Sports Betting
Arizona Opening Sports Betting Market to At Least Two More Operators
James is a dedicated sportswriter. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. James enjoys watching sports and helping gamblers win money.
All posts by James FoglioUpdated10 Jun 2024
According to Arizona law, the Grand Canyon State allows up to 20 sportsbooks. There are currently 16 active online sportsbooks in the state: Bally Bet, bet365, Betfred, BetMGM, BetRivers, Betway, Caesars, Desert Diamond Sports, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock Bet, SaharaBets, and SuperBook.
Arizona has 16 active, licensed sportsbooks in the state and will add at least two more operators
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) announced Friday that it plans to add at least two more operators in the near future. ADG prefers to add one operator partnered with a Tribal gaming group and another tied to a professional sports franchise. The application window is July 8 to July 19.
“Applicants must submit their completed applications within this timeframe in order to be considered for a license. ADG will thoroughly evaluate all applications received based on the established criteria pursuant to the State’s event wagering rules and statutes,” according to a statement issued by the ADG.
“Pursuant to A.R.S. § 5-1304 and A.A.C. R19-4-105 and 106, ADG will accept applications for one event wagering license reserved for Arizona Tribes and no less than one event wagering license reserved for Arizona Sports Franchises, as defined in A.R.S. § 5-1301(7),” ADG added.
10 sports betting licenses must be affiliated with pro sports teams, the other 10 linked to Native American tribes
Ten of the state’s sports wagering licenses can be affiliated with professional sports teams, and the other 10 must be linked to Native American tribes. Currently, those figures stand at eight for both.
Arizona legalized sports betting in April 2021 and launched later that year on Sept. 9. Since then, the state is one of just 11 to exceed $1 billion in combined revenue from licensed operators. The Grand Canyon State is also one of just nine to surpass $15 billion in handle.
New Jersey leads the top 10 in all-time handle at $50.86 billion, followed by New York ($43.41 billion), Nevada ($40.57 billion), Illinois ($33.89 billion), Pennsylvania ($29.54 billion), Colorado ($18.01 billion), Indiana ($16.62 billion), Arizona ($16.45 billion), Virginia ($16.11 billion), Michigan ($15.65 billion), Tennessee ($12.88 billion), and Ohio ($10.1 billion).
Furthermore, Ohio just recently became the fastest market to reach $10 billion in total wagers. Arizona had previously held the industry record for fewest months needed to reach the $10 billion mark, reaching that milestone in 20 months in April 2023.
DraftKings and FanDuel are the most profitable sportsbooks in Arizona, controlling about 70% of the market. BetMGM, partnered with the Arizona Cardinals, is third on the state’s list based on revenue. Caesars Sportsbook, partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks, is fourth overall.
