MaximBet, a sports betting platform from Maxim men’s magazine and the Carousel Group, is teaming up with the White Mountain Apache Tribe for Arizona sports betting, the 13th partnership agreement in the state.
The deal could include a sportsbook at the tribe's Hon-Dah Resort Casino property in Pinetop, the company said in a press release Thursday.
Arizona will be the fifth state where MaximBet operates or plans to launch, according to a news release. MaximBet is launching in Colorado in September, then Iowa, Indiana and New Jersey, depending on regulatory approvals.
MaximBet was formed in April when the Carousel Group, a private sports betting and casino operator, announced a partnership with Maxim, the modern men’s magazine and media company. The result of the partnership is MaximBet.com that will users to place sports wagers and play online casino games in the U.S. and globally.
"We are thrilled to partner with the White Mountain Apache Tribe to bring MaximBet and the renowned Maxim lifestyle experience to Arizona," Daniel Graetzer, CEO of MaximBet, said in the release. "With some of the best sporting teams in the country and a highly engaged sports community, we are confident Arizona will be drawn to our consumer-friendly app, world-class customer service, and the incredible live events we are planning for the state."
MaximBet and the tribe will apply for license approval from the Arizona Department of Gaming, which is expected to announce Aug. 16 who will receive licenses. The ADG said in an email Wednesday that 10 applications from professional sports teams/groups and 15 from tribes for gambling have been submitted.
"The White Mountain Apache Tribe is excited to be partnered with Carousel Group, MaximBet, and their world-class leadership to launch an exciting and unique sports betting product for Arizonans,” Brent Kurth, general manager of Hon-Dah Resort-Casino, which is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe, said in the release. “This partnership will unlock a very important new revenue stream and is critical to the economic future of the tribe and its 17,000 members.”
In Arizona, 24 Class III Native American-owned casinos are operational, divided among 16 tribes, so with 10 tribal licenses available, there will be competition for sports betting licenses.
A recent survey of Arizona residents commissioned by BetArizona.com showed that bettors are expected to have high interest in placing wagers in the state.
The state will license 20 sportsbook operators (10 pro teams/venues and 10 tribes) and hopes to launch its market on Sept. 9 when the 2021 NFL season kicks off. The ADG said it is still on schedule for the launch date.
Other AZ Partnerships
A number of partnerships between sports betting operators have been announced. Here’s the rundown to date:
Pro Teams/Venues
- Arizona Cardinals and BetMGM/Gila River Community;
- Arizona Diamondbacks Caesars Sportsbook;
- Phoenix Suns and FanDuel;
- Phoenix Mercury and Bally’s;
- PGA Tour/TPC Scottsdale and DraftKings;
- NASCAR/Phoenix International Raceway and Barstool.
Tribal
- PointsBet Sportsbook and Cliff Castle Casino Hotel/Yavapai-Apache Nation;
- WynnBet Sportsbook and Apache Gold and Sky casinos/San Carlos Apache;
- William Hill/Caesars and Harrah's AK-Chin Casino;
- TwinSpires and Mazatal Hotel & Casino/Tonto Apache Tribe;
- Gila River Indian Community and BetMGM have partnered with the Arizona Cardinals (noted above);
- BlueBet and the Colorado River Indian Tribes;
- Betfred USA Sports and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
