Arizona is continuing to showcase its ability to be a robust sports betting market.
The Arizona Department of Gaming reported a $706.3 million sports betting handle in January, marking the second-highest handle since the state authorized wagering in 2021. The state benefited from the end of the NFL regular season and the start of the playoffs.
By comparison, Arizona operators posted a $591 million handle in January 2023. The Grand Canyon State’s highest handle came in November 2023 at a record $713.5 million.
Arizona’s current operators
Arizona’s handle in January generated $69.3 million in revenue with mobile wagering making up $68.9 million of that figure. FanDuel posted the highest mobile revenue during the month at $31.2 million. The operator, which partners with the Phoenix Suns, had a $258 million mobile handle.
TPC Scottsdale partner DraftKings generated the second-highest mobile revenue in January at $22.5 million behind a $228.2 million handle. The operator also emerged as the top retail sportsbook in Arizona for both revenue and handle. DraftKings posted a $3.2 million retail handle in January, which generated $144,519 in revenue. In comparison, FanDuel saw its retail handle reach $1.7 million during the month with revenue closing at $62,810.
BetMGM closed January with the third-highest handle in Arizona at $84.6 million, which generated $9.6 million in revenue. PENN Sports, which rebranded operations to ESPN Bet from Barstool Sportsbook last November, accepted $49.5 million in wagers in January 2024, compared to $20 million for the same month last year. The NASCAR partner reported $348,323 in free bets and promotional credits compared to $201,003 in January 2023.
Desert Diamond also reported favorable results in January 2024. The sportsbook, which exclusively operates in Arizona, reported a $5.6 million handle and $344,736 in revenue.
In January, Arizona collected $4.6 million in privilege fees, up from $2.8 million for the same month last year. In the state’s FY2024, privilege fees have reached $24.4 million.
Newcomer in Arizona
Last month, British operator bet365 launched operations in the Grand Canyon State through a partnership with the Ak-Chin Indian Community. The sportsbook gained market access in Arizona after Fubo Sportsbook shut down in October 2022. The now-defunct operator had previously partnered with the Ak-Chin Indian Community.
WynnBet also made the decision to exit Arizona in an effort to downsize. The operator, owned by Wynn Resorts, shuttered operations in seven other jurisdictions across America.
