The Arizona Coyotes are finally entering the sports betting market in the state, with a launch that is
planned for January 12. It didn’t take long for other professional sports teams in the state to enter the market, but this plan from the Coyotes is much different than the rest.
The Arizona Coyotes announced it will be launching SaharaBets through a partnership with Meruelo Gaming. Alex Meruelo owns that gaming company, and he is also the majority owner of the Arizona Coyotes.
This will be the first online sports betting launch for SaharaBets, but the company is planning to explore other markets throughout the United States. The Meruelo Gaming company owns and operates a pair of casinos in Las Vegas, but William Hill offers sports betting at those locations.
SaharaBets is not expected to become one of the largest operators in the state, and it has already missed out on some great betting opportunities. By launching on January 12, the new sportsbook will still be able to take advantage of all of the NFL Playoffs.
Fan Engagement a Priority
It’s no secret that the Arizona Coyotes are not as popular as some of the other professional teams in the state. This deal will help the Coyotes bring in more revenue, but the biggest goal is to increase the fan engagement with the team.
In a statement announcing this partnership, the Coyotes announced that the franchise is, “dedicated to providing innovative and entertaining experiences.” There will be new special betting opportunities available to fans of the Arizona Coyotes moving forward.
Retail sports betting is not included as a part of this partnership, which is different from the other deals inked in the state of Arizona.
Plenty of Teams Available
Arizona is a state with plenty of professional sports teams, giving sportsbooks plenty of partnership opportunities. Stadiums, golf courses, and racetracks are also able to partner with a sportsbook to offer both retail and online sports betting.
Here is a list of the current sports-betting partnerships in Arizona beyond the new deal with the Coyotes:
- Bally Bet – Phoenix Mercury
- Barstool Sportsbook – Phoenix Raceway
- BetMGM – Arizona Cardinals
- BetRivers – Arizona Rattlers
- Caesars Sportsbook – Arizona Diamondbacks
- DraftKings Sportsbook – TPC Scottsdale
- FanDuel Sportsbook – Phoenix Suns
Sportsbook operators can also partner with tribal casinos, but there is more to gain by inking a deal with a professional sports team.
Sports Betting Numbers are In
The Arizona Department of Gaming has finally announced the sports betting numbers from the first two months of legal sports betting. Arizona was expected to become a large sports betting market, and that is exactly what took place.
October was the first full month of sports betting, and the total betting handle approached $500 million. This put Arizona in the number seven spot in terms of the largest sports betting markets, and it was right behind Colorado.
The state collected just $1 million in tax revenue for that month because it allows sportsbooks to deduct promotions from the report.
