BetMGM Making History in Arizona
BetMGM is one of the biggest names in the legal sports betting industry, and it already has a large presence in the state of Arizona. That company is set to become an even bigger name in the state after launching the first retail sportsbook at an NFL stadium.
It was only a matter of time before a retail sportsbook popped up at an NFL stadium based on recent events. The NFL has become a major player in the US sports betting industry, and betting on football continues to be the leading option for bettors in the U.S.
BetMGM Sportsbook and State Farm Stadium held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday to officially open the new retail sportsbook. This happened just one day shy of one year of legal sports betting in Arizona, and BetMGM was able to beat other companies in getting a sportsbook at an NFL Stadium.
The public will have its first chance to visit the BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium on Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals host the Kansas City Chiefs. Another reason that this sportsbook is significant is the fact that the Super Bowl will be played at State Farm Stadium in February 2023.
While this retail sportsbook is expected to see plenty of action on Sundays when the Cardinals play at home, it will also be open year-round for bettors. This new permanent sportsbook covers over 17,000 square feet of space, and it features plenty of amenities to attract customers.
BetMGM Has Some Company
While BetMGM Sportsbook will be the first retail sportsbook at an NFL stadium, it’s not the first to open at a professional stadium in the state. One thing that Arizona lawmakers stressed when getting a sports betting bill passed was that they wanted professional sports teams to be involved.
FanDuel Sportsbook actually opened up a retail sportsbook at the FootPrint Center on the first day that betting was legal in Arizona. Caesars also partnered with Chase Field to offer betting at that stadium, and the permanent retail sportsbook opened up earlier this year.
BetMGM might have been the first to launch at an NFL stadium, but it will not be the last as more are coming in the future.
Arizona Continues to Impress
When Arizona officially launched sports betting on September 9, 2021, it did so on the opening day of the 2021 NFL season. This allowed sportsbooks in the state to get off to a massive start, and things haven’t slowed down since that time.
It took the state of Arizona less than three months to go over $1 billion in total sports betting handle, becoming the fastest state to get to that mark. Now Arizona has announced that it has gone over $5 billion in the first 11 months of retail sports betting.
Arizona is on pace to pass up the state of Nevada in sports betting numbers if it continues on the pace that it has been on.
