The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADOG) has granted a sportsbook license to Fanatics Betting & Gaming, marking the company's entry into the Arizona betting market. This move makes Fanatics the sole major U.S. operator previously absent from the state's betting landscape. Fanatics has formed a partnership with the Tonto Apache Tribe to facilitate its operations in the region.
The licensing process comes after ADOG initiated the application window in February, specifically targeting one breeding license and a minimum of one professional betting license. By Arizona law, there are a total of 20 licenses available, with ten allocated for each category: tribal casinos and sportsbooks, and professional sports entities. Typically, the latter licenses are affiliated with a sports franchise.
ADOG has confirmed that it has not yet received any applications for a professional sports license. Arizona currently boasts eight registered professional sports franchises, two of which remain unclaimed. On the other hand, all tribal licenses have been allocated.
Earlier in August, ADOG had authorized the operation of bet365 in collaboration with the Ak-chin tribe, after the indigenous group lost its previous partner following the closure of Fubo Sportsbook in 2022.