Arizona officially set for September sports betting launch
Grand Canyon State sportsbooks to debut in advance of NFL season
Sports betting in Arizona is officially set to launch on September 9, with the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) confirming the go-live date after submitting its rules and regulations to the Secretary of State’s office on July 26.
The launch date coincides with the kickoff of the 2021 NFL season, meaning bettors in the Grand Canyon State will be able to wager on the season opener between the Cowboys and Buccaneers, not to mention every game of the Cardinals’ 2021 campaign.
Arizona is on track to become one of the fastest states to launch sports betting after Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill into law in mid-April legalizing both online and retail sportsbooks, with 20 licenses – split evenly between the state’s tribes and professional sports organizations – being made available.
The next step is for prospective operators to begin assembling their license applications. The ADG will accept applications through August 9, and it will notify the qualified applicants by August 16.
All licensees will be announced by August 27 at the latest, and operators can initiate marketing campaigns on August 28, at which point eligible bettors will have the green light to start downloading apps and signing up for accounts.
The timing of the launch, compounded by the expected presence of the biggest brands in the industry, has Arizona positioned for a rapid ascent in the legalized sports betting space.
A handful of the state’s professional sports entities have already inked partnerships with operators, including the Suns (FanDuel), TPC Scottsdale (DraftKings), the Diamondbacks (Caesars), the Mercury (Bally’s), and most recently, Phoenix Raceway (Barstool).
PointsBet and WynnBet have also struck partnerships, and BetMGM is widely expected to follow suit as well.
While it’s not yet known how many operators will be ready for business by the launch date, first-mover advantage has proven critical in previous states to go live – none more so than Virginia, where FanDuel has dominated the market after receiving a three-day head start over DraftKings in January.