BetRivers by Rush Street Interactive (RSI) became the latest sportsbook to launch in Arizona when it was licensed October 22 by the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG). RSI is partnered with the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League.
BetRivers is the ninth provider to procure a license since the market opened September 9. The legislation, approved earlier this year, created 20 online sportsbook licenses, divided between professional sports organizations and gaming tribes. So far, the ADG has licensed 18 sports betting operators.
RSI CEO Richard Schwartz said Arizonans are “accustomed to receiving a championship-caliber product on the field with the Rattlers, and we look forward to offering them a similarly high-quality product off the field through our award-winning BetRivers platform and top-notch customer service.”
Others that have already launched include TwinSpires (partnered with Tonto Apache); Barstool Sportsbook (Phoenix Raceway); BetMGM (State Farm Stadium); Caesars (Chase Field); DraftKings (TPC Scottsdale), FanDuel (Footprint Center)’ Unibet (Quechan Tribe); and WynnBet (San Carlos Apache).
Sportsbooks that have not yet launched include Bally Bet, Betfred, Betway, Fubo Gaming, Golden Nugget and SuperBook.
The Navajo Nation, Tohono O’odham Nation and Arizona Coyotes are also expected to announce sportsbooks.
According to GeoComply, Arizona’s market has taken a dominant position. “The data also confirms the first week in Arizona was not just a one-off, but that the state has solidified its place as the fourth largest sports betting market in the U.S.,” said GeoComply Managing Director of Gaming Lindsay Slader.
Meanwhile, the lawsuit to overturn sports betting by the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe (YPIT) sits in the Superior Court of Maricopa County. The tribe has submitted an amended complaint against Governor Doug Ducey and ADG Director Ted Vogt, claiming the expansion of gaming violates the state constitution.
The tribe asserts that H.B. 2772 violated Proposition 202, the initiative that launched tribal gaming in Arizona. A judge ruled that the tribe didn’t explain why the bill and the 2021 tribal state gaming compact violated Prop. 202. The judge has so far denied the tribe’s requests for a temporary restraining order. The tribe had hoped to delay or stop the Labor Day rollout.
Meanwhile, the governor’s legal team has filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that the tribe took too long to file its complaint and that its actions could harm the 10 Arizona tribes and eight sports teams that have received licenses.
In its filing, the governor’s attorneys declared, “The court already determined that YPIT was unlikely to succeed on its claims, after identifying many legal defects with those claims.” They added, “YPIT now takes a different approach: arguing that the Governor somehow singled out YPIT for disparate treatment in the negotiation of the 2021 Amended and Restated Gaming Compact (the “2021 Compact Amendments”).
The ADG will open the licensing process for racetrack wagering on November 8. Ten retail licenses will be available.
