Noting that Americans spent about $6 billion betting on the Super Bowl last week, Arizona state Senator Sonny Borrelli thinks the state should get in on some of that money.
Borrelli has introduced Senate Bill 1158 that would legalize sports betting, which some estimate is a $150 billion market nationwide, most of it still wagered illegally. His bill would allow the state’s gaming and non-gaming tribes to set up kiosks at casinos and bars. The state would collect a 6.75 percent tax on the activity but tribes and bars would also get their share.
Right now he gives his bill a 50/50 chance of being adopted.
“So far I’ve got support from the tribes and support from the bar industry, if you will,” said Borrelli. “Even nonprofits, the Elks, the American Legion are excited. This is something they can have in their lodge or post.”
At this point Governor Doug Ducey has not indicated whether he favors the bill. He has said he favors some kind of sports betting bill, however.
“It could be millions of dollars, depending on how many people would want to go out there and bet,” said the senator. His bill would funnel the money into the general fund, where it could be used for a variety of things, he says.
Borrelli says he has been meeting with tribes to drum up their support and get their input for making small changes to the bill. “This is a great way for the tribes to make some money, a great way for the state to make some money, and for the adult-beverage industry to also make money,” he told AZ Central.
Brenda Lambrecht, who owns the Armadillo Grill in Phoenix points out that she already has the infrastructure for off-track betting, having offered it for 16 years, and so could easily take sports book. She urges Borrelli to widen the scope of his bill to include her establishment.
“I think there is a great business to be made here from sports betting. There are a lot of people that go to Vegas to make their sports bets for the Super Bowl. Let’s keep it in our state. It’s important,” she told ABC 15.
The American Gaming Association recently published a survey that claims 80 percent of Americans support expanding sports betting.
Arizona has 16 gaming tribes that have 24 casinos, each one of which could offer sports betting if Borrelli’s bill passes. Six tribes could offer casinos but instead sell their rights to other tribes. Tribes pay a percentage of their profits to the state, ranging from 1 to 8 percent.
The state limits the total number of slot machines to 18,158. Under the bill, each machine that offers sports betting would count against that limit.
