Arizona was one of the handful of states to approve sports betting earlier this year, and a launch is planned for later this year. The Arizona Department of Gaming will be in charge of regulating the new industry, and it will be the group that approves sports betting licenses.
That process has not even started yet in Arizona, but some of the top operators are already making their way into the state. Earlier this week, WynnBET was the latest operator to join the party as it has agreed to a partnership with the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
This partnership will give WynnBET the ability to apply for a sports betting license when the process begins, and it is likely to be approved. If this does occur, this would be the 16th state that either has or will have WynnBET offering sports betting.
WynnBET is currently live in just six states in the United States, but it has targeted some of the biggest markets. The company has market access in 16 different states, and those states make up more than 50 percent of the US population.
Arizona is expected to become a large sports betting market, and this was an easy target for WynnBET. The company has announced plans to gain market access into additional states that will make up at least 70% of the US population.
About WynnBET
WynnBET is the sports betting arm of Wynn Resorts, one of the leaders in the gaming and entertainment industry. Wynn Resorts is a big name in Las Vegas, Nevada, but launching WynnBET has allowed the company to become a force in the iGaming industry.
WynnBET was officially launched in 2020 and currently has its headquarters in Jersey City, New Jersey. If Arizona was able to approve online casino gaming, WynnBET would be able to offer that industry in this state as well.
Could Partnership Be Coming?
Forming a partnership with the San Carlos Apache Tribe is a good first step for WynnBET, but other action will be needed to become a player in Arizona. This state has granted ten sports betting licenses to professional sports teams, and forming a partnership with these teams could be the key to success.
The Arizona Cardinals are still looking for an official sports betting partner, and this will be a deal that is sought by most operators. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns already have deals in place, as does TPC Scottsdale.
Final Rules Not Yet Posted
The Arizona Department of Gaming has not yet unveiled the official sports betting rules, but those will be coming in the next few days. Arizona plans to launch sports betting on September 9, the first official day of the 2021 NFL season.
There are still a number of steps that need to be taken before this becomes a reality, and accepting and
approving licenses is at the top of the list. There will be at least 20 online operating licenses available in Arizona, and a majority of those could be granted before the launch date.
