Betfred Sportsbook Exits Arizona

Online bookmaker Betfred has announced the immediate closure of new account registrations in the state of Arizona. This decision follows the company's recent exit from Colorado in August and earlier departures from Ohio and Maryland in 2024. According to a notice on Betfred's Arizona website, the sportsbook will fully shut down in the state by 4th November 2024.

With this move, Betfred has reduced its U.S. operations to its mobile sportsbook services in Iowa, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It still operates retail sportsbooks in Washington State and Nevada but has ceased operations in Louisiana.

In a statement earlier this summer, Betfred U.S. CEO Kresimir Spajcic hinted that a complete exit from the U.S. market was under consideration, stating:
“A full American exit was on the table … if we don’t have enough value that we can create within the U.S.”

Betfred initially entered Arizona in March 2022 through a partnership with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and its We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, becoming the state’s eleventh mobile sports betting operator. However, 2024 proved challenging, as the company struggled to improve its market position without relying heavily on promotions and bonuses. The sportsbook handled $14 million in wagers in the first half of 2024, significantly below its September 2023 peak of $5 million.

With Betfred’s exit, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is now free to partner with a different sports betting operator.

Arizona Sportsbook Exits in 2024

Arizona ranks among the top seven sports betting markets in the U.S., but Betfred is now the fourth sportsbook to exit the state this year. WynnBET ceased operations in Arizona in February, followed by Unibet and Betway in June.

Despite the exodus, Arizona continues to issue sports betting licenses. Two tribal-based licenses have been awarded to Sporttrade, via the Quechan Indian Tribe, and Plannatech, through the San Carlos Apache Tribe, ensuring that the state remains a key market for new operators.