Arizona football fans may think they’ve died and gone to pigskin heaven just about now. That’s because not only will the state host Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023, but two new Arizona sportsbooks just opened here in time for football season.
And here’s the kicker: One of them, BetMGM, is the very first sportsbook to open in an NFL stadium, the same stadium where the upcoming Super Bowl will be played.
A match made in Glendale with BetMGM and State Farm Stadium
A partnership that started in August 2021 came to fruition on Sunday, Sept. 11 with the public opening of the BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
This followed a private ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the governor the Thursday before.
Situated on the property’s Great Lawn, the two-story sportsbook has a capacity of 500 and measures 17,000 square feet. It features:
- A 265 sq. ft. video wall
- 38 televisions
- 25+ betting kiosks
- Gourmet bar and grill
- Outdoor entertainment on the Great Lawn
- Teller-serviced betting windows
- Preferred game day parking
- Indoor and outdoor dining choices
Its hours of operation are:
- Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill told KTAR News 92.3 FM that they already have many events booked and the facility will operate 365 days a year.
Ironically, since historically the NFL opposed the expanding legalization of sports betting, Bidwill also praised Arizona’s sports betting law, saying the state “crafted the best piece of legislation in the United States.”
In a press release on Sept. 8, BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt called the facility “one of the most revolutionary additions an NFL stadium has seen in decades and unlike anything fans have encountered on game days.”
He added that “BetMGM shares the Arizona Cardinals’ vision in pursuing new ways to break barriers and entertain fans.”
In an interview with Arizona Sports Betting, Greenblatt called the sportsbook opening “a coming of age” for BetMGM and its relationship with the NFL. He added that teaming up with a pro team lends credibility to BetMGM, a newer brand.
Betfred USA Sports teams with We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort
The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort in Fort McDowell celebrated the grand opening of its Betfred-powered Sportsbook on Thursday, Sept. 8. The two entities partnered up in August of 2021.
Fittingly with football season kicking off, former NFL linebacker Lance Briggs signed autographs at the WKP Sportsbook’s grand opening. Tribal Council President Bernadine Burnett of Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation placed the first bet.
Visitors to the Sportsbook can watch three games side-by-side on its Planar 4K direct-view LED video wall, which measures 47’ wide by 9’ tall with three diagonal screens at 18.4” each.
And that’s not all: Like some kind of crazy video amoeba, each screen can split diagonally into four individual 9.2’ sections, letting viewers catch a dozen games simultaneously.
This may be what Kirk Kimbraugh, We-Ko-Pa’s Table Games Director referred to when he said they had wanted to “leverage the latest electronic advancements” so they could take We-Ko-Pa to the “next level of gaming excellence.”
The sportsbook also offers:
- Cashier stand below three Planar 98” 4K displays with betting odds/lines
- Four wagering terminals
- Eight “strategically” scattered self-service betting kiosks, operating 24/7
The sportsbook connects to WKP Sports & Entertainment, the casino’s full-service sports bar. It serves up all kinds of eats and drinks.
The Betfred USA Sportsbook at We-Ko-Pa is open 7 days a week:
- Weekdays: 10 a.m.
- Saturdays & Sundays: 9 a.m.
Arizona’s Betfred-powered sportsbook is the European-based company’s second retail facility in the US, following on the heels of another new one in Ferndale, Washington.
Bryan Bennett, Chief Operating Officer at Betfred USA Sports, spoke of his company’s excitement at increasing its Arizona presence saying:
“As a team [with Wa-Ke-Po], we set out early to create the best game-watching and betting experiences in the state, and we’re confident we’ve accomplished that goal.”
Sports fans express enthusiasm with new Arizona sportsbooks
Many excited opening day attendees who spoke to ABC-15 hours before the afternoon’s Arizona Cardinals vs. Kansas City Chiefs game commented on the convenience of not having to travel to Las Vegas anymore to bet on sports.
“We’ve got it right here in Arizona,” one man said. Even a Californian who usually treks to Vegas to wager expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Now that Arizona offers it, that’s awesome.”
And another visitor explained that he and his wife had placed a bet to try to win back the cost of their opening-day tickets. He didn’t seem too worried about losing, though. “Worst case, I guess it’ll be a fun story.”
