Like the proverbial mythical bird it’s named after, United Soccer League (USL) Championship franchise Phoenix Rising has emerged from the ashes of a 2021 betting license rejection. The team has now declared it will “absolutely” apply for one of three freshly available Arizona sports betting licenses.

the first non-major league US sports entity to offer sports betting

Should Phoenix Rising be one of the lucky three come September 12 — the deadline the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has set for awarding the licenses — the franchise will make history as the first non-major league US sports entity to offer sports betting.

The application process for one tribal and two commercial sports betting licenses will run from August 1 to 15. Arizona Rising’s legal representative Rose Law Group stated the ADG would then announce the qualifying bids within two weeks. After the regulatory body names the three successful applicants in September, the franchises and their sportsbooks have 180 days to launch.

The team – for which England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba once played – also faces competition from Fanatics Sportsbook for the two available commercial sports betting licenses.

According to Rose Law, Phoenix Rising is still seeking a sportsbook partner for its betting venture.