Arizona awards Tonto Apache Tribe a sportsbook license

The Tonto Apache Tribe, located near Payson, has been granted one of the four dormant sportsbook licenses by state gaming officials.

Twenty sportsbook licenses are available in Arizona, equally divided between professional sports teams and tribes.

Pro sports teams did not submit any eligible applications, according to a spokesman for the gaming department.



By rule, the tribe has six months to begin accepting bets, after which the state will regain ownership of the license.