Caesars and MLB's Diamondbacks inaugurate retail sports betting in Arizona

Caesars Entertainment and the MLB Diamondbacks celebrated Thursday the sports betting legalization in Arizona with a kickoff event featuring dignitaries and celebrities, a charitable donation of $20.000 to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, a ceremonial first bet, and more. 

It’s an exciting day in AZ — sports betting is officially legal!

I’m at @ChaseField to celebrate the opening of the #CaesarsSportsbook This is the culmination of years of hard work & collaboration that will expand opportunities for Arizonans and tribes. @DBacks @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/xTYU6YmNGY

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) September 9, 2021

The event was held at the Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field, home of the Diamondbacks, where festivities for fans in attendance took place with food and beverage, and sports betting 101-style education around responsible gaming before sports bets were placed for the first time at a temporary retail sportsbook at the Chase Field box office ticket windows. 

Emmy nominated actor-comedian JB Smoove, who stars as “Caesar” in the brand’s nationwide advertising campaign, Caesar Sportsbook Chief Trends Officer and Brand Ambassador Trey Wingo, Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis González and CEO and President Derrick Hall were at the inauguration; along with dignitaries including Governor Doug Ducey, who placed the ceremonial first bets for charity. 

Hey Arizona, who’s excited to place their first bet today!?

Our Caesar (@ohsnapjbsmoove) addresses the people of Arizona at @ChaseField. #CaesarsSportsbook pic.twitter.com/gZpwsNWqi2

— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) September 9, 2021

Chris Holdren, Co-President of Caesars Digital, spoke in an official press release about the opening and said: "Today's event was a culmination of what we've been excited about for quite some time, bringing legal sports betting to the great sports fans in Arizona. Arizona is like a second home for Caesars, and we've operated in the state for more than 25 years. We take pride in our brand-new Caesars Sportsbook app being online for day one of sports betting here and we're ecstatic to offer Arizonans a sports betting experience that can't be matched."

Caesars’ partnership with the Diamondbacks includes plans to build a two-story sportsbook and sports bar at Chase Field. Opening in early 2022, the venue will become a hospitality and entertainment destination. In the interim, the company encouraged sports fans to continue to place in-person bets at five walk-up betting kiosks that will be installed on the north side of the plaza. 

In addition to in-person wagers at the Chase Field, the Caesars Sportsbook app is officially available for download in the state, and it integrates mobile sports betting with Caesars’ loyalty program, Caesars Rewards, which gives bettors Rewards Tier Credits and Reward Credits. The app has customized offerings, a wide range of betting lines and flexible limits.