Sports betting operations are officially open for business in Arizona. And FanDuel had a treat ready for Arizonans just in time for all the fun to begin.
The retail FanDuel Sportsbook opened Thursday morning inside the Footprint Center, home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
The grand opening fell on the same day legal sports betting went live in the Grand Canyon State. Eager bettors lined up to place their bets in the luxury-style setting. To commemorate the opening, Gov. Doug Ducey, Phoenix Suns alum and ex-Arizona Wildcat Channing Frye and fellow Wildcat alum and NBA veteran Richard Jefferson were on hand for the ribbon-cutting and placed ceremonial first bets.
Officials said this retail sportsbook is the first of its kind inside an NBA arena. It’s expected to bring added excitement to Suns games and downtown Phoenix year-round.
“The fans of Arizona are some of the most passionate in sports, and that was evident during the Suns incredible playoff run this year,” said Mike Raffensperger, CMO of FanDuel Group.
“Together FanDuel and the Suns share a mission of delivering absurdly fan-friendly experiences to our customers and we are excited to offer sports betting in a way that revolutionizes the live experience and brings fans closer to the game.”
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What’s inside the new retail FanDuel Sportsbook?
At the grand opening celebration, FanDuel Arizona Sportsbook customers enjoyed the first game of the NFL season. It included free food, merchandise giveaways and access to special offers from the FanDuel Sportsbook team that guests can only obtain in person.
Kevin Hennessy, the director of publicityFanDuel, said the excitement surrounding launch day in Arizona was clear.
“There was a line out the door at opening for our new FanDuel Sportsbook lounge at Footprint Center,” Hennessy said. “It’s the only retail sportsbook lounge completed and operational in the state at this time.”
The 7,400-square-foot facility, the first retail sportsbook inside an NBA arena, will serve as a one-stop shop for fans to enjoy Suns games while placing bets on the action across the sports landscape. There are five betting windows, a VIP window and an outdoor terrace at the brick-and-mortar. In addition, the space features 40 HD TVs, a 35-foot video wall and 26 self-service betting kiosks.
Meanwhile, fans can place bets any day of the week and do not need a ticket to go inside. Hours of operation include:
- Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to midnight
FanDuel’s exclusive offers for Arizonans
Back in April, FanDuel announced a multi-year partnership with the Phoenix Suns that made FanDuel the Suns’ official sportsbook and daily fantasy sports partner. Sports fans all across the state now have access to FanDuel’s online sports betting platform on their computers and mobile devices, as mobile betting apps in Arizona went live Thursday.
FanDuel is offering a bonus bet up to $1,000 for new users to celebrate this exciting launch. You have to make at least one real-money wager after a deposit to become eligible for this promotion.
Best of all, if the bet doesn’t hit, FanDuel will refund new users their wagers back in site credit.
Arizona marks the 11th state where FanDuel offers mobile sports betting.
