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Major operators debut Arizona sportsbooks following market launch

News

FanDuel, Kindred and Caesars Entertainment have all launched sportsbooks within Arizona following the legalization and launch of sports betting in the state. 

Arizona’s sports wagering market officially launched yesterday (9 September), with DraftKings and BetMGM among the operators to announce their launch when the market opened.

In addition to launching its mobile sportsbook and its horse racing platform TVG, FanDuel has also officially opened its retail sportsbook inside the Phoenix Suns’ Footprint Center – the first sportsbook of its kind inside of an NBA arena.

FanDuel’s daily fantasy sports product has also been available in Arizona since the end of August, when that vertical was permitted.

FanDuel’s chief marketing officer Mike Raffensperger said: “The fans of Arizona are some of the most passionate in sports, and that was evident during the Suns incredible playoff run this year.

“Together, FanDuel and the Suns share a mission of delivering absurdly fan-friendly experiences to our customers and we are excited to offer sports betting in a way that revolutionizes the live experience, and brings fans closer to the game. We are thankful to the Suns organization for their partnership and look forward to making our lounge in the Footprint Center one of the preeminent sportsbook locations in the entire country.”

Furthermore, Caesars Entertainment has also announced the launch of its sportsbook product in Arizona.

The company has formed a partnership with Major League Baseball side the Arizona Diamondbacks, which will eventually see Caesars build a two-story sportsbook and sports bar at Chase Field.

Chris Holdren, co-president of Caesars Digital, said: “Arizona is like a second home for Caesars, and we’ve operated in the state for more than 25 years. We take pride in our brand-new Caesars Sportsbook app being online for day one of sports betting here and we’re ecstatic to offer Arizonans a sports betting experience that can’t be matched.”

Kindred, meanwhile, also entered the Arizona market with its Unibet brand. Unibet has debuted its mobile sportsbook in partnership with the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation.

“We are extremely pleased to be awarded one of the ten tribal licenses available in the state of Arizona,” said Manuel Stan, senior vice president of Kindred US.

“This means Unibet is able to be in the first wave of operators launching in the first day when the market opens, which aligns perfectly with the start of the football season. Arizona’s passion for sports is unmatched, and through our great partnership with the Quechan Tribe, we’re excited to first provide a mobile sportsbook experience for sports fans of all levels with retail to follow.”