PHOENIX (AP) - Arizonans would be allowed to bet on professional and college sports at tribal casinos and at sites owned by pro sports teams under a proposal that is part of an update to the. Arizona Sports Betting And Gambling Laws – Arizona 2021 Sports Betting Outlook Arizona came close in 2020 and received more attention for sports betting legalization in the state. But when it got right down to it, there was a stalemate between whether or not to make the industry an all-encompassing one that had commercial and Tribal operators. PHOENIX (AP) — Arizonans would be allowed to bet on professional and college sports at tribal casinos and at sites owned by pro sports teams under a proposal that is part of an update to the state’s deal that allows Native American tribes to run casinos. Arizona Online Casinos View Top Arizona Picks Arizona’s journey into the realm of gambling has been unique. Although the legal machinations that led to its current situation — 23 casinos open for business — are common in the United States, Arizona may be the only state that’s journey toward legalization involved an armed standoff between a group.

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Arizona State Rep. Jeff Weninger met on the air with Phoenix sports radio’s Jody Oehler the week before Super Bowl LV to talk NFL picks and sports betting.

It had been two days since Weninger filed HB 2772 to legalize sports betting and expand gaming in the State of Arizona. Now, the proposal is moving closer to a vote on the floor of the state House. Passage there would give the bill a shot at Senate approval, moving the measure a step closer to becoming law.

That is terrific news for Arizonans who have waited years to make more than a friendly wager on sports without traveling out of state. It’s also a proposed win for tribal casinos and pro sports teams that could increase profits by running sportsbooks in the state, both in-person and online through mobile apps.

Add proposed legalization of daily fantasy sports wagering and more gaming at fraternal organizations, and the measure seems like a sure thing – maybe.

Arizona’s Gaming Landscape

A wrinkle in any bill to legalize sports betting in Arizona is a federally-required gaming compact with 16 tribal nations that own and operate tribal casinos in the state.

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The Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact – now being renegotiated between Gov. Doug Ducey and each of the tribes – essentially dictates what new and expanded gaming can take place both on- and off-reservation in the state. That means Weninger’s bill, should it pass, cannot take effect until a new compact between the state and each tribal nation is approved by the federal government.

Sound complicated? A little bit. But don’t let it fool you. Gaming compacts between Arizona’s tribal nations and the state have been at work for nearly 30 years.

The Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact

The first of the compacts were signed in 1992. Today, there are 25 tribal casinos operating under gaming compacts renegotiated with the state in 2002 and 2003.

All tribal nations in Arizona have a gaming compact that grants them “exclusive rights” in gaming, including exclusive rights to run slots and casino-style games. A percentage of their gaming revenue goes to the state. And it’s pretty substantial.

In Fiscal Year 2020, the State of Arizona reaped $102 million from tribal gaming operations. This year also looks promising, with tribal gaming contributions to the state reaching $31.7 million in the second quarter of FY 2021.

Some tribes see growth potential in adding choice table games like Baccarat and craps to their offerings. Others would like a chance to add more casinos. But neither of these things can happen outside of a new compact. Neither can sports betting, which not all tribes have been quick to support.

Early Sports Betting Proposals

The Navajo Nation entered the Arizona Legislature’s sports-betting fray in 2019 after a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for the legalization of sportsbooks in states outside Nevada.

The proposal backed by the Navajo would have allowed off-reservation sports betting at tribal-controlled kiosks. Navajo officials saw the bill, in part, as a mechanism to offset lossesfrom the subsequent closure of two of its major employers.

But other tribes weren’t as keen on the proposal. At least two – the San Carlos Apache Nation and the Tohono O’odham Nation – said changes backed by the Navajo Nation should instead be dictated by tribal gaming compact.

Opposition to the bill eventually won out, yet sports-betting proponents didn’t give up. They regrouped in 2020 with another sports-gaming bill and high hopes for its passage. But that effort, like so many others last year, was derailed by the pandemic.

Next Steps

Weninger is optimistic that 2021 will be the year that sports betting comes to Arizona. Negotiations with Gov. Ducey have encouraged tribal nations to rally around the proposal, the lawmaker said. Pro sports teams are also on board.

Now, sports-betting proponents just need to get Weninger’s bill – or similar legislation filed by Arizona State Sen. T.J. Strope – through the full House and Senate and into the governor’s hands before the current legislative session ends in late April.

Conditional enactment of the legislation pending federal compact approval could clear the way for sportsbooks to open in Arizona by late this summer, says Weninger. Betting on baseball could be legal by August, he said, with wagering on NFL games open by September.

That should make betting in the Grand Canyon State a lot more interesting by the time Super Bowl LVI rolls around next year.

The Arizona State Sun Devils are underdogs as they look to turn around a four-game losing streak when they host the Arizona Wildcats on Thursday, January 21 at Desert Financial Arena (AZ). The matchup airs at 9:00 PM ET on ESPN. The point total is for the matchup.

The betting insights in this article reflect betting data from DraftKings as of January 21, 2021, 2:14 AM ET. See table below for current betting odds and CLICK HERE to bet at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Betting Odds

Arizona Betting Information

• With a mark of 5-8, the Wildcats have a losing record against the spread this season.
• The Wildcats have a losing record against the spread when favored by at least 2.5 points, going 4-7 this season.
• The Wildcats and their opponents have hit the over in 9 of 13 games this season (69.2%).

Against the Spread (ATS) records are only reflective of games that had odds on them.

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Arizona State Betting Information

• The Sun Devils hold a losing record ATS this season, covering zero times and failing to cover nine times.
• For the sixth time this season, the Sun Devils are at least a 2.5-point underdog, where they have a record of 0-5 against the spread.
• Four of the Sun Devils nine games (44.4%) this season have failed to hit the over on the point total.

Against the Spread (ATS) records are only reflective of games that had odds on them.

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Total Facts

• Arizona’s games this year have resulted in a higher total score than Thursday’s matchup over/under (153.5 points) in 38.5% of opportunities (five out of 13 matchups).
• In five out of Arizona State’s 10 games this year (50%), the competing teams combined for a higher point total than the point total in Thursday’s matchup.
• The over/under for the game of 153.5 is 2.3 points fewer than the combined points per game averages for the Wildcats (80 points per game) and the Sun Devils (75.8 points per game).
• These two teams surrender a combined 144.6 points per game, 8.9 points less than this contest’s over/under.
• On average, the over/under in Wildcats games is 5.9 points fewer than the over/under of 153.5 points in this contest.
• The over/under for this game is 0.7 points more than the average over/under in Sun Devils games this season (152.8 points).

Head to Head

Arizona Betting Odds

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