TwinSpires, the online sports wagering brand of Churchill Downs Incorporated, has linked up with the Tonto Apache Tribe to pursue an online sports betting license in the recently regulated state of Arizona.
The partnership will allow for a TwinSpires retail sportsbook to open at the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, which is owned and operated by the Tonto Apache Tribe.
TwinSpires will also be able to roll out its online sportsbook, though both launches will be subject to the brand securing the applicable gaming licenses and regulatory approvals.
“The team behind the most exciting two minutes in sports is thrilled to partner with the Tonto Apache Tribe and pursue offering our leading sportsbook product and promotions to sports fans throughout Arizona,” TwinSpires president Ian Williams said.
Tonto Apache chairman Calvin Johnson added: “In conjunction with our world class partner, we look forward to supporting the local community and bringing more visitors to the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino and our beautiful county.”
Arizona would become the sixth state in which TwinSpires operates, with the brand also active in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Michigan.
In April, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed into law a bill legalizing online sports betting, paving the way for up to 20 sportsbooks to operate in the state. Professional sports franchises and tribal casinos are able to apply for a license.
The Arizona Department of Gaming in June set a provisional launch date of September 9 for legal sports betting in the state.