. Prepare To Set Your Lineups: AZ Sports Betting Bill Legalizes Daily Fantasy Sports

Prepare To Set Your Lineups: AZ Sports Betting Bill Legalizes Daily Fantasy Sports

Written By Martin Harris on April 22, 2021Last Updated on January 30, 2023

Midway through April, lights went off.

Just days after lawmakers advanced legislation to legalize sports betting in Arizona, Gov. Doug Duceysigned off on that bill. But the bill doesn’t only green-light regulated wagering. It also legalizes daily fantasy sports in the state.

Given that Arizona was one of the few states to outright forbid fantasy sports, that & rsquo is a significant development for DFS players. All of that is about to shift.

Fantasy sports are permitted by New Arizona laws.

Following successful discussions between the status and Arizona nations, the new sports betting act was suddenly put together. Ducey also signed fresh agreements with the tribes at last week’s filing meeting, which have been updated to describe their future involvement in sports betting.

There will be up to 10 certificates available for the tribes for both physical and virtual sports gambling. The state & rsquo, s professional sports franchises and facilities will have access to up to 10 additional licenses.

Horse racing tracks will be able to submit an application for up to ten additional sports gambling licenses, but only for financial wager.

There is still a lot of work to be done, including the Arizona Department of Gaming‘s development of rules and regulations for sports gambling. But, there is a lot of hope that these specifics can be worked out in day for the September 2021 NFL season.

The bill, HB 2772, additionally authorizes regulators to issue fantasy sports licenses as well as to establish rules and fees. The bill further allows certain locations, include off-track betting sites and social clubs, to offer keno games.

Legislation directly legalizing fantasy sports has been passed in nearly 20 states. Although DFS places typically operate in those situations, other states do not have a certain laws governing it.

Seven US state, however, consider fantasy sports to be illegal. Since Arizona was one of those areas, locals are not allowed to play fantasy sports websites.

Arizona had been prohibited from daily fantasy sports websites.

Arizona, in contrast to some says, did not enact certain legislation outlawing fantasy sports. However, the state & rsquo’s gambling law had previously been widely interpreted to make fantasy sports illegal. DFS websites have opted not to accept bets from Arizona as a result.

Attorney General Grant Woods commented on fantasy sports in 1998 and declared that they constituted improper playing. Before the first virtual daily fantasy sports websites started to appear and DFS became a national happening, this was more than ten years ago.

FanDuel‘s daily fantasy sports website debuted in 2009, and DraftKings followed in 2012. Both websites originally welcomed Arizona visitors.

However, in later 2015, Attorney General Mark Brnovich sent letters to DraftKings and FanDuel with a message telling them to stop accepting athletes from Arizona.

& ldquo, It is against Arizona law to participate in activities for financial gain. & rdquo,

FanDuel and DraftKings are prepared for DFS in Arizona.

DraftKings and both Each FanDuel has now landed a spot in Arizona’s new sports gambling landscape.

DraftKings signed a partnership with TPC Scottsdale to run a sportsbook there once the golf course obtains a license to do so. Soon after, FanDuel Arizona and the Phoenix Sunsannounced a similar agreement just after last week’s bill signing, positioning FanDuel to operate a future sportsbook at the Phoenix Sun Arena.

DraftKings, FanDuel, and other daily fantasy sports websites will undoubtedly resume operations in Arizona quickly. Most people anticipate that rules will be established and fantasy sports certificates issued more quickly than they will with sports betting.

It might be unrealistic to believe that sports gambling will be available in Arizona by September. The likelihood that Arizonans will be able to begin forming matchups and competing in DFS competitions in time for the NFL season, however, is definitely a better bet.

Photo taken by Rick Scuteri and AP
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