Arizona sports betting bills advance

Governor Doug Ducey’s intentions to legalise sports betting are moving forward.

US.- Sports betting bills have advanced in both the Arizona House of Representatives and the state’s Senate.

House Bill 2772, which would permit betting on professional and college sports at tribal casinos as well as online, has been approved by the House Rules Committee with a margin of six votes to two, as well as by both the minority and majority caucuses.

Meanwhile, the Senate Commerce Committee has passed Senate Bill 1797 by six to three. The bill would legalise sports betting and allow 10 licences to be obtained by sports teams. It will be assessed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 23.

The bills can only come into effect if the state agrees on an extension to its tribal gaming compacts.

In exchange for allowing sports teams and leagues to offer sports betting, the tribes would be permitted to offer new table games including craps and baccarat. 

They would also be permitted to build new casinos on their land and would be granted up to 10 licences to run sportsbooks in the state.