Cardinals first team to announce plans for sportsbook at stadium

General overall view of State Farm Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals become first NFL team to announce plans for retail sportsbook at stadium

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 8/9/21

Sportsbook operator BetMGM announced a partnership Monday with the Arizona Cardinals and Gila River Hotels & Casinos that will give the company access to the state's online sports betting market, according to ESPN's David Purdum.

The partnership includes building a retail sportsbook at State Farm Stadium, home of the Cardinals. The Cards are the first NFL team to announce plans to add a retail sportsbook at their stadium, which will open before the 2022 season.

News!

We're excited to announce our partnership with @AZCardinals and @PlayAtGila.

Sports betting is coming to Arizona pic.twitter.com/x3J5vMhvdr
— BetMGM (@BetMGM) August 9, 2021

Before the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to decide whether to legalize sports betting, the NFL fought against betting. The league was slow to embrace betting even when states adopted laws to make it legal.

Earlier this year, the Phoenix Suns announced they would be putting a retail sportsbook in their arena in partnership with FanDuel.

In addition, Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals, Wizards and Mystics, opened a retail sportsbook in 2020. Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, also has plans to build a two-story sportsbook.

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