The very first online sports betting sites in Arizona went live in September 2021, with a dozen sportsbook operators setting up shop in the Grand Canyon State after receiving their respective licenses from the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG). Golden Nugget is the latest operator to join the AZ market, having entered the soft launch period earlier this month.
The new Golden Nugget Sports AZ platform is powered by DraftKings, an online sports betting and iGaming giant with a strong presence in numerous regulated markets across the US. Back in August 2021, DraftKings acquired Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG) in a deal worth $1.56 billion.
The deal between the two companies is set to finalize in the first half of 2022, and it covers the entirety of online gambling assets owned by Golden Nugget.
For the time being, Arizona bettors can only access the Golden Nugget Sportsbook website, with the mobile app scheduled for release in the near future. The site is powered by DraftKings’ SBTech engine, which differentiates it from other GNOG betting sites in the US that are all based on the Scientific Games’ technology.
Right now, apart from Arizona, GNOG has a presence in New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, and Michigan, and DraftKings plans to eventually move all the sites onto its own platform.
- Rewarding ongoing promos
- Quality mobile app
- Great selection of sports
Golden Nugget Sportsbook AZ at a Glance
With the bookmaker still in the soft launch phase, the Golden Nugget Sports AZ website feels a bit underwhelming. There is not even any information on the welcome bonus for new players, although it is safe to assume it will be similar to what is offered in other states (a $250 risk-free bet).
The site is fully functional, though, with a complete list of available sports and betting markets. Users can register, log in, and place their wagers, provided they are physically located within Arizona borders when doing so.
The Golden Nugget AZ Sportsbook mobile app is still announced as “coming soon” without any exact launch details, but we can assume it will become available in the next couple of weeks as the site moves into the full launch phase.
Golden Nugget did not return messages seeking comment on the soft launch.
DraftKings and Golden Nugget Strategic Partnership
It is interesting to note that DraftKings already has a sportsbook in Arizona, and it is actually a market leader with more than a 30% market share. Golden Nugget operates under its own brand, but DraftKings owns all the online assets of the company, so this represents a mutually beneficial partnership that has grown significantly over the past few years.
With the launch of the Golden Nugget sports betting site, there are now 14 licensed sportsbooks in Arizona, with more to come in the near future.
While this may seem like a big number of operators, there is enough room for everyone in The Grand Canyon State.
During its first full three months of legalized sports betting, there were $1.2 billion in wagers placed across AZ betting sites, so it is clear this is a huge market with a lot of potential. Having access to more options is good for the players, too, as more competition means more promotions and better bonuses across the board.
