Arizona Sports Betting Delivers Big Results In Its First Month
It’s been a month since sports betting went live in Arizona on September 9, and its first 30 days in operation have been a rousing success in almost every way imaginable.
The Grand Canyon State passed SB 1797 with ease this past April, doing so with the ability to expedite the process and successfully launch just in time before its target of Week 1 of the NFL season.
Now, Arizona sports betting already appears to be one of the largest markets nationwide, ranking fourth in the nation in money wagered on the NFL in September, according to GeoComply. In total, approximately $36.9 million of revenue was generated in Arizona, following only New Jersey ($70.5 million), Pennsylvania ($64.6 million), and Michigan ($44.3 million). Illinois’ $25.8 million rounded out the top five nationwide.
Arizona Sports Betting Operators Benefitting Greatly from Seamless Launch
Arizona made a plethora of online sports betting licenses available, but only eight of them are operational during the first month of operation, including:
- BetMGM Arizona (Arizona Cardinals / Gila River Tribe)
- Caesars Sportsbook Arizona (Arizona Diamondbacks)
- DraftKings Arizona (TPC Scottsdale)
- FanDuel Arizona (Phoenix Suns)
- Penn National / Barstool Sports (NASCAR)
- TwinSpires (Tonto Apache Tribe)
- Unibet Arizona (Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe)
- WynnBET Arizona (San Carlos Apache Tribe)
The other Arizona sportsbooks to have received licenses but not gone live during the first month of operation:
- Rush Street Interactive / BetRivers Arizona (Arizona Rattlers)
- Bally’s / BallyBET Arizona (Phoenix Mercury)
- Golden Nugget Arizona Hualapai Tribe)
- Fubo Sports (Ak-Chin Tribe)
- Digital Gaming (San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe)
- Betfred Arizona (Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Tribe)
- Superbook Arizona (Fort Mojave Tribe)
Three more Arizona sports betting licenses have been granted to the Navajo Nation, Tohono O’odham Nation, and Arizona Coyotes, though no partnerships with sportsbooks have been made yet.
With a population of 7.5 million, Arizona is the 14th-most populous state, and the open market makes it an excellent sports betting opportunity. A wide variety of sportsbook options has benefitted both bettors and operators alike, giving the former plenty of options and promos to take advantage of while business has spread widely throughout those whose doors have already opened.
How Big Could Arizona Sports Betting Be?
BetMGM’s VP of trading Jason Scott related Arizona’s fast start to figures seen when Michigan legalized sports betting at the beginning of the year. However, Arizona’s hot start has come solely from sports betting, while Michigan’s revenue has also benefitted from online casino gaming.
Undeniably, the Arizona Cardinals’ 5-0 start as the last undefeated team to remain in the NFL has helped boost numbers, but a month’s worth of data proved that the first week’s fast start was also not a fluke. Lindsay Slader of GeoComply confirmed such optimism, stating in the aforementioned press release:
“We’re excited to see the growth of sports betting from the first NFL weekend has carried over to the first four weeks of the season. The data also confirms the first week in Arizona was not just a one-off, but that the state has solidified its place as the fourth largest sports betting market in the U.S. With more states poised to come online in the coming weeks and months, we expect growth will continue to accelerate through 2021 and 2022.”
Should the trend continue, Arizona could quickly emerge as a top-five market in the nation, competing with states such as Michigan, Indiana, and Colorado while attempting to break into the next tier of leaders containing New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
Yavapai-Prescott Tribe’s Attempts To Thwart Betting Continue
Just one dissenting voice has been apparent throughout Arizona’s short sports betting history: the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe.
The tribe initially motioned for a restraining order or temporary injunction at the end of August under a claim that Arizona’s passage of sports betting legislation was done in an unconstitutional fashion. The tribe’s request was denied on Labor Day, and sportsbooks went live without a hitch three days later for the NFL opener.
The Yavapai-Prescott filed an amended complaint a month later, but a court date has not been announced. However, given the momentum (and money) involved in Arizona’s early sports betting days, such a lawsuit seems likely dead on arrival, with as much chance of success as putting the toothpaste back in the tube.
Hill Kerby comes from a background of poker, sports, and psychology, bringing all of them to the table with his writing. An overall fan and proponent of competition, Hill looks forward to the continued growth of all forms of betting as more markets open across the country.
