Arizona’s Newest Hard Rock Sportsbook Opens at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino

Article ByDavid Weir

July 10, 2023

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Posted in: Arizona Gambling News

A brand new Hard Rock Sportsbook has officially opened its doors at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort near Flagstaff, Arizona, just off Interstate 40.

The new sportsbook, a partnership between Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (NNGE) and Hard Rock Digital, is located adjacent to the remodeled sports bar and restaurant at Twin Arrows.

The grand opening event of the new retail book, held on July 8, featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, giveaways, and opportunities to win sports memorabilia, a TV, and bonus bets.

It was headlined by a visit from state baseball legend Luis Gonzalez, who had the game-winning hit in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ only World Series title win in 2001.

“Our two organizations continue to work seamlessly together in pursuit of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise being able to offer our guests outstanding products, values, services, and experiences with event wagering,” said Brian Parrish, CEO of Navajo Gaming, in an official joint press release from the two operators.

A New Chapter for Navajo Gaming

The sportsbook features eight kiosks and two betting windows, offering pre-game, in-game, and futures markets across all major sports available to bet on in Arizona. That includes same game parlays, head-to-head bets, and play-by-play betting.

Speaking on the launch, Marlon Goldstein, CEO for Hard Rock Digital, echoed the comments of his counterpart CEO, Parrish.

“We’re excited to introduce our retail sports betting experience in Arizona,” he said.

“Navajo Gaming has been an incredible partner, and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow our relationship.”

Tribal Titans Partner Up

The Navajo Nation and the Seminole Tribe, owners of Hard Rock Digital, are two of the most important names in the native American tribal landscape.

The new partnership between NNGE and Hard Rock Digital began in February 2022 with the launch of mobile sports betting in Arizona.

The Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized Native American Nation in the US, with some 400,000 members. It operates five gaming and hospitality facilities across Arizona and New Mexico through NNGE, employing more than 1200 people.

Hard Rock Digital, launched in 2020, is the online arm of Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming. The Seminole Tribe of Florida and their Hard Rock Gaming brand is the largest tribal gaming operator in the US by revenue.

Big Competition

The launch of the Hard Rock Sportsbook at Twin Arrows comes at an interesting time for Arizona sports betting.

The state recently surpassed $10 billion in overall sports betting handle since legalization in January 2023. That made it the fastest state to reach that significant milestone.

However, the dominance of online mobile sportsbooks in Arizona, which hold more than 98% of the overall market share, is something that various operators are trying to change.

BetMGM, the online arm of MGM Resorts International, recently opened the largest retail sportsbook in the state. In collaboration with Gila River Resorts & Casinos, the BetMGM Sportsbook at Santan Mountain Casino opened doors last week.

The Santan Mountain Casino sports betting venue is equipped with eight self-service betting kiosks, four betting windows, and a 130-foot LED screen. It offers a unique setting, with sweeping views of the Santan Mountains.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with BetMGM and give our guests an elevated gaming experience they can’t find anywhere else,” said Kenneth Manuel, CEO of Gila River Resorts & Casinos, speaking at the opening.

Related: Our review of BetMGM Sportsbook and what it can offer you