Arizona recently launched sports betting, and it was one of the most anticipated launches of the year. Bettors in the state have numerous gambling options, and BetRivers will now join the fold. BetRivers is a respected book in the industry with a fantastic rewards program.
The sportsbook, which Rush Street Interactive operates, launched in Arizona on Friday at noon. It was approved on the same day by the Arizona Department of Gaming, and Rush Street wasted little time for the book to go live.
Arizona Market is Growing Rapidly
BetRivers will not be a top-tier book in Arizona at first. However, it will be very competitive once it becomes established in the state. BetRivers will join Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Barstool Sportsbook, Unibet Sportsbook, TwinSpires Sportsbook, and WynnBET Sportsbook.
The market is bound to get more competitive with Betfred, Bally’s Golden Nugget Sportsbook, SuperBook, Digital Gaming, and Fubo Sportsbook have all received licenses, but they have not launched.
The next sportsbook to launch is Fubo Sportsbook. They are targeting a launch during the fourth quarter of 2021. This sportsbook is going to integrate live sports with betting through its streaming platform.
Bally’s Sportsbook is expected to go live in early 2022. Bally’s is starting an aggressive expansion throughout the United States in the coming year. Arizona is a prime target for sportsbooks because of the hunger for sports betting throughout the state.
People have been betting offshore or traveling to Nevada and Colorado to legally wager. With legal sports betting in place, people can bet from their phones within state borders. The other sportsbooks on the verge of launching refused to comment on their status.
Partnership with Arizona Rattlers
In Arizona, sportsbooks can seek licensure through a professional sports franchise or a tribal nation. BetRivers gained market access through the Arizona Rattlers, an indoor football team.
Rush Street Interactive will be the primary sponsor of the six-time champion Rattlers to go along with the licensing deal. This market partnership is one of ten deals between Arizona professional sports teams and sports betting operators.
The two were also given a temporary event license, meaning they can offer retail sports betting during games. When the deal was created in August, Richard Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of RSI, spoke about the partnership. He said;
“We are very excited to bring our BetRivers mobile apps to Arizona together with the Rattlers, which are deeply rooted in the Phoenix community and share RSI’s commitment to excellence. Arizonans are accustomed to receiving a championship-caliber product on the field with the Rattlers, and we look forward to offering them a similarly high-quality product off the field through our award-winning BetRivers platform and top-notch customer service.”
The Rattlers were founded in 1992, and they are the longest-tenured team in Arizona. They have solely played in the state throughout their time in arena football. The franchise has won the most games and championships of any professional indoor football team in the nation.
Ron Shurts, owner, and CEO of the Rattlers, was quoted in the media release following the launch on Friday. He said;
“Arizona is home to the greatest fans in the country, and we are thrilled to help them enjoy online sports betting through our long-term partnership with RSI and the BetRivers team. Following our league-best regular season, this partnership continues the Rattlers’ tremendous success and momentum ahead of our Round 1 home playoff game this Sunday, where the BetRivers logo will be present.”
New users in Arizona can receive up to a $250 deposit match. The main appeal of BetRivers is the rewards program, where users can receive free bets and travel experiences by wagering through the sportsbook.
