Betfred rolls out retail sportsbook at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort

Retail sports wagering is up and running at the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort in Fort McDowell, Arizona. The Yavapai Nation-owned facility and its sports betting partner, Betfred, started taking in-person wagers on Tuesday after being cleared by the Arizona Department of Gaming.

We-Ko-Pa Casino’s sportsbook features eight self-service betting kiosks powered by OpenBet’s technology and retail solutions. Four of the kiosks are located in WKP Sports & Entertainment area, a sports-themed restaurant where patrons can enjoy a casual dining experience as they view games on several flat-screen TVs. The rest are spread across the casino floor.

Bettors visiting the establishment can place a wide variety of in-play, pre-match and futures bets on select sports at the kiosks, and even use their winning tickets to place additional wagers.

The casino has also revealed plans to add more self-service kiosks when it opens its permanent Betfred-branded sportsbook in early 2022.

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation was one of the ten Arizona tribes awarded permits to offer both in-person and mobile betting by the state regulator in August.

We-Ko-Pa Casino delighted to add sports betting

In a statement about the Tuesday opening, We-Ko-Pa Casino’s General Manager, Mary Ketterling, said that the addition of the sportsbook was in line with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation’s long-term vision of making the establishment the go-to place for customers looking to enjoy the latest gaming options.

“When designing the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation wanted it to be the place to be for local residents and area visitors interested in the latest-and-greatest gaming options. Adding sports betting further helps us make our beautiful casino the one-stop gaming destination they envisioned,” she said.

Betfred Sports COO Bryan Bennett added: “OpenBet remains our partner of choice as we increase our foothold within the US sports betting market. The company’s technology and retail solutions meet our specific requirements to deliver a scalable, reliable and compliant platform. We’re delighted to have opened these betting kiosks and look forward to working alongside OpenBet and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation over the coming months to launch our complete sportsbook at the casino.”

Betfred Sports is also looking forward to rolling out its online and mobile sports betting platform in Arizona.

ADG extends deadline for sports betting license applications

In other news, the Arizona Department of Gaming has announced that applications for the 10 available limited sports betting permits will remain open until Thursday, December 30, to allow eligible applicants more time to prepare their submissions.

The regulator opened the application window on November 8, and the process was initially set to close on Monday, November 22.

The 10 licenses will be awarded to racetracks and off-track betting sites interested in operating retail sportsbooks. These facilities, however, must be located at least five miles from tribal casinos or any other facility approved to offer sports betting.

One of the locations expected to apply for a retail betting permit is the Phoenix-based Turf Paradise Racing. The horse racing track was among the 25 applicants that submitted bids for combined licenses in August, but its bid was not approved by the ADG.

Other qualified venues include Arizona Downs in Prescott Valley and Rillito Park Race Track in Tucson, but both facilities have not disclosed whether they will be applying for licenses.