It would only be the eighth U.S. state to offer iGaming.
A bill was introduced in the Arkansas State Legislature last week that would make online casino gambling legal in the state.
Arkansas would only be the eighth U.S. state to permit online casino gaming, or iGaming. Currently, it is only legal in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Michigan, West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
The Arkansas bill, House Bill 1861, would limit online casino gaming through the state’s three licensed casinos — Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Southland Casino Resort in West Memphis, and Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff.
The bill would also make any sports betting or online casino gambling that’s not licensed illegal and a felony.
If approved, the three casinos would be allowed to offer online casino gaming through their existing sports betting apps, according to the Arkansas Times. The bill says slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, and other games would be permitted on these apps, if approved, along with sports betting.
Provision would allow NIL drawing games
Arkansas legalized online sports betting in 2022 through those three casinos. Sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel are not present in Arkansas.
The bill, introduced by state Rep. Matt Duffield (R-Russellville) and state Sen. Dave Wallace (R-Leachville), has bipartisan support, with some 20 co-sponsors, including Democrats.
The bill also includes a provision to expand interactive gaming to include name, image, or likeness (NIL) drawing games.
“Name, image, or likeness drawing game” means a drawing game of chance approved by the commission, the net proceeds of which after 5 incurred expenses, as approved by the commission, are divided between: A name, image, or likeness collective consistent with the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act, § 4-75-1301 et seq., or any other organization affiliated with an Arkansas collegiate athletics program; and the winning participant,” the bill reads.
The bill now moves to the House Judiciary Committee, according to the Arkansas Times, with a hearing likely to take place in April.
Arkansas generated $686.6 million in casino gaming revenue in 2023, according to the American Gaming Association.
