Arizona online sports betting is three weeks out from its proposed launch date of Sept. 9 and the Arizona Department of Gaming is mulling over 26 applicants for a total of 20 sports betting licenses in the state.

The Arizona Department of Gaming received 16 applications for 10 available tribal sports betting licenses and has until Aug. 27 to notify winning applicants. The department received 10 applications for its 10 available licenses for professional sports franchises in the state. Additionally, 10 licenses for “limited event wagering operators” will be available, but the holders need to partner with one of the 20 event wagering operators.

Arizona sports betting on track for Sept. 9 launch

The Arizona Department of Gaming will evaluate each applicant’s bid package to determine who best meets 19 specific criteria laid out in the sports betting rules and regulations. Despite the overabundance of tribal applicants, everything seems to be on schedule for Arizona’s proposed launch date of Thursday, Sept. 9, the official start of the 2021 NFL season.

Here is the tentative Arizona sports betting timeline as the state readies for next month’s launch:

  • Aug. 27: Allocation of licenses are announced.
  • Aug. 28: Marketing for sports betting is allowed.
  • Aug. 30: Additional licensing period for allocated applicants (if necessary).
  • Sept. 9: Arizona sports betting is launched.

Arizona will feature an in-person sports betting tax rate of 8% and an online sports betting tax rate of 10%.

13 announced partnerships for Arizona sports betting

Here is the current list of announced market access agreements and partnerships.

  • Betfred Sports. We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.
  • MaximBet. White Mountain Apache Tribe.
  • BlueBet. Colorado Indian River Tribes.
  • Ballys. Phoenix Mercury.
  • Barstool Sportsbook. Phoenix Raceway.
  • BetMGM. Arizona Cardinals and Arizona Gila River casino properties.
  • DraftKings. TPC Scottsdale.
  • FanDuel. Phoenix Suns.
  • Caesars. Arizona Diamondbacks.
  • WynnBet. San Carlos Apache Tribe.
  • PointsBet. Cliff Castle Hotel Casino.
  • Kindred Group (Unibet). Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation.
  • TwinSpires (Tonto Apache Tribe)

The remaining 13 applicants have not made their intentions public. None of the mentioned license applicants are guaranteed a license.

Applicant license fees are $100,000. An initial license fee for all awarded licenses are $750,000, with a $150,000 renewal fee.