Caesars Entertainment plans to launch sports betting in Arizona through a partnership with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
In a statement Thursday, Caesars said it would develop a sportsbook and sports bar concept on the plaza adjacent to Chase Field, the Diamondback home stadium in downtown Phoenix.
Arizona lawmakers and the governor signed off on sports betting legislation last month giving sports teams and tribal casinos the ability to offer the activity to customers. It’s unclear when sports betting will launch in the state.
Caesars also operates the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Hotel in Phoenix for the Ak-Chin Indian Community. The announcement with the Diamondbacks didn’t include the tribal casino.
Under the agreement with the Diamondbacks, Caesars will develop a sportsbook, sports bar, and broadcast studio at the location formerly known as Game 7 Grill on the Plaza at Chase Field.
The deal gives Caesars mobile sports betting market access in Arizona and an exclusive sponsorship in sports betting and daily fantasy sports for the Diamondbacks.
Caesars also finalized a multi-year agreement with Major League Baseball to become an authorized gaming operator for the league.
“We have long enjoyed successful gaming operations in Arizona and are delighted to expand into sports betting alongside the Arizona Diamondbacks,” Caesars CEO Tom Reeg said in a statement. “Together, we have the opportunity to create new ways for baseball fans to engage with the game both in-person near the ballpark and online anywhere in Arizona. Our ability to tie those into our Caesars Rewards network will create an unbeatable experience for any sports fan.”
Under Arizona’s new sports betting law, fans can download and utilize mobile sports betting apps throughout the state.
Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said in a statement the team spent time in identifying a sports betting partner, adding the company brings both retail betting expertise and the William Hill mobile app. Caesars acquired UK betting giant William Hill and its Las Vegas-based William Hill US earlier this month in a $4 billion transaction.
“Equally important, we went through our strong due diligence to find the industry leader in the education and execution of responsible gaming,” Hall said.
Last month, Caesars became one of three official sports betting partners for the National Football League. William Hill opened the first sportsbook inside a U.S. professional sports complex at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. in 2020.
Shares of Caesars, traded on the Nasdaq, closed at $102.22, down 76 cents or 0.74%.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.