The Gila River Indian Community is prepared to advance now that sports betting will be available in Grand Canyon State in a few days.
Despite lacking guarantees of receiving a sports gambling license, Gila River has begun launching BetMGM casinos at Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte, and Vee Quiva games.
The Arizona Department of Gaming will not disclose which of the 16 ethnic applicants will be awarded one of their 10 allocated certificates until the review process is completed. This process is expected to continue for another month.
However, Gila River now dedicates 15,000 square feet of its casino floor to sports betting. This could, at the very least, signal that Gila River believes it may make the final cut.
Promises were made for everything, but progress was being made at Gila River.
When the ADG opened the program window on July 26, it was likely that more cultural applications would be submitted than licenses.
The department undoubtedly anticipated this situation, and had preemptively set aside eight days for an allocation evaluation period. Indeed, this scenario did come to pass.
The ADG now has to decide which applicants are more qualified for licensing, as the regulatory body anticipates launching legal wagering on Sept. 9.
Gila River appears to be confident of obtaining approval, particularly with BetMGM supporting them. This is understandable, given that the sports betting operator has formed alliances with not just Gila River, but also the Arizona Cardinals. Such partnerships could enable BetMGM to establish a retail sportsbook at the State Farm Stadium.
This deal with the two parties also creates an opportunity for BetMGM Arizona to introduce a mobile betting app.
What BetMGM may provide to the Southern Valley
Repairs worth over $12 million are being made to the three games along the Gila River.
Dominic Orozco, Gila River’s chief strategic marketing officer, informed SnTan Sun News that each Arizona casino will provide a distinctive atmosphere to offer bettors an experience that transcends merely placing bets and watching games.
Wild Horse Pass will establish two separate zones specifically for sports betting activities. These areas will be equipped with large screens capable of hosting between 400 and 500 spectators and simultaneously broadcasting multiple sports events.
A 250-inch LED screen, capable of displaying nine different sports, will be available. This screen has the ability to show various colors at crucial moments during a match. Orozco confirms that this implies the Cardinals will be able to see their team colors displayed when they score.
The Vee Quiva sportsbook will feature an outdoor patio with fire pits, providing a space for patrons to dine while they gamble. Meanwhile, Lone Butte may install a VIP section offering a unique menu.
No TV at any sportsbook will be less than 175 inches. Customers will have the option to place bets either at the cashier cages or from the comfort of seating areas.
The construction of the three casinos might not be completed until early November. However, some financial services will be accessible on site during this period.
Schedule for launching Arizona casinos
According to the Arizona Department of Gaming, 16 companies are competing for one of the 10 athletics betting licenses given to tribes.
Choosing those who are most suitable for Arizona sports betting will require up to eight weeks.
The ministry declared that the assessment period is set to conclude on August 26. Two days following this, applications can be promoted and made available to customers to facilitate the establishment of mobile gaming accounts.
Should everything proceed as planned, the inaugural legal sports gambling options will be launched in less than a fortnight.
At that point, it’s simply a waiting game. However, Gila River isn’t going to just idle around. The community is instead ready for regulated gambling behavior.
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