A notable occasion
TPC Scottsdale is the first PGA Tour tournament location to have a retail sportsbook. The DraftKings Sportsbook started accepting bets from the public on Friday; it is the fourth retail offering to open in the region.
John Rahm to win February’s WM Phoenix Open at odds of +1000
Legendary Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald placed the first wager on Thursday at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, betting $100 on former Arizona State University golfer and world number three John Rahm to win February’s WM Phoenix Open at odds of +1000.
People who are at least 21 years old can go to the facility and place a bet at either a betting window or use one of the self-service kiosks, while groups are able to rent booths. A restaurant and bar offer both outdoor and indoor seating, accounting for about half of the entire facility. Video screens span 3,400 square feet to showcase all of the latest sports coverage.
A flagship location
Talking about the opening of the new sportsbook, DraftKings Co-Founder and CEO Jason Robins said that the new location highlights “the special collaboration between DraftKings and PGA TOUR while featuring a number of customer-centric amenities true to the DraftKings brand.”
DraftKings North America Sports Betting General Manager Greg Karamitis noted that the new retail sportsbook is not just about wagering, saying that it’s an immersive all-in experience.
Construction work on the DraftKings Sportsbook began back in May 2022. It is to be one of two flagship locations for the operator in the US, alongside an upcoming offering at the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field.
A popular pursuit in Arizona
Retail sportsbooks are already open at other major sporting venues in Arizona. BetMGM has a facility at the Arizona Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium, a Caesars Sportsbook operates at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field, and FanDuel has one at the Phoenix Suns’ Footprint Center.
The advantage that the TPC Scottsdale sportsbook has is that the course attracts people year-round and not just when a PGA Tour event is taking place. The other retail sportsbooks in Arizona receive a lot of their traffic when games or events are taking place.
majority of wagering in Arizona comes through online sportsbooks
Despite these offerings being open in prominent areas, the majority of wagering in Arizona comes through online sportsbooks. In August, people placed $346m in wagers through online platforms and just $3.4m at retail sportsbooks. The DraftKings app led the way in terms of online handle in August, accounting for $115.5m of all bets.