Sahara Bets Shuts Down in Arizona
One of the smallest mobile operators in the market, Sahara Bets, announced last week that it will be ceasing its operations in Arizona. This decision follows Alex Meruelo’s sale of his assets in the Arizona Coyotes. Players have until August 8th to withdraw their funds.
Sahara Bets Exits Arizona Along with the Coyotes
The U.S. market shows no mercy for the smallest players and continues to shrink as more operators exit. Recently, Super Group decided to close its U.S. operations with its Betway brand, and now another mobile operator, Sahara Bets, is also withdrawing from the market.
The background of Sahara Bets’ closure is somewhat different from Betway’s. Sahara Bets is owned by Alex Meruelo, who until recently held stakes in the local NHL team, the Arizona Coyotes. Due to Arizona’s regulatory requirements, Sahara Bets was affiliated with the NHL team, as local sports franchises hold 10 licenses. Because of Meruelo’s ownership in both entities, obtaining the license held by the Coyotes was a straightforward process for Sahara Bets.
However, the situation has now officially changed. Alex Meruelo decided to sell his assets in the Coyotes to the owner of the Utah Jazz after receiving information from the NHL that Mullett Arena at Arizona State University does not meet the requirements for an NHL-level venue.
Funds Must Be Withdrawn by August 8th
Since the plans to build a new arena never materialized, the Coyotes are leaving Arizona. Along with the team, Sahara Bets, the bookmaker affiliated with them, is also shutting down its operations.
The operator officially announced this decision on its social media channels, giving players limited time to adapt. They have only until August 8th to withdraw their funds from their accounts.
Sahara Bets never became a major player in the Arizona market. According to data from the Arizona Department of Gaming, players wagered only $900,737 on the Sahara Bets app in April of this year.
Recommended