Arizona’s struggling racing industry could get a boost from a bill introduced by state Rep. David Cook. HB 2732 would authorize at least two new online sports betting licensees in the state, including racetracks, providing they partner with professional sports franchises or a tribe. The application window will be open through March 4.
Under the bill, Turf Paradise racetrack in Phoenix, the only licensed horse betting operator in the state, could apply. An institution in Arizona racing for nearly 70 years, Turf Paradise was denied a license by the Arizona Department of Gaming in 2021 because it was not a professional sports franchise.
Cook said, “They were denied a permit because they were not a franchise. I don’t understand that because we have horse tracks across this country. I think it was inappropriate for the Arizona Department of Gaming to deny the horseracing industry from having the same opportunity as the NBA or NFL.”
Turf Paradise nearly was sold to a real estate developer last fall. However, owner Jerry Simms and the local horsemen’s association agreed to race in 2024. Simms said, “I decided to postpone my retirement because of the many stakeholders here in Arizona that want racing to continue.”
