Jun17
Arizona Bettors Elevate Sports Wagers to $656.3 Million in April 2024
Arizona Sports Betting Gains Momentum
March 4, 2019 Andrej Vidovic
Arizona’s Senate Bill 1163 that aims to move forward with sports betting regulation in this state got a 6 to 3 vote of confidence by Arizona State Senate’s Appropriation Committee last week.
It will face an unexpected and tough opposition by united Indian tribes who are of the opinion that some of the legislation’s provisions should be part of the renegotiation with the Governor.
After the legislative committee’s voting, sport betting in this Western state got a major boost and will move on to waiting for further approval.
Tribes Could Win Big…
Its next stop is the Arizona State Senate whose thirty could it on to Arizona House of Representatives. Should it gain their approval as well…
…it will finally reach the desk of Doug Ducey, Republican Governor. The bill’s eventual ratification’s biggest winners could be Arizona tribes who would be allowed to operate kiosk-based sports betting properties, upon ing forces with bars and organizations that have alcohol license.
These tribes would gain permission to operate sportsbooks inside their own casinos as well. Under the legislation’s , people over the age of 21 could legally place wagers on professional and amateur sports.
…But They Rebel Against It
However, perhaps paradoxically…
…all the tribes but one – Navajo Nation, the biggest tribe in Arizona – have formed a resistance front against the measure. Vice-chairman of Yavapai-Apache Nation explains that even though his tribe s legal sports betting in Arizona as such, “Senate Bill 1163 is not the appropriate mechanism for such legislation.”
Sports wagers – that could be placed on all off-site kiosks except in Maricopa and Pinal counties where these are prohibited – would come with a 6.75% tax.
“Options Equal Freedom”
The proposed bill is a creation of Republican Senator, Sonny Borrelli. His previous proposition, Senate Bill 1158, did not the committee’s review. As a response, he enacted the “strike everything” motion on Senate Bill 1163’s original wording…
…which means that he practically amended and rewrote the previous text that dealt with prostitution penalties.
Borelli commented: “I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of seeing our money going to Nevada and tired of seeing our money going offshore. In my book, options equal freedom. Why not allow our citizens to participate in games they like.”
No Mention of Online
Original Bill 1158 as well as its improved version 1163 both state that wagers would have to place in-person…
…since there is no mention of an online or mobile app betting anywhere in its language.
Arizona would be one of the rare cases of US states legalizing sports betting and handing operation of this vertical solely to Indian tribes. According to the original text, “each federally recognized Indian tribe that has a tribal-state gaming compact entered into pursuant to Chapter 6 of this title and that has tribal headquarters on Indian lands located in this state may operate sports betting as defined in Section 13-3301. No other person or entity may operate sports betting.”
Source:
“As tribes voice opposition, sports betting bill moves forward with 6-3 vote”, Joshua Shure, cronkitenews.azpbs.org, February 26, 2019.
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It doesn’t say what the language that tribes are up against says, but it would be interested to know what it is. It just looks like it’s all in their favor.