Sports Betting Weekly Overview: Arizona Swamped, Louisiana Pauses, Further Developments
It's a busy world out there, and there's not enough time to eat, sleep, and stay updated on every crazy corner of this spinning blue orb (two out of three ain't bad). Here's your weekend Sports Handle rundown, recapping the week's top sports betting stories, highlighting some fresh tidbits, and rounding up key headlines. Don't forget to check out our friends over at Wild World of Gambling at US Bets for even more gaming goodness.
The Hot (and Cold) Arizona Mess
Arizona legislators left the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) in a sticky wicket when they decided to go for "parity" in issuing event wagering licenses. They passed a bill that allows for 10 event wagering operator licenses each for professional sports teams/franches and tribes. That's a total of 20 licenses for operators to offer retail and statewide mobile betting. When the application window closed this week, the ADG had 10 applications from pro franchises/teams and 15 from tribes. The first step is to determine which of the applicants are "initially qualified," which the ADG will do early next week. The next step, if more than 10 tribes are initially qualified, is to determine which 10 will get licensed.
At the moment, nine tribes or tribal groups have partners, with the latest being the White Mountain Apache, which announced a deal with Maxim last Thursday. The Fort McDowell Yavapi-Apache Nation announced a deal with Betfred on Wednesday, but the biggest news of the week was BetMGM finally confirming its deal with the Gila River Casinos and the NFL Cardinals. Other tribes with partners are the Ak-Chin Indian Community (Harrah's/Caesars), Colorado River Tribes (BlueBet), Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe (Kindred/Unibet), Yavapi-Apache Nation (PointsBet), Tonto-Apache Tribe (TwinSpires), and San Carlos Apache Tribe (WynnBET).
While the ADG sorts through which tribes will get licensed, operators that have partnered with pro sports franchises/teams are moving forward. Caesars is planning to open a temporary retail sportsbook at Chase Field September 9, according to AZFamily.com. The company will offer retail sports betting via kiosks and launch its mobile app. FanDuel, partnered with the Phoenix Suns and targeting a September 9 launch, is making progress on its retail book and shared some photos this week:
Louisiana: Take Your Time, Baby
After a summer of chaos, former Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones thinks sports betting should be live in Louisiana by the college football bowl season. Voters in 55 of 64 parishes greenlit statewide mobile and retail wagering on the November 2020 ballot, and lawmakers approved a framework bill in June. Since then, the LGCB has been working on the application process and regulations.
Jones, now a consultant with Entain, admitted it's unlikely the regulator will be ready to launch operators by the NFL season.
"I'm optimistic that this is well underway, and I think we're going to see sports betting by the end of the football season," Jones said on a local Shreveport radio station on August 8.
In June, Jones was not reconfirmed by the Senate, and in late July, Ronnie Johns resigned as state senator to accept an appointment as chairman. The next LGCB meeting is set for August 19.
Texans and Caesars Partner Up
While sports betting can't be legalized in Texas until 2023 at the earliest because the state legislature only meets in odd-numbered years, Caesars began setting the groundwork this week with its partnership with the Houston Texans to become the NFL team's official casino partner. The deal is Caesars' first with a professional sports team in Texas.
Caesars Rewards will be the sponsor of the free-to-play "Schedule Pick 'Em" game on the team's mobile app, which offers exclusive prizes, including game tickets and a trip to a Caesars Entertainment destination property. Additionally, one season ticket holder at each home game will be selected for a chance to win an all-inclusive trip to Las Vegas, while rewards members could score a chance to cheer on the Texans "like a Caesar" from a luxury suite at NRG Stadium.
"Caesars Entertainment is committed to expanding relationships with leagues and professional sports teams, and we're thrilled to team up with the Houston Texans," said Chris Holdren, co-president of Caesars Digital. "We look forward to creating extraordinary experiences for Texans fans by doing what we do best, leveraging Caesars Entertainment's vast portfolio of casino, hospitality, entertainment, and sports expertise."
None of the three sports betting bills filed during the last legislative session made it to the floor, though Rep. Dan Huberty was able to present his bill, HB 2070, to the State Affairs Committee in June to begin a potential dialogue.
- Caesars, the NFL's Houston Texans' latest partner, is planning to open a temporary retail sportsbook at Chase Field on September 9, offering sports betting via kiosks and a mobile app.
- In Louisiana, Ronnie Jones, a former Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman, expressed optimism that sports betting could be live by the end of the college football bowl season, although it's unlikely the regulator will be ready by the NFL season.
- Arizona's Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) is about to determine which of the 25 applicants for sports betting licenses are "initially qualified," with nine tribes or tribal groups already having partners, including the White Mountain Apache and Maxim, and Betfred with the Fort McDowell Yavapi-Apache Nation.
