The holding company behind the Unibet brand has confirmed its ambitious expansion plans on Arizona soil.
The Kindred Group has revealed a partnership has been struck with the racetrack Turf Paradise in Deer Valley, Phoenix. Unibet will be one of the main betting partners at the venue, offering the same diversity of markets and odds as those found on its website and app.
The news comes after Kindred revealed they had been handed nine separate Limited Event Wagering Operator (LEWO) licenses by state officials, allowing them to undertake expansion opportunities across AZ at the likes of Boston’s Bar, Midtown Tavern, Gallagher’s, and R.T. O’Sullivan to name just a few.
Although they were fairly late to the party – launching their AZ sportsbook in December, three months after the prohibition on sports betting was lifted, Unibet has been making up for lost time ever since with their online operation and retail property at the Paradise Casino in Yuma.
The company’s SVP for North America, Manuel Stan, remarked on the ‘great opportunity’ afforded to Unibet via the LEWO license agreement. “Being awarded nine of the 10 LEWO licenses is a great outcome for Kindred, Turf Paradise, and our partners in the state,” he said.
“Over the next few months, we will work closely with our partners to prepare launches in the different locations and are excited to be able to bring our best-in-class product to more customers in Arizona.”
In Paradise
Having been approved by the Arizona Department of Gaming late in 2021, Unibet linked up with the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe to get their sportsbook off the ground in December.
They are one of a number of tribes that have been permitted by state authorities to offer sports betting on their territory, with a new proposal submitted by Senator Sally Ann Gonzales hoping to allow every single one of the 22 tribes on Arizonan soil to obtain a license that would enable them to offer betting options on pro and college sports.
Kindred Group has been posting some encouraging figures in Arizona and beyond, with their annual revenue climbing 11% in 2021 compared to the previous year and their EBITDA rising by some 15% – consolidating their position as a global leader in sports wagering and online casino gaming.
All eyes will be on the Arizona Department of Gaming as they prepare their Q1 reports for publication, but Unibet is expected to be amongst the frontrunners when it comes to revenue generated. And for good reason, as outlined in our Unibet Arizona review, which confirms this brand offers a generous welcome bonus and an excellent user experience for bettors.
And now they have secured the nine additional LEWO licenses, they can look forward to a particularly fruitful 2022 in an Arizonan market that is already on the road to becoming the fourth biggest in the United States.
That much was proven on the opening weekend of the NFL season back in September, when only New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan saw more action than AZ.
