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Arizona awards Tonto Apache Tribe a sportsbook license

State gaming officials have awarded one of four dormant sportsbook licenses to the Tonto Apache Tribe near Payson.

Arizona has a total of 20 sportsbook licenses split evenly between tribes and professional sports franchises.

The company Fanatics Betting and Gaming is the sportsbook operator for the Tonto Apache Tribe, which did not reply to a message seeking comment.

Rules say the tribe has six months to start taking bets or the license reverts back to the state.

The United Soccer League’s Phoenix Rising FC has been seeking a sportsbook license.

A short window to apply opened in mid-February and closed in early March.

A gaming department spokesperson says no qualified applications were received from pro sports teams.

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Matthew Casey has won Edward R. Murrow awards for hard news and sports reporting since he joined KJZZ as a senior field correspondent in 2015.