New Arizona sports betting bill aims to double tribal licences

An Arizona legislator has introduced a bill that would more than double the number of mobile sports betting licences available to tribal gaming operators in the state.

US.- In an attempt to widen the tribal influence on the growing sports betting market, Arizona Senator Sally Ann Gonzales has filed SB 1674, a piece of legislation that would allow the state’s 23 federally recognizsed tribes to apply for a sports betting licence and operate off-reservation retail and mobile sportsbooks.

That could increase the number of available tribal mobile sports betting licences in Arizona by 13, up from 10 available under current law. Only 20 total sports betting licences are available in Arizona under current law. The bill would allow tribes to have retail sportsbooks off tribal lands. These retail books could be located near major sports stadiums.

Only tribal nations would be eligible for additional licenses under Gonzales’ proposal. That would leave the number of non-tribal licenses at the current total of 10 for both retail and mobile sports betting.

Senator Gonzales is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona and a former member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council. 

The legislation reads: “The event wagering facility may be located in retail or commercial space on land that is not identified as Indian land pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).”

Sports betting in Arizona began September 2021, taking more than $1.2bn in the first three months.

Arizona now has nine statewide mobile sports betting apps available, including DraftKings Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, BetRivers, FanDuel Sportsbook, Unibet, WynnBet, Twinspires, and Barstool Sports. Additional sportsbooks are expected to launch during 2022.

See also: Arizona becomes quickest state to reach $1bn in wagering