• About Us / Contact
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona Sports Betting
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Ohio Sports Betting
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia Sports Betting
    • Massachusetts Sports Betting
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
    • Partnership Tracker
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona Sports Betting
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Ohio Sports Betting
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia Sports Betting
    • Massachusetts Sports Betting
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
    • Partnership Tracker
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Arizona Tribe, Racetrack Seek Injunction To Stop Event Wagering Launch

Yavapi-Prescott Tribe accuses state lawmakers of favoritism

Jill R. Dorson by Jill R. Dorson
August 30, 2021
in Regulation
Hand-Up-Stopping-Walking-Man

(Shutterstock)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

One Arizona tribe that was not part of the new tribal-state gaming compact on Thursday filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction delay to launch of statewide mobile sports betting, which is set for Sept. 9. The Yavapai-Prescott Tribe, which owns Bucky’s Casino and the Yavapai Casino, says the state’s new gaming law “excludes” it from getting a license and that the tribe has lost the exclusivity to gaming that it was granted by its 2003 compact with the state. The lawsuit goes on to say that the new law “materially changes” its deal with the state.

1
Caesars Sportsbook

$1500 Risk-Free Bet

4.4
Read Review
  • Promo Code: HANDLE15
  • Extensive Betting Menus and SGPs
  • Loaded Promotional Schedule
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
WynnBET Sportsbook

Bet $50, Get $200 Free

4
Read Review
  • Promo Code: XHANDLE
  • High-quality mobile app
  • Competitive odds
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
Betfred Sportsbook

$500 Risk-Free Bet

3.8
Read Review
  • In Business Since the 1960s
  • Solid Welcome Offer
  • Competitive Pricing
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.

The tribe claims Gov. Doug Ducey’s office all but forced it to agree to the state’s new event wagering law to allow sports betting in exchange for the addition of table games, including baccarat and craps. An emergency hearing is set for Friday.

“The timing of these challenges, at the dawn of selection rather than during the legislative session or upon the bill’s enactment, amount to an end-around on that qualifications-based awarding process at the Department of Gaming,” bill sponsor T.J. Shope said in a prepared statement, according to AZCentral. “I expect any legal challenges to be quickly dismissed so that the economic opportunities already happening as the result of Tribal-State Gaming Compact Amendment can continue to materialize.”

T.P. Racing, which owns and operates the Turf Paradise Racetrack in Phoenix, also filed suit Thursday, claiming the Arizona Department of Gaming “arbitrarily” and “capriciously” denied the track’s event wagering operator application. The suit also seeks an injunction to delay the Sept. 9 launch of operators.

Approved operators were allowed to begin marketing to potential customers on Saturday.

Sports betting is coming to Arizona? Gee, I couldn’t tell with all the ads on my timeline

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) August 29, 2021

Some tribes weren’t allowed to compact

Arizona lawmakers in April legalized statewide mobile event wagering by allowing for 10 licenses to be granted to professional sports teams/franchises and 10 to tribal casinos. Some of the state’s tribes negotiated new compacts with Ducey to be included in the mix, and according to the lawsuit, only tribes in metro Phoenix and Tucson were allowed to negotiate. Rural tribes, the lawsuit says, “were excluded from meaningful negotiations.” The Yavapai-Prescott reservation and casinos are located about 100 miles north of Phoenix in Yavapai County.

When the U.S. Department of the Interior signed off on the tribal-state compacts in May, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland wrote that it agreed to do so in large part because the new compact and law “work in tandem” and the tribes were able to “extract a significant concession.” Newland also noted that the state made “valuable concessions” to the tribes by allowing for off-reservation wagering by the tribes.

Since then, the Arizona Department of Gaming has been hurtling toward the Sept. 9 go-live date, and on Friday it revealed that it had awarded 18 of 20 licenses — 10 to tribal casinos and eight to professional sports teams/franchises. Every major operator is licensed in the state, and most chose to partner with professional sports teams/franchises, which from the beginning appeared to have a smoother path to approval. On the tribal side, Arizona has 22 federally recognized tribes, but the ADG had only 10 licenses to give out.

$BBT Bluebet Arizona sports betting licence application unsuccessful as expected pic.twitter.com/al2kUWTawA

— BuyLowSellHigh (@BLSHigh) August 29, 2021

Below is a list of professional sports teams and their partners:

  • Bally’s and WNBA Mercury
  • BetMGM and NFL Cardinals
  • Caesars and MLB Diamondbacks
  • DraftKings and TPC Scottsdale (PGA)
  • FanDuel and NBA Suns
  • Penn National Gaming/Barstool Sportsbook and Phoenix Raceway (NASCAR)
  • Rush Street Interactive/Bet Rivers and Arizona Rattlers (IFL)

Lawsuit says new law ‘eliminates exclusivity’

Both BetMGM and Caesars also have tribal partners. BetMGM has a three-way partnership with the Cardinals and Gila River Casinos, while Caesars potentially has tribal access via the Ak-Chin Indian Community — though that tribe was licensed and intends to use FuboTV as its event wagering partner.

Here’s the list of approved tribes and partners:

  • Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and SuperBook Sports
  • Navajo Nation
  • Fort Yuma Quechan and Kindred/Unibet
  • Tonto Apache and Churchill Downs/TwinSpires
  • Tohono O’odham
  • Hualpai Tribe and Golden Nugget
  • Ak-Chin Indian Community
  • San Juan Souther Paiute and Digital Gaming
  • San Carlos Apache and WynnBET
  • Fort McDowell Yavapi

The Yavapai-Prescott lawsuit, which was filed in Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County, names Ducey and ADG chief Ted Vogt as defendants. According to the lawsuit, the new law “completely eliminates gaming exclusivity” for the tribe and “is about the critical economic lifeline gaming provides to Indian tribes in the state of Arizona.” The plaintiff repeatedly points out that prior to legal gaming in Arizona, tribal members lived in poverty. The suit details the evolution of legal gaming, dating the 1987 Supreme Court decision to allow gaming on tribal lands and the 1988 creation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act up through the 2018 fall of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and the 2021 Arizona compacts and new law.

The suit points out that tribes had a less than 50% chance of getting a license, vs. a “nearly 100% chance” for commercial operators, and further calls out the non-refundable $100,000 application fee as being unfair given the inequitable odds.

Turf Paradise unfairly denied?

The Turf Paradise lawsuit says the ADG omitted the word “franchise” with relation to professional sports organizations that could apply for license, despite the word being part of the law. According to the suit, the ADG describes potential commercial event wagering applicants as “a professional sports team (to include the PGA operator, the NASCAR promoter, designee, or management services provider relevant to the initial application).”

T.P. Racing claims it meets the legal definition of an entity that could be licensed, provided all the proper application material, and will face “irreparable harm” if event wagering is permitted to begin before its concerns are addressed. According to the suit, T.P. Racing has appealed to the ADG.

ShareTweetShare
Jill R. Dorson

Jill R. Dorson

Jill has covered everything from steeplechase to the NFL and then some during a more than 30-year career in sports journalism. The highlight of her career was covering Oakland Raiders during the Charles Woodson/Jon Gruden era, including the infamous “Snow Bowl” and the Raiders’ 2003 trip to Super Bowl XXXVII. Her specialty these days is covering sports betting legislation across the country. You can reach Jill at jill@bettercollective.com

Related Posts

Get a Grip
Sports

Get A Grip — The Week In Sports Betting: New Books Coming To CA, SD, WA; LIV Still In The News

June 17, 2022
golf-ball-tee
Industry

Could LIV Tour Partner With A Sportsbook Or Get A Betting License In U.S.?

June 16, 2022
Load More

Top Sportsbooks In Your State

1
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
SugarHouse Sportsbook
Review / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
bet365 Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
BetRivers Sportsbook
Review / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs ApplyOnly 1x Wager Applies
2
FOX Bet Sportsbook
Review / 4.3
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
SI Sportsbook
Review / 4.1
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
SuperBook Sports
Review / 4.3
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
BetRivers Sportsbook
Review / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs ApplyOnly 1x Wager Applies
1
SI Sportsbook
Review / 4.1
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
FanDuel Sportsbook
Review / 4.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Caesars Sportsbook
Review / 4.4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
WynnBET Sportsbook
Review / 4
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
Betfred Sportsbook
Review / 3.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
BetRivers Sportsbook Ontario
Review / 4.3
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
BetMGM Sportsbook Ontario
Review / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
NorthStar Bets Sportsbook
Review / 4.6
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Bet99 Sportsbook
Review / 4.7
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
Sports Interaction Ontario
Review / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
3
PowerPlay Sportsbook
Rating / 3.8
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
1
Monkey Knife Fight
Rating / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
PrizePicks
Rating / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.

State Sports Betting Guides

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
June 24, 2022

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
March 21, 2021

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
March 22, 2022

pa online sportsbooks

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
March 18, 2022

Most Read Stories

mattress mack betting charade

Will Everyone Please Stop Calling ‘Mattress Mack’ A Sports Bettor?

April 27, 2022
Photo: Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY

Dave Portnoy Says, ‘F**k That Guy,’ To Which Bettor And Gambling Twitter Seriously Object

May 16, 2022
map-missouri

Missouri Sports Betting Bill Draws Debate, Backlash In Senate

May 5, 2022
golden-gate-bridge-san-francisco

California Tribes Won’t Try For Mobile Proposal On 2022 Ballot

May 10, 2022

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps & Bonus Offers

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

gambling therapy
ncpg
igaming ontario
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).
19+. Please play responsibly. Terms and conditions apply. 
Individuals must be 19 years of age or older to participate in igaming in Ontario. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you, or someone you know, has a gambling problem in Ontario and wants help, please visit ConnexOntario or call their helpline at 1-866-531-2600. Operators on this website operate pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario.

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona Sports Betting
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Ohio Sports Betting
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia Sports Betting
    • Massachusetts Sports Betting
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
    • Partnership Tracker
  • News

Please share your location to continue.

Check our help guide for more info.

share your location