In October 2022, FuboTV shut down its sports betting business. Fubo Sportsbook was active in Arizona, and its closure reduced the state’s online sportsbook count from 18 to 17.
Arizona gambling regulations allow for up to 20 individual operators. With Fubo out and spots still available, which operator(s) might launch a sportsbook in Arizona?
Understanding the Arizona ( az ) sports betting marketplace
Arizona gambling regulations allow for up to 20 gambling licenses. Twelve sports franchises and twelve tribes must partner with sportsbook operators. Currently, the list includes the following sportsbooks:
| Sportsbook | Franchise Companion | Tribal Companion |
| FanDuel | Phoenix, az Suns | N/A |
| Caesars | Arizona ( az ) Diamondbacks | N/A |
| DraftKings | PGA/TPC Scottsdale | N/A |
| Bally Guess | Phoenix Mercury | N/A |
| Bar stool | NASCAR/Phoenix Track | N/A |
| BetMGM | Arizona Capital | Gila Water Indian Neighborhood |
| Sahara Wagers | Arizona Coyotes | N/A |
| BetRivers | Arizona Rattlers | N/A |
| WynnBET | N/A | San Carlos Indien Tribe |
| Unibet | N/A | Fortification Yuma Quechan Indian Group |
| TwinSpires | N/A | Tonto Indien Tribe |
| Betfred | N/A | Fortification McDowell Yavapai Nation |
| Wilderness Diamond | N/A | Tohono O’ odham Region |
| Hard Stone | N/A | Navajo Nation |
| Betway | N/A | San Juan The southern part of Paiute Group |
| Golden Piece | N/A | Hualapai Tribe |
| SuperBook | N/A | Fortification Mojave Native indian Tribe |
The Ak-Chin Indian Community was originally partnered with Fubo Sportsbook.
Who can snag the final license?
Your guess is as good as mine, but a few leaders emerge when you look at operators with sportsbooks in other legal states that may want a share of the Arizona market.
Fanatics/PointsBet
In the early 2000s, PointsBet formed a partnership with the Yavapai-Apache Nation and Cliff Castle Casino Hotel. However, that market access did not result in a sportsbook launch. The Arizona Department of Gambling declined to grant the Yavapai-Apache Nation a gambling license, halting PointsBet’s progress towards an Arizona launch. The company actively sought other avenues for Arizona sports betting, but none materialized.
If you had asked us earlier, PointsBet would have been the top contender for an Arizona license. However, recent events have thrown a wrench into that prediction.
Fans, a sports merchandise company, reached a deal to acquire PointsBet’s US assets for $150 million. The announcement is still fresh, so Fanatics’ intentions are unclear. Will they keep PointsBet’s current sportsbooks in the US as is? Will they close the PointsBet brand and relaunch as Fanatics Sportsbook? There are many unknowns.
The unknowns also extend to Fanatics’ plans to pursue new market opportunities. For a company valued at nearly $30 billion, finding new states for their newly-acquired sportsbook product seems like a no-brainer. However, it’s hard to say whether Fanatics will move fast enough to secure an Arizona license. I consider it unlikely unless other operators drag their feet for a year or two.
Sporting activities Illustrated
The unknowns also extend to Fanatics’ plans to pursue new market opportunities. For a company valued at nearly $30 billion, finding new states for their newly-acquired sportsbook product seems like a no-brainer. However, it’s hard to say whether Fanatics will move fast enough to secure an Arizona license. I consider it unlikely unless other operators drag their feet for a year or two.
Sports Illustrated, with its roots in online media, has successfully transitioned to the digital era. Sports Illustrated Sportsbook launched in Colorado in 2021, followed by Virginia and Michigan in 2022. Considering Sports Illustrated’s efforts to launch in established markets, Arizona seems like a natural next step. The company hasn’t confirmed or hinted at intentions to launch in the state, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
Bet365
UK-based Bet365 made the leap across the pond with launches in New Jersey, Colorado, Ohio, and Virginia. The operator also has its sights set on Pennsylvania. Bet365 originally had a partnership in place for Massachusetts sports betting, but it fell through. Bet365 has its eye on any market, new or old. Arizona could be a solid play for a European operator looking to catch up in the US market share game.
Betr
Betr was initially billed as a “micro-betting” platform but has since expanded to include major sports betting markets. Co-founded by Sam Shefrin, the brand has a presence in Colorado, Massachusetts, and a partnership in Indiana. The self-proclaimed disruptive company is likely to pursue licenses in any legal state as it grows from a startup to an established gambling juggernaut. A sports betting state like Arizona should be on its radar.
And More…
Many other brand names are broadening their ALL OF US footprints within the sports betting marketplace, including Specifico and PlayUp. With so many firms fighting to get a chunk with the US gambling revenue, it’s close to impossible effectively guess that will come to Arizona ( az ) next.
Can TwinSpires take back another permit?
Fubo’s exit left a gaping hole in the market, but can another operator step in? TwinSpires announced its exit from the sportsbook business to focus on its online horse racing business. It sunsetted betting in a few jurisdictions, but online sports betting in Arizona is still live. It’s unclear whether TwinSpires intends to shut down betting and continue operating the racing platform as part of its existing partnership with the Ak-Chin Apache Tribe.
If TwinSpires fully exits the market, that’s another available license up for grabs in the Grand Canyon State. Only time will tell.
Cole Rush writes words. Lots of them. Many of those words can be found in gambling guides such as PlayIllinois, iGaming Business, Gaming Today, Bonus.com, MidwestSharp.com, ICE 365, and IGB North America. Cole also covers pop culture and books for Tor.com and TheQuillToLive.com. Cole has more than eight years of experience writing about gambling and entertainment.
