The handle improved 6.1% from the $610.7 million bet in September and helped DraftKings and FanDuel reach $4 billion in betting handle since the September 9, 2021, the opening date for legalized sports betting in Arizona.
The state collected $3.29 million in “privilege fees” from the 17 legal sports betting companies operating in the Grand Canyon State.
DraftKings Sportsbook Top Mobile Destination
DraftKings AZ edged FanDuel by just over $200,000 for the top mobile honors, accepting $220.6 million in wagers. The Boston-based sportsbook generated a statewide high of $12.7 million in Adjusted Gross Wagering Receipts (revenue). It was one of only four operators claiming at least $1 million in revenue during October.
FanDuel AZ joined DraftKings in the $4 billion handle club by accepting $220.3 million in wagers. Their AGWR revenue was $11.5 million, good for second in the state and the only other operator reporting revenue exceeding more than $5.3 million.
BetMGM ($90.4 million), Caesars ($59 million), and Barstool Sports ($13.8 million) round out the top five platforms handling the most October wagers.
BetFred, Churchill Downs/TwinSpires, Golden Nugget, Rush Street Interactive (RSI), and Wynn Bet failed to generate any revenue and weren’t subject to October privilege fees.
Promotional Bonus Bets Decline in October
October also saw a decline in promotional bonus bets and other bonuses allowed by the ADG to help the bookies attract new customers. The bookmakers handed out $22.5 million in Arizona sports betting bonuses during October, down from the $27 million given out during September.
DraftKings led the way with $9.1 million in free offerings, followed by FanDuel ($8 million), BetMGM ($3.5 million), and Caesars ($1 million) as the only bookmakers willing to spend at least $1 million in free bets and other promotions.
Privilege Fees
Privilege fees are just a fancy way of saying taxes. The 17 Arizona-based mobile apps paid $3.29 million in October taxes for the privilege of operating legally in the Grand Canyon State. The ADG has collected over $59 million in tax dollars since September 2021, courtesy of sports betting.
