SaharaBets to Exit Arizona Following the Coyotes’ End

Sports betting operator SaharaBets announced its exit from the Arizona sports betting market, citing its licensing partner’s disbandment as the reason. The operator, which was partnering with the Arizona Coyotes, was left with no choice but to withdraw from the market once the franchise went defunct in The Grand Canyon State.

For context, the Coyotes left after its owner, Alex Meruelo, couldn’t secure a new arena and instead sold the team to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith. The team was eventually rebranded to the Utah Hockey Club, marking the end of its ties to Arizona.

Left without a licensing partner, SaharaBets announced its exit from Arizona, with immediate effect. As a result, the company ceased to accept wagers and asked players to withdraw their funds before August 8.

On X, the sportsbook explained that withdrawals will be processed during normal banking hours and may take 1-2 business days to be completed. The company invited anyone who has any questions to contact its customer support.

SaharaBet thanked everyone who has been a dedicated customer of its sportsbook.

SaharaBet launched in Arizona in January 2022 and had big plans for the state and the US market as a whole. Unfortunately, the betting brand never quite managed to gain sufficient traction. According to the Department of Gaming’s April revenue report, the company was 14^th among the state’s 17 betting operators in terms of handle, taking $900K in bets.

Its main competitors, for comparison, took many times that. The oversaturated betting market in Arizona was definitely a major challenge to the company’s ambitious plans.

Meruelo to Relinquish the Arizona Coyotes Rights, Reports Say

In the meantime, Meruelo, who notably owns Sahara Las Vegas, failed to reach an agreement for a stadium, leading to the whole situation. He was still allowed to keep the naming rights for the Arizona Coyotes and the history of the franchise. This means that the owner could potentially reboot the team, should he find a new home stadium by 2029.

However, it is another question if the billionaire would be interested in that. Earlier reports suggested that Meruelo is no longer interested in pursuing arena options. Additionally, recent reports even suggested that the Arizona Coyotes owner has relinquished his rights to the franchise.