Arizona public officials, including the former governor and state lawmakers and their staffs who helped bring sports betting to the state, would be banned from taking any “revolving door” opportunities to profit from retail and online sports betting under a bill that has been introduce in the Senate. This ban would last until April 2026.
According to a story that appear in Covers, S.B. 1617’s author, Senator Ann Gonzales, is reacting to recent reports in Bloomberg News and the New York Times that observed that the state had closely followed suggestions from industry lobbyists about regulations. Another report criticized the state’s Department of Gaming for moving so quickly to adopt regulations and for having close relations with the industry.
The state will be hosting the Super Bowl later this month. This is the first time the contest has been played in a state where sports betting is legal. Sports betting was legalized in September 2021. More than 15 online and a dozen retail sportsbooks operate in the Grand Canyon State.
The state already has rules governing what former officials and lawmakers can do after they leave office.
