With sports betting legal in Arizona and the state working through regulations, national sportsbook operators having been lining up partnerships with teams and venues in Arizona.
But one big partnership deal has yet to be announced — the Arizona Cardinals. With Arizona sports betting targeted to be up and running for the upcoming 2021-2022 NFL season, a deal between the Cardinals and a sportsbook bears watching.
States see their biggest sports betting handle and revenue in months that involve NFL games. AZ NFL betting should be no different with a rabid Cardinals fan base.
Operators that have not partnered with professional teams in Arizona include BetMGM, PointsBet and BetRivers, among others.
In addition to the Cardinals, the Arizona Coyotes have not announced a partnership for AZ NHL betting. The Phoenix Raceway, which hosts NASCAR events, also has not partnered with a sportsbook.
Deals have been struck in Arizona by the MLB Arizona Diamondbacks, the NBA Phoenix Suns, WNBA Phoenix Mercury and the PGA Tour event in Phoenix, along with two state tribes.
Ducey Signs Sports Betting Bill
On April 12, sports betting was passed by the Arizona state legislature. It took only three more days until Gov. Doug Ducey signed the bill into law, officially legalizing sports wagering across the state.
The Phoenix Suns wasted no time announcing their deal with FanDuel AZ Sportsbook. On the same day Ducey legalized online sports betting, the two organizations announced their partnership, making FanDuel an official sportsbook and daily fantasy sports partner. The deal includes a new FanDuel Sportsbook located inside the Suns Arena for AZ NBA betting.
“This is a watershed moment for the Suns organization and our fans,” said Phoenix Suns President & CEO Jason Rowley in a media release. “FanDuel is the perfect partner as our missions are fully aligned. Simply put, FanDuel is committed to making sports more exciting while the Suns are focused on delivering exciting sports and entertainment and engaging fans at the highest level possible.”
“As we gear up to bring our best-in-class online and retail offerings to the state of Arizona, this is a momentous time for FanDuel, the Suns, and Suns fans alike," said Mike Raffensperger, FanDuel Group CMO. "We’re excited to open a luxury sportsbook within Phoenix Suns Arena, as the beginning of a long-term and innovative collaboration that will have a lasting impact on the state."
Other Partnerships Emerge
DraftKings Arizona Sportsbook and the PGA Tour also announced a partnership that includes a new retail sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale, home of the Waste Management Open. DraftKings is now the exclusive sports betting partner of the tournament hosted annually at TPC Scottsdale.
The Arizona Diamondbacks were the next team in the state to announce a sports betting agreement. On May 6, Caesars Entertainment and the Diamondbacks released their plans to build a sportsbook and bar on the plaza adjacent to Chase Field. The deal gives Caesars mobile AZ MLB betting access in addition to sponsorship opportunities with the Diamondbacks.
Bally’s and the Mercury are the latest group to emerge with a deal. On June 30, the two announced a 15-year agreement that marks the first gaming access deal with a professional women’s sports team for Bally’s.
With the deal, Bally’s will host and manage an online platform within the state and operate a retail sportsbook near Suns Arena while promoting its services during Mercury contests.
