The Arizona sportsbook scene is becoming crowded, although not all of the state’s 20 licenses have been awarded. The latest to find a partner is TwinSpires, which July 30 announced its partnership with the Tonto Apache Tribe, owner of the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, near Phoenix. The partnership includes a retail sportsbook and online wagering.
The president of Churchill Downs owned TwinSpires, Ian Williams, said in a statement: “The team behind the most exciting two minutes in sports is thrilled to partner with the Tonto Apache Tribe and pursue offering our leading sportsbook product and promotions to sports fans throughout Arizona.” TwinSpires operates in Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Other partnerships that have been announced: Bally’s and the Phoenix Mercury, Barstool Sportsbook and the Phoenix Raceway, Caesars and the Arizona Diamondbacks, DraftKings and TPC Scottsdale/PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, FanDuel and the Phoenix Suns, Kindred Group and the Quechan Tribe, PointsBet and the Yavapai-Apache Nation, WynnBet and the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
Sports betting in Arizona is moving confidently toward a September 9 launch when the NFL season opens. The sports betting rules became official July 26, opening a two-week application period for operators.
Arizona has 20 licenses to give out, 10 for professional sports operations and 10 for gaming tribes. The Arizona Department of Gaming has set a deadline of September 9, the first day of the NFL season, for the launch.
There is an $850,000 license fee and the state will tax retail wagers at 8 percent and mobile wagers at 10 percent.
Sports betting in Arizona was made possible when Governor Doug Ducey first signed updated compacts with the state’s gaming tribes and then in
April signed the enabling legislation that, besides tribes, also included pro sports organizations.
Besides sport betting, tribal casinos are also authorized to up their game with gaming tables and for up to four tribes to build additional casinos within the Phoenix metro area.
