A British sports betting operator is continuing to expand its reach across America.
On Monday, bet365 launched online sports wagering operations in Arizona, bringing the sportsbook’s total reach to nine states across the U.S. Bet365, which has partnered with the Ak-Chin Indian Community, is the 17th operator with market access in the Grand Canyon State. The launch in Arizona comes less than a week after bet365 went live with sports wagering in Indiana through an access agreement with French Lick Casino.
Bet365 is taking advantage of a dissolved partnership between the Ak-Chin Indian Community and Fubo Sportsbook, which shuttered operations in October 2022.
The British operator was awarded the available license by the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) in 2023. Bet365 had previously considered entering Massachusetts.
The operator is entering an Arizona sports betting market that posted a more than $713.5 million handle in November 2023, a 15.7% increase year-over-year, according to the ADG. FanDuel emerged as the top online sportsbook for the month with a $249.2 million mobile handle, while DraftKings finished second with a $229.4 million handle.
However, DraftKings’ brick-and-mortar operations edged FanDuel with a $2.3 million retail handle. FanDuel saw its retail wagering handle close at $1.9 million in November.
Arizona is also home to Bally’s, BetMGM, ESPN Bet, Caesars, Betfred, and others. The state has seen several sportsbooks leave its market including WynnBet and TwinSpires.
Arizona could potentially add additional operators to fill those gaps. The ADG will be accepting new event wagering license applications this month. The regulator will grant one license for tribes and no less than one license for the state’s professional sports teams.
House Bill 2772, Arizona’s sports betting measure, allows up to 20 wagering licenses.
