 9 was the deadline for applications.
Under the state’s gaming expansion law, ADG can issue 10 licenses to professional sports franchises and 10 to gaming tribes. The body hasn’t revealed the names of the applicants. However, it’s disclosed that there are 15 tribal applicants for 10 licenses.
In making its decision, the ADG will consider which applicants already have a presence in the state, their level of experience, the participation of tribes, and plans to share revenues with non-gaming and rural gaming tribes.
One tribe that seems tailor-made for a license is the Gila River Indian Community, whose White Horse Pass Casino has partnered with BetMGM, one of the largest sportsbook operators. According to MGM President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle, “BetMGM remains a clear leader in iGaming, having reached a 30 percent market share in the second quarter.” The tribe will also partner with the Arizona Cardinals to offer digital wagering and develop sportsbooks at State Farm Stadium as well as its Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte and Vee Quiva casinos.
The newest partnership joins Betfred Sports with the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. That tribe will also seek a mobile license and plans to open retail sports betting operations at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort in Scottsdale.
Betfred Group COO Mark Stabbings commented, “Arizona is an amazing opportunity for Betfred Sports to continue its expansion in the US after successful launches in Iowa, Colorado and Pennsylvania.” He added, “We look forward to working with our fantastic partner, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, to leverage our 50 years of bookmaking experience to bring the best betting options to Arizona sports fans.”
On August 12, MaximBets announced its first public sports betting partnership with the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Brent Kurth, general manager of Hon-Dah Resort-Casino, said, “This partnership will unlock a very important new revenue stream and is critical to the economic future of the tribe and its 17,000 members.”
Other partnerships include the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe with Kindred/Unibet, the Yavapai-Apache Nation with PointsBet, the Tonto-Apache Tribe with TwinSpires, the San Carlos Apache Tribe with WynnBET and the Ak-Chin Indian Community’s preexisting deal with Harrah’s.
Commercial license partnerships have been announced by most professional sports franchises, except the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. The announced partnerships include:
- Bally’s and WNBA Mercury
- Barstool Sportsbook and NASCAR/Phoenix Raceway
- BetMGM and Arizona Cardinals
- Caesars and the Arizona Diamondbacks
- DraftKings and PGA/TPC Scottsdale
FanDuel and the Arizona Suns
