BetMGM on Thursday unveiled exterior renderings of what will likely be the first retail sportsbook at an NFL stadium, set to open ahead of the 2022 NFL season. The modern, two-story 16,800-square-foot venue at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium will house a 265-square-foot video wall in addition to 38 televisions, more than 25 self-service kiosks, and staffed teller windows. Capacity will be 500 and it will be located on the north side of The Great Lawn.
BetMGM, one of 18 operators approved to offer statewide mobile and retail sports betting in Arizona last year, was among a group of seven that went live with digital platforms on Sept. 9, 2021, the first day of the NFL season. On that day, FanDuel opened its cutting-edge sportsbook at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, making it the second book at a professional sporting venue anywhere in the U.S. The first to open was Caesars‘ Capital One Arena location in Washington, D.C., in July 2020. On Sept. 9, Caesars opened temporary betting locations around Chase Field, but did not debut its permanent sportsbook.
In the 3½ years since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned by the Supreme Court, four U.S. jurisdictions have legalized wagering and included pro sports venues in the mix. The most recent was Ohio. Wagering at stadiums is also legal in Illinois, but no operators have opened sportsbooks at sports venues in either state.
Every pro venue will have a sportsbook
In Arizona, there eventually will be a sportsbook at every major sporting venue a fan could think of — in addition to Chase Field, Footprint Center, and State Farm Arena, in-person wagering will also be available at the PGA’s TPC Scottsdale (DraftKings) and NASCAR’s Phoenix Raceway (Barstool Sportsbook).
“Since the launch of our partnership with BetMGM last August, the response has been incredible,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said via press release. “When this sportsbook opens next season, it will provide an opportunity to engage and entertain our fans in a way that is unprecedented.”
BetMGM, which is also partnered with Gila River Casinos, is already operating at least one retail sportsbook in Arizona. It opened its Vee Quiva sportsbook in November, and will ultimately have as many as four sportsbooks at Gila River Casinos around metro Phoenix. The company is also partnered with the Nationals in Washington, D.C., and has plans to open its book there in the near future.
“The Arizona Cardinals and BetMGM are both committed to enhancing the gameday experience for fans in new and creative ways,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt in a press release. “The BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium will be one of the most unique and innovative additions to a venue that the sports and entertainment industry has ever seen.”
Check it out
Here’s a look at what’s planned:
In other news …
The Phoenix Coyotes launched their SaharaBets.com digital wagering platform Wednesday, marking SaharaBets’ debut into the landscape. The Coyotes are owned by Alex Meruelo, who also owns the Sahara Hotel Casino on The Strip in Las Vegas. The launch means that every professional sports franchise that partnered with a sportsbook except for BallyBet has now gone live in Arizona. BallyBet is partnered with the WNBA Phoenix Mercury and has plans to go live later this year.
Our official sports betting partner, SaharaBets, has officially launched. 🙌
Download Arizona's newest digital sports betting app now: https://t.co/T8DlClTXEQ https://t.co/8NP5AGm4rn
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) January 12, 2022
The Coyotes, who lost their lease on Gila River Arena, don’t currently have a deal in place for a new location. The team can open a retail sportsbook, though it has not yet released plans to do so. SaharaBets also announced this week that IGT will power its digital platform.
In addition, the Arizona Dept. of Gaming last week opened the process for those applying for limited event wagering licenses. There are 10 licenses available to horse race tracks to offer on-site, retail sports betting. The application fee is $1,000 and should an entity get licensed, there is a one-time $10,000 licensing fee and an annual $5,000 renewal fee.
