Arizona Nets $129m from Gaming in 2021
The state of Arizona took in $129 million in 2021 through tribal gaming, event wagering and fantasy sports, following the legalization of gambling throughout the state in April 2021. Tribal gaming alone generated $113.6 million for the Arizona Benefits Fund, including more than $21 million during the last calendar quarter.
Arizona took in $129 million in 2021 from tribal gaming, event wagering and fantasy sports, following the legalization of gambling in the state in April 2021.
©crispy-fotografie/Pixabay
Legalized Casino Games Undoubtedly Increasing State Revenue
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has reported that gaming in Arizona contributed $129 million to the state in 2021 through tribal gaming, event wagering and fantasy sports, following the legalization of gambling in April 2021.
The momentous occasion of legal betting in the state was marked by Governor Doug Ducey signing a landmark agreement between the state and Arizona tribes, allowing tribal casinos to offer Vegas-style table games, thereby permitting event wagering and fantasy sports throughout the state. It appears this was a wise move on behalf of the state, as tribal gaming alone brought in $113.6 million to the Arizona Benefits Fund, including more than $21 million during the last calendar quarter.
Director of the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG), Ted Vogt, asserted that the legalization of gaming in the state has clearly already had a strong, positive effect on state revenue:
“Without a doubt, newly legalized casino games, event wagering and fantasy sports have already increased revenues to the state and will continue to do so for years to come.”– Ted Vogt, Director, Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG)
For their part, event wagering and fantasy sports generated more than $15 million for the state general fund in September and October 2021. Operators paid more than $14 million in licensing fees and more than $1 million to operate new games.
Vogt summed up the year that was 2021 as a promising start for legalized gaming in Arizona:
“Arizona’s event wagering & fantasy sports is off to a strong start here in the state and will only increase as the market matures. We worked diligently with the public and stakeholders to efficiently and responsibly set up these industries in just under five months, and we are starting to see the culmination of this hard work.”
Arizona One of Top 10 National Sports Betting Markets
In addition to its year-end report, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) also provided an overview of the first two months of regulated sports betting in the state, with results that place it in the top 10 national sports betting markets.
The two retail venues and nine mobile operators active in both September and October 2021 saw more than $777 million in sports betting wagers. The $291.2 million the state experienced in September placed it among the top six states that launched commercial operations during the first 11 months of 2021.
Also noteworthy is how Arizona beat out Nevada for the highest handle of any state in the first month of operations in the post-PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992) era which began June 2018.
These results are hardly surprising given the general popularity of NFL wagering, as well as the Arizona Cardinals being in the midst of the NFC West race and the reigning NBA Western Conference champions Phoenix Suns beginning 2022 with a 27-8 record. It is therefore highly likely that Arizona will be the fastest state to reach the coveted $1 billion handle when the ADG releases its results for November 2021.
The state’s handle of $486 million in October 2021 placed seventh among the 24 states which were accepting legal wagers during the year. These combined set a record national monthly handle of over $7.5 billion. This was likely aided by the fact that October 2021 had 5 weekends, though it still boasted a 37.8% increase from September’s $5.5 billion showing.
Sports Betting Licensees Announced in September 2021
Shortly before sports betting was legalized in Arizona in September 2021, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) released a final list of the allocation of operator licenses, which included ten tribal gaming licenses.
These tribes included the Hualapai Tribe powered by Golden Nugget, the Tonto Apache Tribe in partnership with Churchill Downs Incorporated, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe in conjunction with WynnBet. Eight sports teams and venues were also granted operator licenses by the ADG. By the end of 2021, numerous casino and sportsbook operators had announced their entrance into the Arizona sports betting market, including the likes of BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel.
The ADG clarified that public and stakeholder comment played a large role in the license selection process:
“During the rulemaking process for event wagering, the Department made it a priority to gather as much public and stakeholder comment as possible, particularly on aspects such as license allocation. The allocation decision we are announcing today is a direct result of these efforts, helping to ensure the impartiality and fairness of the process for all applicants.”
WynnBet Partnered with Arizona Tribe Back in July 2021
As previously mentioned, one of the ten tribal gaming licenses granted by the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) went to the San Carlos Apache Tribe, which operates in the state in collaboration with WynnBet.
Back in July 2021, WynnBet announced its entrance into the Arizona betting scene through a partnership with the tribe, with the main purpose of securing an iGaming and sports betting license in the state.
The terms of agreement specified that the San Carlos Apache Tribe, which currently runs the Apache Gold Casino and Apache Sky Casino in the state, would help the operator secure a license — something which it was clearly successful in doing.
