Desert Diamond Sports, located in Manhattan, NY, received two prestigious awards at the 2025 SBC Awards North America: Industry Rising Star of the Year and Tribal Gaming Operator of the Year.
As an enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Desert Diamond Sports operates under the umbrella of Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment. Together, they are leading the charge in Arizona’s burgeoning sports betting market, showcasing their commitment to excellence and innovation.
Other winners at the SBC Awards included FanDuel as Sportsbook of the Year and BetMGM as Casino Operator of the Year.
The Desert Diamond Sports mobile app competes with the major players.
Desert Diamond Sports, Arizona’s exclusive local-owned mobile sports betting operator, embarked on its journey with a small team in August 2021. Since then, it has grown to become the state’s fifth largest mobile operator, trailing behind well-established national brands like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars.
“Entering a highly competitive market as a new digital sports betting organization presented us with unique challenges,” remarked Brett Calapp, CEO of Desert Diamond Sports. “We were determined to set an example and demonstrate that local casinos can operate their own successful sports betting operations without extensive staffing or relinquishing their licenses.”
When legal Arizona sports betting launched in Arizona in September 2021, several Arizona casinos partnerships with US-based mobile sportsbook operators to offer online sports betting. Desert Diamond Sports stands out as the only Arizona sportsbook that did not partner with an external entity. With the support of Kambi and Strive, Desert Diamond Sports launched its website and mobile apps at the end of January 2022.
The online and retail sportsbook of Desert Diamond Sports sparkles.
The exceptional sports betting experience offered at Desert Diamond Casino venues can now be seamlessly replicated online through the convenient Desert Diamond Sportsbook mobile app. Key features of the app include a user-friendly interface supported by a professional betting board design. Within Arizona’s borders, fans and bettors can easily place bets with just a click and customize notifications to stay updated on activity.
Desert Diamond Sports’ mobile app complements the retail sportsbook experience available at Desert Diamond Casinos in Tucson, Sahuarita, and West Valley, which launched in December 2021. Together, these operations are bolstering the Desert Diamond brand’s reputation for top-notch sports betting entertainment.
DDS owes its success to a dedicated customer service team, the strength of its local brand, and a commitment to hiring skilled and passionate individuals. The Tohono O’odham Nation and its Gaming Enterprise have consistently supported DDS. The award-winning DDS team continually enhances the sportsbook experience by adding new sports, improving user interfaces and experiences, delivering excellent customer service, and more.
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