Circa Sports has entered the Arizona market through a partnership with a tribe
The Arizona Department of Gaming has announced that the licence is valid from 27 July. Applications were accepted from 26 June to 10 July, and according to the regulator, Circa was the only applicant for the available slot.
How market access works in the state
The 2021 Arizona Act authorises a maximum of 20 licences for online betting. Ten of these are reserved for the state’s tribes, and a further ten for professional sports clubs. The regulator periodically opens new application windows for the remaining slots.
Circa has been awarded a tribal licence as a ‘designee’, meaning it has been appointed by the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. The tribe previously worked with Betway, but that brand has now completely withdrawn from the US market. Before the company can launch, it must complete operational procedures in conjunction with the regulator.
The seventh state in five years, and at a leisurely pace
The online bookmaker currently accepts bets in Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri. Circa’s retail sportsbooks operate in Nevada, Illinois and Kentucky. The latest new market was Missouri, where the company launched on 1 December 2025.
Circa is known for its selective approach to expansion. The company avoids states with high betting taxes and mandatory margin requirements. Director of Operations Jeffrey Benson confirmed that the brand will not be ready in Arizona in time for this year’s football season, with the launch now targeted for early 2027.
The market is large, but is divided between two giants
Since betting was legalised in 2021, bettors in Arizona have wagered $35.3 billion. The state has collected around $190.6 million in event wagering privilege fees. In May, the most recent month for which statistics are available, FanDuel and DraftKings accounted for more than half of the total wagering volume.
Circa is entering this market with a different model. The company is focusing on high betting limits, low margins and professional bettors, who are often restricted by the major operators. This approach allows it to attract customers even where the mass market has long been saturated.
Arizona continues to issue licences
The Circa case does not settle the issue of market expansion. The regulator has mentioned that one further licence, relating to sports clubs, remains available. At the same time, from 13 to 27 August, the application window is open for ten retail licences for partners of racetracks and off-track betting facilities. For the state, this is a way of fostering competition, while for smaller operators it represents a rare opportunity to enter a market that has long been dominated by national brands.