In Arizona, the Ak-Chin Indian Community, owners of Harrah’s Casino in Maricopa County, recently became the first operator in the state to lose its sports betting license.
Ak-Chin had been one of the first tribes to receive one of the state’s 10 sports betting licenses in 2021, soon after then-Governor Doug Doucey signed a bill to legalize it.
Ak-Chin partnered with an online operator, New York City-based Fubo Gaming. However, Fubo stopped operating in Arizona earlier this year. Without a mobile sports betting partner, Ak-Chin lost its license. However, the casino continues to offer a retail sportsbook with Caesars Entertainment, owner of the live betting license at Harrah’s Casino, but the company cannot take over mobile wagering.
InMaricopa.com reported, “Caesars can’t keep Ak-Chin’s mobile gaming afloat because the Las Vegas gambling powerhouse is already involved in a partnership with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.”
Arizona Gaming Department spokesperson Maxwell Hartgraves said Ak-Chin’s license will be auctioned off. Applications will be accepted from August 1 through August 15, and a decision will be made on August 29, he said.
Ak-Chin officials said they hope to find a new mobile sports betting partner and re-enter the market, but they have not offered a timetable. Tribal spokesperson Bart Smith said, “Things are still going on and in process, so everything is still up in the air at this time. But right now, there’s no comment,” per InMaricopa.com.
Since sports betting was legalized less than two years ago, nearly $10 billion in sports betting wagers has been wagered in Arizona.
