The opening 24 hours of Arizona sports betting saw two sportsbook facilities open their doors and at least seven mobile operators take their first wagers.

It was a feat 147 days in the making, from the moment Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2772 into law to when Ducey inaugurated the two facilities with a pair of ceremonial ribbon-cuttings.

Arizona House Bill 2772 and the 2021 gaming compact allowed 20 sportsbook operator licenses to be awarded, split evenly among Arizona tribes and professional sports teams. Eighteen have been handed out. It also legalized daily fantasy sports and Keno games.

Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Loses Promo Code: BOOKIES

Tap for Promo Activated! Visit site

Used 46 Times Today

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in OH. In partnership with MGM Northfield Park. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Visit BetMGM.com for T&Cs. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

The two facilities opening Thursday - Caesars Sportsbook windows at Chase Field and the FanDuel retail sportsbook at Footprint Center - represent a new era for sports fans in the state, Ducey said.

“I think everybody knows that in March I joined with lawmakers, tribal leaders and stakeholders to sign a tribal gaming compact that modernized where we were as a state,” Ducey said at the Caesars opening ceremony Thursday. “This amendment allows us to move forward with gaming in Arizona and bring additional revenues for the state and for our tribal nations.

“This represented some of the most significant changes in gaming in almost two decades, and this is what paved the way for a sportsbook like this here in Arizona.”

Bet $5, Get $150 Instantly

Tap for Promo Activated! Visit site

Used 8 Times Today

21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in IA/KS/KY/LA/MD/MI/NJ/NY/TN/VA/VT/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 bet. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: dkng.co/bball. Ends 1/5/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DraftKings. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD).

A Winning Achievement

A trio of sportsbooks in Arizona told Bookies.com that Thursday’s opening day was a smashing success, with Arizonans jumping at the opportunity to get in on the sports betting action, either in-person or on their mobile devices.

FanDuel Sportsbook spokesman Kevin Hennessy told Bookies.com that the operator had a great first day in-person and on sports betting apps, showing support for legal sports betting in the state.

“There is a ton of excitement here in Arizona today - 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.”

$1,000 First Bet on Caesars Promo Code: BOOKIES1000

Tap for Promo Activated! Visit site

Used 33 Times Today

Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs apply.

Caesars Sees Win-Win

Meanwhile, the other sportsbook operator that opened a retail facility in the Valley on Thursday, Caesars, had a similarly upbeat opening day of operation in the state, according to Chris Holdren, who is the co-president of Caesars Digital.

Holdren said in a statement to Bookies.com that Thursday’s opening ceremony at Chase Field was a moment that was worth the wait, with Arizonans flocking to the facility all day long.

RELATED: NFL Week 1 Promos And Odds Boosts

For Holdren, the ability to open a facility in Phoenix and accept wagers via the company’s mobile application is a win-win, given their longstanding relationship with the region.

“Today’s event was a culmination of what we’ve been excited about for quite some time, bringing legal sports betting to the great sports fans in Arizona,” Holdren’s statement read. “Arizona is like a second home for Caesars, and we’ve operated in the state for more than 25 years. We take pride in our brand-new Caesars Sportsbook app being online for day one of sports betting here and we’re ecstatic to offer Arizonans a sports betting experience that can’t be matched.”

WynnBET Thrilled With Response

Thursday’s opening day was also a positive one for Las Vegas-based operator WynnBET, which launched its mobile application in the state on Thursday.

Company spokesperson Seth Medvin told Bookies.com that the company was thrilled with the response from customers in Arizona during the opening 24 hours of operation and that they are eagerly awaiting the response from NFL betting in Week 1.

“It was great to see Arizonans positively interacting and using the WynnBET app,” Medvin said. “We are looking forward to another great weekend with a full college football and NFL slate.”

RELATED: NFL Week 1 Odds & Betting Lines For All Games

A spokesperson for DraftKings Sportsbook told Bookies.com that they saw more than 1.5 million bets from more than 600,000 customers on last night’s Dallas Cowboys-Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL opener, with more than $18 million in winnings for customers that took advantage of the company’s Buccaneers’ +73 promotion.

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins + 3 Free Months of NBA League Pass

Tap for Promo Activated! Visit site

Used 18 Times Today

Must be 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Department of Gaming Pleased

The feeling of excitement was mutual for the Arizona Department of Gaming, according to public information officer Maxwell Hartgraves.

Hartgraves could not provide specific data about Day 1 of operation, but told Bookies.com, “the state was successful in rolling out event wagering on our targeted go-live date.”

He shared an infographic showing where bets were placed in the state during the opening hours after Thursday’s launch, giving people an idea of the geographic spread of bettors in the state.