Arkansas Lawmakers Unite on Bill to Legalize Online Casinos
Arkansas lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill to legalize online casino gaming while simultaneously banning unlicensed sweepstakes.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The measures SB524 and HB1861 were proposed on Wednesday, with 14 lawmakers from both parties backing them. The bipartisan effort is led by Sen. Dave Wallace, who is sponsoring the Senate bill, and Rep. Matt Duffield, championing the companion bill in the House.
Under the proposed legislation, the state's three licensed casinos—Saracen Casino Resort, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, and Southland Casino Hotel—would be allowed to offer online casino gaming. All three casinos currently offer legal online sports betting in the jurisdiction.
The bill's second section proposes implementing the Interactive Gaming Act, which will grant each casino an iGaming license to complement its existing online sportsbook license.
Additionally, the bills designate the Arkansas Racing Commission as the primary regulatory body of the state's online casino industry. However, the legislation does not address tax rates or licensing fees.
Sweepstakes Regulation
Following a trend seen in multiple state legislatures this session, the new bills include provisions to regulate sweepstakes.
The bills use language similar to other states to define sweepstakes as games, contests, or promotions that use dual currencies offer redeemable prizes, and simulate games of chance, such as casinos, lottery, or sports betting.
However, the legislation does not call for a complete ban on sweepstakes; instead, licensed casinos in Arkansas would be allowed to provide these products to customers.
Running an unregulated online casino, sportsbook, or sweepstakes operation would be considered a felony. However, the law does not extend to unlicensed sweepstakes or social games that do not offer cash or cash-equivalent prizes.
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Urgent Action Required
The authors included an emergency clause in Section 3 of the bills, underscoring the urgency of the regulations to combat unregulated online gaming in Arkansas.
The proposals also note that regulating online gaming can generate revenue to support higher education and nonprofit institutions.
The bills have been sent to relevant committees in each chamber for consideration.
If both chambers approve the bills, they do not necessarily need Governor Sarah Huckabee Sander's signature to become law. They will be implemented as long as the governor doesn't veto them within a specified timeframe.
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