Sports betting and daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings has expanded its partnership with golf’s PGA Tour to secure market access in Arizona.
Arizona’s Senate this week passed House Bill 2772, which will allow consumers in the state to wager on sports at tribal casinos and sites owned by major league sports teams and professional sports organisations.
The bill is currently awaiting signature from Governor Doug Ducey.
Ahead of the bill’s expected passage into law, DraftKings and the PGA Tour have expanded their existing commercial relationship to provide DraftKings market access for retail and mobile sports betting in Arizona.
This will include DraftKings and the PGA Tour and DraftKings jointly opening a new retail sportsbook at the TPC Scottsdale PGA Tour venue in Arizona.
DraftKings will also become the exclusive sports betting partner of the Waste Management Phoenix Open annual golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale, while DraftKings and the PGA Tour will collaborate on co-marketing initiatives and exclusive hospitality experiences in the state.
In addition, DraftKings and the PGA Tour will work with the City of Scottsdale and Thunderbirds, host organization of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, to maximize economic, tourism and charitable benefits to the local community.
DraftKings began working with the PGA Tour in July 2020, under a deal that saw it become the first official betting operator for the golf tournament organiser.
“When DraftKings became the first official betting operator of the PGA Tour last summer, a number of possibilities opened up to innovate together,” DraftKings’ chief business officer Ezra Kucharz said.
“This momentous effort to pursue a first-of-its-kind sportsbook with the PGA Tour is a testament to the vision of both organizations that we believe will ultimately benefit Arizona sports fans who want to legally bet on sports.”
PGA Tour vice president of media and gaming Norb Gambuzza added: “The PGA Tour commends the State of Arizona and Governor Ducey for their forward-thinking approach to legal sports betting.
“We are thrilled to work with DraftKings – along with the City of Scottsdale and the Thunderbirds – to explore a one-of-a-kind sportsbook experience at TPC Scottsdale and the world-class Waste Management Phoenix Open.”
Arizona has only been able to progress with legalizing sport betting after the state agreed a 20-year extension was agreed to its tribal compacts with tribes.
These cover continued requirements for tribes to contribute a share of net win from Class III gaming to pay for regulatory costs in exchange for exclusivity on gambling, with the exception of sports betting, fantasy sports and keno.
Tribes will still be limited a to the number of gaming machines they can operate, as well as how many facilities they can run and where these sites can be located in the state.
The compact has also been amended to allow for event wagering on sports – as per terms in HB2772 – as well as keno through lottery, fantasy sports and mobile betting.