FanDuel will be among the first sportsbooks when Arizona sports betting launches Sept. 9.
FanDuel Sportsbook was approved for daily fantasy sports and sports betting in Arizona, according to a company spokesperson. The sportsbook announced a partnership with the Phoenix Suns and will open a sportsbook at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.
The Arizona Department of Gaming is in the process of evaluating qualified applicants for the 10 available tribal licenses. The ADG plans to finish license allocation by Aug. 27. Daily fantasy sports will launch Aug. 28 in Arizona, while sports betting opens Sept. 9.
Arizona sports betting licensees known soon
The Arizona sports betting license application process closed Aug. 9, with 26 entities looking to launch sports betting.
There are 20 licenses available in the state, with ten for professional sports entities in the state and ten for the state’s recognized tribes.
The state received 16 applications from tribes and 10 from sports entities. An application tied to a sports entity did not guarantee a license.
FanDuel’s Arizona sports partnership
FanDuel announced its partnership with the Suns the same day Gov. Doug Ducey signed the Arizona sports betting legislation and new tribal compacts in April. The WNBA‘s Phoenix Mercury, which shares an ownership group with the Suns, partnered with Bally’s Corp.
Along with its mobile sportsbook, FanDuel will open a 7,400-square-foot retail sportsbook at the Footprint Center. The sportsbook will be open daily with multiple walkup windows and 26 kiosks, 40 TVs and a 35-foot video wall.
Other AZ sports partners:
In close vicinity in downtown Phoenix, Caesars Sportsbook plans to open a sportsbook at Chase Field as a partner of MLB‘s Arizona Diamondbacks. On Monday, Caesars announced a partnership with the Fiesta Bowl Organization, which includes the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
- BetMGM and the Arizona Cardinals and Gila River Hotels & Casinos
- Barstool Sportsbook and the Phoenix Raceway
- DraftKings and the PGA Tour‘s Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale
The other major professional sports team in Arizona without an announced partner is the NHL‘s Arizona Coyotes. The state also has several United Soccer League and Indoor Football League franchises.
ADG working through tribal applications
The ADG announced last week it received more qualified applicants than tribal licenses available. A set of guidelines was created to evaluate and award licenses in the case of too many qualified applicants.
Among the criteria, the ADG will consider “a preference that licenses be distributed among non-gaming tribes, rural gaming tribes, and to tribes located relatively near metropolitan areas in the state.”
Sportsbooks with announced tribal partners:
- Betfred
- BlueBet
- Kindred Group
- MaximBet
- PointsBet
- TwinSpires
- WynnBet
On Tuesday, Casino Del Sol, a casino owned by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, announced a partnership Tuesday with Scientific Games. A SolSports retail sportsbook and kiosks will open at Casino Del Sol and Casino of the Sun.
