David Toms PGA Golf Professional/ James Marvin Phelps/Creative Commons
By Ryan Randazzo | Arizona Republic
(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents PGA TOUR.)
Arizonans are closer to placing legal wagers on professional sports by the end of this year thanks to legislation that won final approval Monday in the state Senate.
Gov. Doug Ducey is expected to sign the bill into law, legalizing sports and fantasy betting, as well as a new keno game run by the state lottery.
Lawmakers moved companion bills, Senate Bill 1797 and House Bill 2772 through their respective chambers, giving the final approval Monday evening to the House version, on a 23-6 vote, with one member not voting.
With the passage of the legislation, Ducey also is expected to sign amendments to the gaming compacts with the state’s tribes, allowing them to expand casinos and offer new games such as baccarat, craps and roulette. They only offer card games such as blackjack and poker today.
Ducey won the support of tribes in the state for off-reservation sports and fantasy betting in exchange for allowing them to expand, including an unspecified number of new casinos in metro Phoenix.
