The Arizona Department of Gaming has made it official, selecting September 9 as the launch date of legal sports betting. This has always been the target date, but there were some delays in the process that had some questioning whether this was possible.
On Monday, the ADG made the date official and also laid out an updated timeline of how things will play out. August 16 will be another big date in this process as the ADG will officially announce the sportsbook operators that will receive a license.
There will be 20 online sportsbook licenses handed out on that day as long as many operators apply for a license. Tribal casino operators will receive 10 of these licenses, and professional sports and venues will receive the other 10.
The ADG has also confirmed that 10 other licenses will be made available for facilities such as off-track betting facilities and horse racing tracks. This will create a very competitive market right off the bat in Arizona, and it could turn the state into one of the leaders.
All of the sports betting license applications must be submitted by August 9, which will give the ADG just one week to review all of the submissions. An application fee of $100,000 must be turned in when the paperwork is submitted as well.
The cost of a sports betting license in Arizona is $750,000, and there is a $150,000 renewal cost each year. The ADG has also placed a requirement for employees of gaming companies to pay a fee to obtain a license.
Arizona will also be launching Daily Fantasy Sports in 2021, and that launch will actually come earlier than sports betting. That industry will be open for business on August 28, but there will be much fewer options offered in the state of Arizona.
Cardinals Begin on September 12
Even though the start of the 2021 NFL season is the start date for sports betting in Arizona, the action should really heat up just a few days later. The Arizona Cardinals will begin their 2021 season in Tennessee for a matchup against the Titans.
Betting on the National Football League leads the way throughout the United States, and the Cardinals should be the most popular team to bet on in Arizona. The Cardinals don’t have favorable betting odds to win the NFC West Division this season, but betting on each individual game will be a great option for bettors.
The Cardinals have not yet announced an official sports betting partner, but that should change before the launch of sports betting. The Arizona Diamondbacks have partnered with BetMGM, and the Phoenix Suns have reached a deal with FanDuel.
If the Arizona Cardinals don’t prove to be a great team in 2021, then bettors can always count on the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. The Suns made a thrilling run to the NBA Finals this season, and they should be a popular pick to win the NBA title next season.
