Arizona Gaming Department could pick winners, losers for sportsbook licenses

Arizona professional sports teams and Native American tribes on Monday should be allowed to apply for sportsbook licenses from the state, and regulators are anticipating competition for some of the licenses.

State officials likely will be required to pick the winners and losers.

The Arizona Department of Gaming intends to file its final rules for sports and fantasy betting to the Secretary of State’s Office and post applications on its website on Monday, Director Ted Vogt said on Friday in a virtual meeting.

If those two things happen as planned, the anticipated timeline is Aug. 28 for fantasy sports wagering to be allowed and for sportsbooks to be allowed to begin marketing and signing up Arizona customers.

The first sportsbook bets should be allowed Sept. 9, when the National Football League season begins.

Before then, the Department of Gaming may have to determine which applicants get the limited number of licenses.

Legislation signed earlier this year will allow for 10 sportsbooks run by professional sports facilities and another 10 to be run by tribes, plus 10 more limited licenses the teams and tribes can use to partner with horse tracks or off-track betting sites.

Arizona doesn’t have 10 professional sports organizations, but there are more than enough tribes and horse-racing sites to create competition for those licenses.

The Department of Gaming says the criteria to get licenses will be subjective if there are more than 10 applicants in any category.

 

Source: Arizona Republic

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