Arizona Senate To Hear Regulatory Sports Betting Bill This Week

• Arizona has twelve days left to approve legislation to regulate sports betting in 2021.
• House Bill 2772 should be heard by the Senate this week, after passing in the House in March.
• The measure would regulate both mobile sportsbooks and retail sports wagering with tribal and commercial operators in Arizona.

PHOENIX – With less than two weeks of hearings for the Arizona Legislature, sports bettors are itching to know whether or not legislation to regulate sports betting in the state will see passage.

There is only one hope for 2021 to see a regulated sports wagering industry in Arizona and that hope lies with House Bill 2772.

All other measures have tried and failed this session but House Bill 2772 passed in the House on March 4 and was sent to the Senate on March 5. It’s been waiting for its time on the Senate floor for almost six weeks. Chatter by those close to the situation believes that the proposal will finally get its time on the Senate floor this week.

House Bill 2772 Could Bring Regulated Sports Wagering To Arizona

The Arizona Senate will be holding meetings all week where lawmakers hope to finally hear about AZ HB 2772 after stalling out for almost two months awaiting to be placed on the schedule.

Arizona has tried to regulate sports betting in their state for some time but has run into issues in the past, from lack of time to a mountain of opposition, there has always been something to stand in the way of approvals. The present deal on the table this time around would seek to appease all those involved, making the only issue getting a date on the docket.

House Bill 2772 would open up both retail and mobile sportsbooks in Arizona. But in a twist not yet seen by other states, there would be an even split between licenses for commercial and tribal operations.

A total of 20 mobile sports betting and retail sportsbooks would be seen in the state. Ten would be tribally-owned platforms and venues with the other ten going to commercial businesses likes professional sports organizations, OTB, and racetracks.

Each land-based sportsbook would automatically be eligible for a mobile sports betting application as well, although some would be permitted to be standalone retail locations. An overall tax rate of 8% for both land-based and mobile operations will be collected on all GGR collected with a projected annual profit of $12.3 million from the market.

Sports bettors 21 and over could bet on professional, collegiate, and international sporting events and other competitions as they happen throughout the year. Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) would also be open for wagers under this bill.

Governor Doug Ducey is in favor of this legislation and is in the company of big named operators like FanDuel and DraftKings. Professional leagues such as the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks have come forward to back the measure before the Arizona Legislature as well.

What’s Next?

Lawmakers are confident in the passage of House Bill 2772 in 2021. With the approval of the proposal by each chamber of the legislature, it would open the door for Arizona and Governor Doug Ducey to expand the Tribal Gaming Compacts of the state to add sports gaming. Government officials would like to see the sports betting industry go live by the Fall of 2021 for the start of the NFL season.

On April 24 the Arizona Legislature will close out their 2021 session with or without sports betting legislation being passed. At the moment, the fate lies in the hands of the Senate but everyone close to the happenings within the legislature are betting on a favorable outcome for House Bill 2772 to receive a green light this year.

News tags: Arizona | Arizona Diamondbacks | Arizona Legislature | Doug Ducey | DraftKings | FanDuel | House Bill 2772 | Phoenix Suns