Another dynamic partnership in the Arizona sports betting landscape is making its mark. The Bally Bet Sportsbook mobile app is live in the Grand Canyon State.
This comes just in time with the operator’s Arizona partner, the Phoenix Mercury, getting ready to jump-start the 2022 WNBA season. The team came up short in 2021 after losing in the WNBA Finals to the Chicago Sky. However, folks in Arizona are eager to see if the Mercury can make another run at the title.
Meanwhile, Phoenix is all-in with BallyBet, as pieces of the AZ Sportsbooks puzzle start to fill in.
Bally Bet Sportsbook app available for download in AZ
In June 2021, we learned that the Phoenix Mercury had teamed up with Bally’s to bring another option for sports betting in Arizona. Bally’s will be the exclusive sports betting partner of the Mercury for over 15 years.
Bally Bet quietly ran a soft launch in Arizona that started in February. Bally’s CEO Lee Fenton spoke during the operator’s latest earnings call. He says it was always the plan to launch Bally Bet 2.0 in Arizona before any other state.
“We launched in Arizona yesterday with our foundational 2.0 product, and New York will follow later this quarter,” said Fenton. “This is a significant milestone for us.”
A sportsbook launch wouldn’t be complete without new user promos. New Arizona customers that sign up will get a first bet match up to $250, win or lose. The Bally Bet sportsbook app is available on iOS and Android devices.
Phoenix Mercury working with Bally’s to build AZ Sports Betting market
Bally’s has wasted little time letting the folks of Arizona know that they are riding with the Phoenix Mercury. If you simply head to the Mercury team website, you see a ton of Bally’s and Mercury co-promotions.
The plan is that the two organizations will open a retail betting location near the Footprint Center. The Mercury share the venue with the Phoenix Suns, where they have already opened the FanDuel retail Sportsbook. Bally’s hopes to soon have its own presence in Downtown Phoenix.
Meanwhile, “For the W,” a new digital content series produced by Bally Bet and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, premiered last week.
The series features players from the Mercury sharing their stories and experiences. The first episode, titled “The G. O. A. T,” features Mercury legend Diana Taurasi preparing for her 18th season in the WNBA. Future episodes will showcase stories from first-year head coach Vanessa Nygaard, star player Skylar Diggins-Smith, Mercury rookies and team staff.
You can also find the “Jet Set with Bally Bet” sweepstakes on the Mercury team website. Bally Bet and the Phoenix Mercury are giving fans trips to one-of-a-kind sporting events all year long. Some of the prizes include a trip to the WNBA All-Star game and tickets to an NBA Playoff game.
You must be an Arizona resident and at least 21-years-old to enter.
Phoenix Mercury 2022 season preview
After making it to the WNBA Finals last year, many would think that the team should be primed to make another run at the title. However, it is easy to forget that Phoenix was the 5th-seed in the playoffs last season. Injuries piled up in the regular season. However, the Mercury got hot and healthy at the right time and made an improbable playoff run.
As we prepare for what we hope is an exciting 2022 WNBA season, Phoenix could be a smart play on AZ Sportsbooks. DraftKings Sportsbook is tagging the Mercury with the 5th-best odds to win the championship at +600.
The gigantic unknown is what will happen with Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia. In February, she was detained at an airport after Russian authorities said a search of her bag revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis.
President Joe Biden’s administration has determined that Griner is being wrongfully detained. This means that the US government will more aggressively work to secure her release even as the legal case against her plays out.
Phoenix opens the season on Friday when they face off against the Las Vegas Aces at the Footprint Center. The Mercury upset the Aces in the semi-finals last season. So you can expect Las Vegas to try and send an early-season message.
The game will go towards the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup standings.
Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury
Date: Friday, May 6
Time: 7:00 p.m. MST
Location: Footprint Center – Phoenix, Arizona
TV Coverage: NBA TV
It is unclear when or if Griner will suit up for the Mercury this season. But if she does, it would undoubtedly increase the team’s chances of winning the title.
For now, it will be up to Taurasi and Diggins-Smith to carry the team this summer if they hope to make back-to-back trips to the WNBA Finals.
