Prescott Valley’s Arizona Downs racetrack will open a Caesars Sportsbook retail location later this month.
Track Owner and Partner Tom Auther told BetArizona.com the track, which was one of two in the state to receive a limited sports betting license from the Arizona Department of Gaming in April, will launch its retail wagering on the opening day of horse racing June 25.
Arizona Downs will partner with the Las Vegas stalwart to have two sports betting kiosks and other betting amenities inside the racetrack’s simulcast room, Auther said.
The track’s announcement comes just over a month after Turf Paradise opened its Unibet-branded retail sportsbook, and a year after both racetracks were denied a mobile sports betting license from the ADG.
"We're excited to enter the Prescott Valley market and bring our best-in-class sports wagering product to its residents," David Snock, Vice President of Western Operations for Caesars Sportsbook, told BetArizona.com. "On Saturday, June 25, we’ll open a Caesars Sports betting lounge at Arizona Downs, building upon the longstanding presence we’ve had in Arizona and our great partnerships. The new retail location is an exciting addition for us and will have multiple self-service kiosks as well as ticket redemption capabilities."
Arizona Downs Racing Schedule
- June: 25, 27
- July: 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
- Aug: 1,2, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 20, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30
- Sept: 3, 5
Post time: 1:45 p.m.
Making Wagering Easy for Yavapai County Residents
The 10 limited Arizona sports betting licenses were announced in January.
Auther said the track’s ability to offer retail sports betting at its horse races this summer will allow customers to have a full swath of activities when they visit the facility. Those with limited licenses can offer retail sports betting, but not Arizona sports betting apps.
“We’re the only people who have [sports betting] in Yavapai County, so we’re the only place where you can come to and place a bet in-person,” Auther told BetArizona.com. “How much difference will that make? Probably not much because they’ll all get online accounts.
“This is more of a spontaneous thing, where people will come here to watch the races and think, ‘I’m here, I think I’ll make a bet,’ and not, ‘I’m going to go down to the track to bet on sports.’ But I like the Caesars guys and we think it’s important for us to offer a full suite of betting opportunities, so we needed the sportsbook.”
What to Know About Arizona Downs’ Facility
Auther said the Caesars Sportsbook facility will occupy most of the current simulcast room, with room to expand into the track’s clubhouse on the third floor.
The existing space has a bevy of televisions and seating, Auther said, meaning the operator won’t have to change much to get it up and running this summer.
“It's just a very comfortable place to bet,” Auther said of his track’s addition to the Arizona sportsbooks market. “And we also have the TVs, and we have the personnel because they're there anyway for the horse betting. So, I think it's better than just slamming it into a bar that's got a couple of TVs, versus our deal.”
Limited License Sportsbooks
- Arizona Downs (Caesars Sportsbook)
- Gallagher’s Sports Grill – Baseline (Unibet)
- Gallagher’s Sports Grill – 16th (Unibet)
- Harold’s Restaurant Cave Creek (Unibet)
- Midtown Tavern Sports Bar and Grill (Unibet)
- Turf Paradise (Unibet)
- T. O’Sullivans Sports Grill (Unibet)
- Boston’s Bar & Grille (Unibet)
- Charlie’s Sports (Unibet)
- Brookside II Sports Bar and Grill (Unibet)
