Arizona & rsquo, the only WNBA team, has made some history in another way a few days after Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi became the first player to reach 9, 000 career points. When it debuts, the Phoenix Mercury betting will establish a new standard for the gaming industry.
On Wednesday, Bally’s declared a partnership with the Mercury, securing market access into Arizona’s sports betting industry. This deal marks a first not only for the team, but also for the WNBA and women’s sports as a whole.
Plans are in place for a Phoenix Mercury casino.
Under Arizona regulations, sports teams like the Mercury can apply for one of 10 allocated licenses. However, until now, it was uncertain if the Mercury would take this opportunity.
Robert Sarver is the main proprietor of both the Mercury and Phoenix Suns, who share Suns Arena as their home ground.
The Suns became the first sports team in Arizona to declare a sports betting agreement, choosing to partner with FanDuel Sportsbook. The deal involves setting up a physical book in the arena, subject to regulatory approval.
The provisional rules in Arizona for sportsbooks do permit sports team owners, such as Sarver, to assign a representative. In such a case, the license is actually held by the representative, not the sports team.
This is how the Mercury and Suns can possess different licenses, even with shared ownership. As stated in a press release, the agreement provides Bally’s with access to both online and brick-and-mortar operations.
If the AZ Department of Gambling gives approval, Bally’s intends to provide their Bally Bet Arizona mobile sports betting app under the Mercury’s license. Additionally, Bally’s has plans to establish a physical sportsbook in the vicinity of Phoenix Suns Arena.
This would result in a third retail book being located in close proximity in that area of Phoenix. Caesars Sportsbook also intends to operate a book near Chase Field under the license of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Chase Field is just a few minutes’ walk from the Phoenix Suns Arena.
Nonetheless, integrating sports betting extensively into Phoenix city could be the most critical aspect of this initiative. It’s a substantial move towards combining women’s sports and gambling.
The distinctive nature of this transaction
Before this announcement, no women’s sports company had ever fully committed to sports betting to such an extent.
For instance, the WNBA has established sports betting agreements with MGM and PointsBet Sportsbook. These agreements primarily allow these bookmakers to access official league data and trademarks. BetMGM has a comparable agreement with the LPGA.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel have formerly been shirt sponsors for the New York Liberty. The Connecticut Sun is under the ownership of the Mohegan Tribe, which oversees gambling in multiple regions. Nonetheless, the Mercury will require a sports wagering permit to execute this agreement.
To put it plainly, that will be the extent of their involvement. Bally’s will take charge of the sportsbook’s daily activities. This is no different than a sports team getting permission to sell alcohol at its venue and then contracting an outside party to oversee its concession stands.
However, this marks the first time a women’s sports team has granted access to an online gaming business. Considering the expansion of gambling into new domains, it’s probable that it won’t be the last.
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