Arizona Holds Second Public Comment Window For Sports Betting

• Arizona held its second public opinion window for sports betting rules and regulations on Wednesday.
• There will be a total of 30 land-based sportsbooks and as many as 60 mobile sports gaming platforms seen throughout the state.
• The Arizona sports gaming industry is expected to go live on September 9 for the first day of the 2021 NFL season.

PHOENIX – On Wednesday, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) held a one-day window for public comments and opinions on their second draft for the rules and regulations regarding the state’s sports betting industry.

The first window was held for six days in June and many of the comments that were made centered around the lack of details that went into the first draft created by the ADG. All opinions were considered and a second draft was drawn up and presented to the public on Wednesday.

What’s In The New Draft For Arizona’s Sports Betting Rules

The ADG listened to the public the first time around and made sure to add detail to their second draft of rules and regulations for Arizona’s sports wagering industry, especially when it came to financial structure.

Arizona sports betting will consist of both retail and mobile sportsbooks. Operators that wish to apply for licensure will need to submit their application with a $100,000 application fee.

Once an application is approved, there is an additional fee of $750,000 for the license and then a $150,000 renewal fee that will be required each year.

There will be 20 land-based sportsbooks that will see a tax of 8% on all handle with that same tax being seen at the 10 combined racetracks and OTBS that are eligible for licensure for a total of 30 sportsbook locations statewide. Each of these venues can operate mobile sportsbooks. The previous draft had language that would’ve capped these platforms to 30, but the new version allows for two mobile platforms per brick-and-mortar sportsbook, which would mean a possible 60 different mobile applications for sports gaming that will be taxed at a rate of 10% on all GGR.

Sports Betting Coming To Arizona For The 2021 NFL Season

The 20 licenses for regulated sports betting in Arizona will be split between tribal and professional sports organizations, with the added 10 going to OTBS and racetracks.

This new draft for the rules and regulations of the market is expected to be the version that will be finalized in order for the ADG to go live with sportsbooks statewide by September 9, the first day of the 2021 NFL season. Mobile applications are slated to launch first with retail locations following soon after.

News tags: Arizona | Arizona Department of Gaming | NFL