State’s large gaming industry could grow with online and in-person betting
By Brandon Brown | Phoenix Business Journal
Arizona and its gambling-based businesses could see a big increase in revenue if the state Legislature would pass a law legalizing online and in-person sports betting, according to an online gaming expert.
Jeff Ifrah, the founder of online gaming association iDevelopment and Economic Association or iDEA, said Arizona and the tribes within the state are late to the sports betting game and could be missing out on a valuable market.
“Personally, I feel the tribes are way behind. Way, way behind,” Ifrah told the Phoenix Business Journal. “They could have totally leveraged this… had they started on time.”
But a recent law passed in New Mexico and pending legislation in California could nudge Arizona lawmakers and tribes toward regulated sports betting.
“One of the things that has been very influential in getting states like Arizona that don’t necessarily have anything in the hopper to get going is a neighboring state to introduce and drive traffic from an unregulated state to a regulated (one),” Ifrah said.
When Arizonans start heading to Nevada, New Mexico or California to bet on sports, Ifrah said state officials will realize they are missing out on extra revenue.
