The ADG said it received 16 qualified tribal applications and eight qualified sports team and organization applications during the event wagering operator application process.
The tribal licenses allocated are: Fort Mojave Indian Tribe (SuperBook Sports), Quechan Tribe (Unibet Arizona), Tonto Apache Tribe (Churchill Downs), Hualapai Tribe (Golden Nugget), San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe (Digital Gaming) and San Carlos Apache Tribe (Wynn). Four tribes that were allocated licenses have yet to name an operator partner. Those tribes are: Navajo Nation, Tohono O’odham, Ak-Chin Indian Community and Fort McDowell Yavapai.
Sports teams and organizations who were allocated licenses are: Arizona Cardinals (BetMGM), Arizona Diamondbacks (William Hill), Phoenix Suns (FanDuel), Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Mercury (Ballys), TPC Scottsdale (DraftKings), Phoenix Speedway (Penn National) and Arizona Rattlers (Rush Street Interactive).
Up to 10 sports teams and organizations are to receive licenses according to the tribal-state gaming compact signed this spring. Eight of those licenses have been filled, leaving two open spots remaining.
Additionally, six operators were approved to run fantasy sports contests. They are: FanDuel, DraftKings, Fantasy Sports Shark, Underdog Sports, Yahoo and FFPC. Fantasy sports contests went live at 12:01 a.m., August 28.
“I can’t thank the public and stakeholders enough for their feedback and collaboration throughout the event wagering and fantasy sports implementation process, said Ted Vogt, Department of Gaming Director. “This partnership, as well as the hard work of Department staff, has allowed Arizona to be one of the fastest states to operationally start these new games since the passing of the enabling legislation.”
The rollout of event wagering and fantasy sports licenses hasn’t been without controversy.
The Yavapai Prescott Tribe filed a lawsuit against Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and the ADG alleging the state’s sports betting law violates the Voter Protection Act by authorizing wagering off tribal lands, according to KOLD News. The Yavapai Prescott Tribe was one of six Arizona tribes not approved for an event wagering license.
