Arizona Sports Betting Set to Launch Today Just in Time for NFL Opener
Operators in the Arizona sports betting industry will start accepting bets from 12.01AM on Thursday September 9th, just in time for the NFL season opener as the reigning champions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Dallas Cowboys.
The Arizona Department of Gaming recently announced that it has issued sports betting licenses to 10 tribal gaming operators and 8 sporting organizations.
The Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Mercury, and Phoenix Suns have teamed up with sportsbook operators BetMGM, William Hill(Caesars), FanDuel, and Ballys respectively and are primed for today’s launch.
Speaking of the state’s decision to offer licenses to sporting organizations and tribes, Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall said:
“I think we did it the right way with the teams and tribes shoulder-to-shoulder, attaching it to a new compact was brilliant and I think other states are going to follow suit. But now I think it’s important for all of us to practice responsibility — that we preach it, that we teach it and provide people help when they need it.”
He went on to add:
“We’ve heard from fans for a really long time they’ve wanted legalized sports betting. For years, people wanted to bet, they could find a way but now at least we can control it and see it and raise some revenue for the state which I think is important,”
Sports fans in the state will be allowed to place bets at retail sportsbooks located in both tribal casinos and sporting venues or place bets using sports betting apps. However, it’s the mobile market that is expected to generate the most revenue for both operators and the state.
Legislators that supported the legalization of sports betting expect both the retail and mobile industries to bring in a combined $15 million in taxes that will go directly to the state’s general fund.
Ciaran has a decade of experience writing for some of the biggest names in the eSports, poker, and casino industries.
