The 14th Arizona betting apps operator has gone live, as SAHARA Las Vegas’ SaharaBets.com launched on schedule Wednesday.
The operator announced its partnership with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL last week.
SaharaBets Featuring NHL Promotions
The Las Vegas-based operator is positioning itself as a go-to site for online NHL betting fans.
For its grand opening, SaharaBets is offering an NHL All-Star Drawing. Users that download the SaharaBets app and place at least a $20 wager by Jan. 19 automatically earn a shot at one of three prize packages, ranging from NHL All-Star game tickets to tickets to the PGA’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The first prize for SaharaBets’ NHL promotion includes two tickets to the NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas on Feb. 5, in addition to a two-night stay at SAHARA Las Vegas, a $400 resort credit, a $600 airfare gift card, transportation to and from airports and hotels, and a $100 free bet.
The second prize in the promotion is six all-inclusive tickets and two parking passes to an Arizona Coyotes game during the 2021-22 regular season and a $50 free bet, while the third prize is two tickets to the Waste Management Phoenix Open and a $50 free bet.
The three winners will be randomly selected Jan. 19, according to a company press release.
SaharaBets President Andrew Patterson believes the operator’s partnership with the Coyotes has the potential to create exciting collaboration opportunities like the All-Star Game promotion the company is sponsoring.
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“It’s an exciting day for Arizona sports fans as we unveil the SaharaBets app, and what better way to celebrate our launch than by rewarding bettors with some amazing experiences and prizes,” Patterson said in the press release. “We are focused on creating fun and unique experiences for fans both on and off the app, and this is something we will continue to deliver on as part of our fan driven purpose at SaharaBets.”
Where the Arizona Sports Betting Market Stands
Fourteen of the 18 Arizona sportsbooks approved by the Department of Gaming in August have now launched either online or retail locations after Wednesday’s SaharaBets opening.
The final four are Bally’s Arizona (partnered with the Phoenix Mercury), the Golden Nugget (partnered with the Hualapai Tribe), Digital Gaming (partnered with the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe), and the Navajo Nation (which hasn’t announced a gaming partner).
Tribes and sports teams that received licenses have 180 days from the time sports betting opened (Sept. 9) to launch operations. If the remaining entities don’t launch by March 8, their licenses return to the state.
A representative from Bally’s Arizona told BetArizona.com the company will be operational by the deadline.
Attempts to reach the Navajo Nation, the Hualapai Tribe, Golden Nugget, the San Juan Paiute Tribe and Digital Gaming were not returned.
Who’s Licensed to Operate in Arizona?
The 18 licenses awarded in August were split between 10 tribes and eight professional sports teams.
Tribes that are part of the 2021 compact can conduct retail sportsbook operations on tribal grounds without a license. The Ak-Chin Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, Tohono O’odham, and Pascua Yaqui Tribe have all recently opened retail sportsbooks.
Mobile Sports Betting Licensees- Ak-Chin Indian Community (Fubo Gaming)*
- Arizona Cardinals (BetMGM Arizona)*
- Arizona Coyotes (SaharaBets)*
- Arizona Diamondbacks (Caesars Sportsbook Arizona)*
- Arizona Rattlers (BetRivers Arizona)*
- Fort Mohave Indian Tribe (SuperBook Sports)*
- Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation (Betfred Arizona)
- Hualapai Tribe (Golden Nugget)
- Navajo Nation (TBA)
- Phoenix Mercury (Bally’s Sports Arizona)
- Phoenix Speedway (Penn National Interactive/Barstool Sports)*
- Phoenix Suns (FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona)*
- Quechan Tribe (Unibet Arizona)*
- San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe (Digital Gaming)
- San Carlos Apache Tribe (WynnBET Arizona)*
- Tohono O’odham Nation (Kambi Group)
- Tonto Apache Tribe (TwinSpires Sportsbook Arizona)*
- TPC Scottsdale (DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona)*
- Ak-Chin Indian Community (Caesars Sportsbook)*
- Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation (Betfred Arizona)*
- Gila River Indian Community (BetMGM Arizona)*
- Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Scientific Gaming)*
- Tohono O’odham Nation (Kambi Group)*
- Tonto Apache Tribe (TwinSpires Sportsbook Arizona)*
- Yavapai-Apache Nation (IGT PlaySports)*
* — Have launched operations
