A new Arizona Senate Bill will see an increase in the number of sports betting licenses available in the Grand Canyon State with only Arizona’s tribal nations eligible to apply.
The legislation (SB 1674) was recently introduced by Democrat Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales in the Arizona Senate. This would enable any of Arizona’s 23 federally recognized tribes with a valid tribal state gaming compact to apply for a license to operate retail as well as mobile sports betting off reservation.
Ten of the states 23 federally recognized tribes are currently licensed for mobile sports betting only by the Arizona Department of Gaming. Twenty sports betting licenses are available in the state with half of those designated for Arizona’s tribes. The ten non tribal licenses allow for retail as well as mobile sports betting.
The Senator’s bill would allow tribes with a valid tribal state gaming compact to offer mobile sports betting and also operate retail sports betting outside of tribal lands.
Tribes may currently offer retail sports betting on their tribal lands which may limit their earning potential. However if SB 1674 becomes law, tribes will be allowed to open retail sportsbooks on non tribal land within five blocks of the state’s major sports stadiums.
The entire off-reservation retail sports betting locations would fall under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Department of Gaming. Retail locations on tribal land are already allowed without approval of the state’s regulators.
Sports betting in Arizona went live on 9th September 2021, coinciding with the start of the NFL season.
