The Arizona Department of Gaming has suspended the teletrack permit held by Skyfall 7, the operator of Turf Paradise, halting off-track betting operations across the state. The suspension took effect on 16 October 2026 over concerns about access to the Turf Paradise property and the availability of licensed personnel required to conduct wagering.
The suspension follows a dispute between Turf Paradise property owner TP Racing and operator Skyfall 7. At least 36 off-track betting (OTB) locations were reportedly closed over the previous weekend amid the dispute. Although Skyfall 7 operator Gary Hartunian told Thoroughbred Daily News that an arbitrator had allowed the company back onto the property, the permit remains suspended pending a hearing scheduled for 19 November 2026.
Turf Paradise’s hearing
The Arizona Department of Gaming said the suspension was based on two operational issues: Skyfall 7’s lack of access to the Turf Paradise property and the absence of licensed personnel needed to conduct wagering activities. Shannon Nelson, Director of Racing for the Arizona Department of Gaming, Division of Racing, said the agency’s responsibilities remain in place regardless of the private dispute involving the racetrack.
Nelson stated, “When the operational requirements necessary to conduct authorised wagering are not met, we have a responsibility to act to ensure consumer and financial safeguards are in place.”
Arizona Department of Gaming spokesperson Jessica Roza confirmed Saturday that the teletrack wagering permit remained suspended. Skyfall 7 regained physical access to Turf Paradise following the arbitration outcome, but the teletrack wagering permit remains suspended until the Arizona Racing Commission hearing on 19 November 2026. She said all activities authorised under the permit would remain suspended until the hearing.
The disruption at Turf Paradise has already affected Arizona’s off-track betting network. Skyfall 7 was authorised to operate 36 OTB sites across the state, and reports indicated that at least that number had closed as the dispute over racetrack operations intensified. The locations allow customers to wager on horse racing through simulcasts without attending a live race meeting at Turf Paradise.
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Wagering operations halt
The suspension has left clients with tickets outstanding or those with questions about their wagers prior to the cessation of activities in limbo. According to Skyfall 7, outstanding mutuel tickets will be paid the following week. This suspension does not make the tickets void, nor does it deprive the clients of their right to payment. On an industry level, the immediate concern is the continuation of operations through the necessary licences.
According to a report by Thoroughbred Daily News, Hartunian said Skyfall 7 had regained access to the property. He also told Horse Racing Nation that the operator had access, while a source familiar with the matter said Skyfall 7 staff had returned to the site.
Hartunian said regaining access would allow Skyfall 7 to address operational issues at Turf Paradise. He told Horse Racing Nation that outstanding mutuel tickets would be paid the following week and that a general manager would be appointed on Monday or Tuesday. He also said his solicitor was in contact with the gaming department and that the dispute would not disrupt preparations for the upcoming meet.
This scenario demonstrates the distinction between accessing the property and getting permission to operate on it. A person can have access back to the facility but he would still not be allowed to do wagering if his permit has been revoked. The Arizona Department of Gaming argued that the teletrack permit was still non-operational even though Skyfall 7 had access back to the property.
Horse training and HISA inspection remain uncertain
The disturbance has also influenced horse training and inspection plans at the Turf Paradise racetrack and according to Horse Racing Nation reports, an inspection by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) planned for Friday, 16 October, was postponed indefinitely, while plans to reopen the stable area haven’t proceeded either.
A source familiar with the situation said horses would technically be allowed back on Monday, although the first barn was more likely to be occupied on Wednesday. The difference between being allowed to return and resuming stable operations reflects the uncertainty surrounding the facility.
Turf Paradise’s published 2026-27 schedule had set 19 October as the date for barns to open and horses to be allowed on the grounds, with main-track training due to begin on 26 October and the 80-day live meet scheduled to start on 27 November.