Kick-off date for legal wagering edges closer

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has started the ten-day application window for event wagering (sports betting) licenses in the state. This period officially began on Monday morning, with the ADG tweeting out details of the process:

The beginning of the application period follows the filing of the final rules for the sector with the Secretary of State. Those operators looking to get a license will need to submit the 18-page application as well as the relevant fee.

successful applicants will receive their licenses by August 27

Other parties that can also now apply for relevant licenses include limited event wagering operators, suppliers, management services providers, employees, and ancillary suppliers. The calendar outlines that the successful applicants will receive their licenses by August 27.

The plan is for Arizona sportsbooks to go live on September 9, which is the opening day of the NFL season. 

Sports betting licensing framework

Up to 20 sports betting licenses are up for grabs, with half going to tribe operators and the rest to professional sports organizations. The application fee is set at $100,000, while the initial license fee is $750,000. An annual $150,000 renewal fee will then be in place.

License holders will be able to have both retail and online sportsbooks in the state. While there is an allowance for up to two online sportsbook skins per license, there is no guarantee of a second skin.

The ADG application outlines how the regulator will award licenses if there is sufficient competition. This includes looking at the operators’ player protection policies, local contributions, and their ability to go live within six months. Previously, the ADG stated that operators that have a significant presence in Arizona will get preference.

For tribes, licenses will be “distributed among non-gaming tribes, rural gaming tribes, and to tribes located relatively near metropolitan areas in the State.”

Operators eyeing up Arizona market

Most of the big players in the US sports betting space have already secured market access in Arizona through an array of partnerships. BetMGM is one of the few major operators that has not yet announced a local partner, along with BetRivers.

about 24 tribes are reportedly battling it out

Only two of the qualifying professional sports organizations in the state are yet to team up with a partner, these being the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. About 24 tribes are reportedly battling it out to get their hands on one of the ten available licenses. 

When Arizona legalized sports betting in April, daily fantasy sports also became a reality in the state at the same time. Providers of daily fantasy sports will be able to go live on August 28. The five-day application process begins on August 10 and the ADG will announce the successful applicants on August 27.