Arizona: Ak-Chin Indian Community awarded sports betting license in partnership with bet365

The Arizona Department of Gaming announced Tuesday that the Ak-Chin Indian Community, with its sportsbook partner, bet365, was awarded an event wagering license in the regulator's most recent offering. The state of Arizona allows a total of 20 licenses to be awarded, 10 for tribes and 10 for sports franchises, with two permits for sports franchises still available.

The Ak-Chin Indian Community had previously been awarded an events wagering license, but its former operating partner, Fubo Sportsbook, a subsidiary of Fubo TV, shut down its sports betting arm in October 2022.

With the award of the license to the Ak-Chin Indian Community, all 10 licenses for tribes have now been awarded. However, in August, WynnBET, which was the partner to the San Carlos Apache Tribe, announced it would close operations in Arizona and seven other states, meaning one more license will no longer be in use.

Fanduel Sportsbook in Phoenix

As for permits for sports franchises, in July it was announced that teams could apply for licenses again. The Phoenix Rising FC were hoping to be awarded a license this time around, however, according to club officials, the short application window did not give their sportsbook partner enough time. 

"Phoenix Rising FC was eager to once again apply for an event-wagering license, however the extremely short notice and application window provided by the Arizona Department of Gaming made it impossible for our preferred designated sports betting operator to fulfill the required information by the deadline," Bobby Dulle, president of Phoenix Rising FC, said in an email, according to AZ Central.

"We are hopeful there will be another application window soon that will allow us more time to re-apply," he added. So far, team officials have not mentioned which sportsbook operator they are planning to use. 

Render of DraftKings Sportsbook at TPC Scotssdale

Phoenix Rising had been denied a license in the first round, possibly because there was some disagreement about whether the team qualified as playing "at the highest level" of the sport, which is a requirement in the law to get an event wagering license, club leadership said in July, the above-mentioned media added. 

All of Arizona’s gaming tribes are allowed to operate a sportsbook in casino facilities on tribal land. The awarding of the license also allows them to operate a mobile betting app.

Three retail sportsbook locations affiliated with sports franchises have opened in the Valley, with one more nearing completion. DraftKings Sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale will open this fall, making it the first PGA Tour tournament site with a sportsbook.