As the start of the NFL regular season nears, there is an increasing amount of activity in the U.S. online sports betting community.

Several states like New York are attempting to get mobile sports betting legislation passed before the start of the NFL season. Some states have passed online sports betting legislation and are feverishly trying to get online bookmakers licensed to start accepting online wagers as quickly as possible. And then there is a third group of states that is still hopeful of passing sports gambling legislation in time to allow residents to bet on pro and college football this year.

As the time draws nearer, there are two states on which we would like to focus. One is Arizona, which already has sports betting legislation on the books. The other state is Connecticut, which is working feverishly to overcome issues that could delay the opening of online sportsbooks.

About BetRivers

BetRivers has had but a brief history in the U.S. online sports betting market. The online bookmaker was first introduced in 2019 under the ownership of Rush Street Gaming out of Chicago, Illinois.

It would be fair to say that management at BetRivers has been very aggressive about inserting itself into the U.S. betting community. It’s clear they intend on being a major player in every U.S. state that allows residents to bet on sports legally. Currently, they are accepting bets in CO, IA, IL, IN, MI, VA, PA, and WV with AZ and CT on deck.

What’s Going on With BetRivers in Arizona?

In April of 2021, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a sports betting bill into law. This was a huge achievement because it required a renegotiation of a compact with the state’s Indian tribes.

The bill was designed to serve as a framework for online sports gambling in Arizona. What the bill didn’t do was dictate specifics other than the Induan nation would be entitled to 10 sports betting licenses with 10 other licenses being allocated to the state’s major sports franchises, including the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), the Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Arizona Coyotes (NHL), NASCAR, and the PGA through the TPC Scottsdale Golf Complex.

As for BetRivers, the bookmaker will be a major player in the Arizona sportsbetting community. While having missed out on the opportunity to align with one of the major sports franchises, BetRivers is awaiting final approval to offer sports betting services through one of the Indian Tribe betting licenses. This is expected to take place at any time.

Since BetRivers is already established in so many key sports betting states, there is every reason to believe they will be up and operating in time for the NFL season.

What’s Going on With BetRivers in Connecticut?

The path for BetRivers to start taking bets in Connecticut is a lot less defined at this late point in the process. In Connecticut, the ability to start taking legal sports bets went into effect on July 1, 2021. Unfortunately, there is still a bit of work to be done.

Based on the provisions in the new law, sports betting licenses will be distributed between the Connecticut lottery and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes. The two tribes already have exclusive sports betting deals in place with DraftKings and Kambi, respectively. That leaves BetRivers competing for a license with the Lottery.

According to officials with the Lottery, the decision is still a week or two away. Regardless of which online bookmaker or bookmakers get the nod, they won’t have long to get things in place in time for the NFL season. Of course, established online bookmakers like BetRivers won’t take long to get operations going. In fact, there is a good chance they are already working in the background on a just-in-case basis.

Why is Opening By the Start of the NFL Season So Important?

For anyone wondering why the start of the NFL season seems to be the primary target, the answer should be very clear. Without a doubt, sports bettors strongly favor betting on NFL games. In both Arizona and Connecticut, all interested parties have a vested interest in meeting the September 9, 2021 deadline. That’s the date of the first game of the NFL regular season.

For online bookmakers, they don’t want to miss out on the incredible sports betting handle and revenue that awaits them. Then for the state, the need for immediate tax revenue is the driving force. Finally for sports bettors, many of them have been waiting a lifetime to bet legally on NFL games from the comfort of home. After waiting this long, the state’s most avid sports bettors are ready to deposit and wager.

Other Goings On Around the U.S.

While sports betting is now a certainty in Arizona and Connecticut, there is still a lot of activity taking place around the country.

In New York, legislators are working at breakneck speed to approve mobile sports wagering. Governor Andrew Cuomo has agreed in theory to sign a bill that gives exclusive online sports betting licensing to one online bookmaker with DraftKings and FanDuel leading the way. There is still a chance BetRivers will end up in the mix.

In states like Washington, Florida, and Nebraska, a lot of progress has been made regarding sports betting for residents. None of these states will be ready to offer sports betting by the start of the NFL season. But they are holding on to the possibility of live sports betting by the time the Super Bowl rolls around in February of 2022. BetRivers will likely be a player in all three states.