The Yavapai-Prescott Tribe and Turf Paradise have filed injunctions to stop Arizona from launching sports betting Sept. 9, with the two parties raising different issues.
Yavapai-Prescott alleges Arizona’s sports betting bill violates the state constitution by authorizing wagering off tribal lands.
The tribe is attempting to overturn Arizona House Bill 2772, which authorizes 10 sports betting licenses to tribes and 10 to professional sports organizations. Arizona has 21 tribes but only 10 will be licensed to offer sports betting.
“A sports franchise owner has a 100% likelihood of receiving a license, if qualified, whereas an Indian tribe has less than 50% chance of obtaining a license,” the tribe’s lawsuit says.
The Yavapai-Prescott lawsuit will heard at 1:00 p.m. MST Friday in civil court. The suit lists Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) director Ted Vogt as defendants.
Later on Friday, an appeals court will hear a lawsuit from Turf Paradise, a horse racetrack in Phoenix. Turf Paradise claims that it was denied a professional sports organization license because the ADG was “arbitrary and capricious” in its handing out of licenses.
Turf Paradise argues that it was the one first organized professionals sports franchises in Arizona, having been founded in 1956. The suit lists Vogt and ADG as defendants.
The ADG has already awarded 18 event wagering licenses, and early sportsbook registration began over the weekend.