With just over a week left until Arizona can unveil its legal sports betting platforms, opposition groups have scrambled together to submit a final plea to the courts to keep this legislation from being enacted.
Local Tribe Upset
The Arizona Gaming Compact was signed by all but two of the state’s Indian Tribes. One of these tribes recently elected to sue the state on behalf of their people, citing a lack of fairness in the negotiation process of the compact.
The Yavapai-Prescott Indian tribe alleges that they had no say in the fate of the compact, only given the option to sign or stay behind. Because of this, the Tribe asked the courts to prevent sports betting operations.
But is the legislation harmful to the Yavapai-Prescott people?
Why File a Suit?
New Arizona gambling laws will allow for betting to occur off-reservation with involvement from commercial sportsbook entities. While the move stands to dramatically increase revenues for businesses across the state, the Tribe has asserted that the legislation will cause “direct injury” to their casinos.
It is true that the tribes of Arizona will lose the exclusivity they once held over gaming operations. Even so, these groups seem to have more to gain from the deal than lose.
However, the Yavapai-Prescott lawsuit is not the only obstacle ahead of legal Arizona sports betting. The Turf Paradise horse track in Phoenix also filed a lawsuit against the state on Thursday.
Owners of the track sought out a professional sportsbook license but were denied on the account that their establishment did not meet the criteria of a “sports facility.”
Lawsuit Prompts Delays
Since a lawsuit would draw out for much longer than a week, Turf Paradise has requested that all sports betting operations be put to a halt until the lawsuit has been resolved.
September 9th is coming up quickly, but make no mistake, these opposing entities will continue their legal fight against H.B. 2772. Both lawsuits described above will be reviewed during an emergency hearing on September 3rd.
Governor Doug Ducey’s administration has refrained from comment on the matter. But this has not kept other supporters of the bill from voicing their opinion on the lawsuits. Senator T.J. Shope recently stated:
“I expect any legal challenges to be quickly dismissed so that the economic opportunities already happening as the result of Tribal-State Gaming Compact Amendment can continue to materialize.”
What Sports Fans Can Expect
The climate is confusing. Should Arizona sports fans prepare for delays or ignore the noise? The lawsuits certainly have substance, but there is no way to know whether they will hold up in court.
Nonetheless, there are plenty of back-ups. Online and mobile sports betting is available to players in Arizona via offshore sportsbooks. For resources in picking one, our website is stocked with everything you need to know. Stick around and browse a bit!
