Could Arizona become the 9th state to legalize sports betting?

PHOENIX (FOX 10) -- Currently, sports betting is legal in eight states, and Arizona could become the ninth such state.

In the past, people would have to place their bets in Las Vegas, but a ruling by the Supreme Court in 2018 opened it up for states to decide. Right now, Senate Bill 1163 would allow most native tribes to take bets on pro and amateur sporting events at the casinos they run in Arizona. The bill, which originally dealt with operations and employment at prostitution businesses, has since been changed to its present form via a "strike everything" amendment that completely changes the bill.

The Arizona State Senate Appropriations Committee pushed the bill through in February, in a six-to-three vote.

However, the casinos are struggling to get on the same page.

State Sen. Sonny Borelli said he has watched other states around the country push measures through, while his bill has stalled. He says the clock is ticking.

"I read that over March Madness that $8 billion in sports betting will be going across the books, so it's like we're missing out on this, but most importantly the tribes are missing out on this," said State Sen. Borelli.

FOX 10's Matt Rodewald reports.

State Senate Bill 1163
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/54leg/1R/proposed/S.1163GOWAN2.DOCX.htm