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【Pirate Bonanza Stake】Online Casino Gaming Bill Appears Doomed In Arkansas, Senator Says
A key legislator in Arkansas says it appears unlikely that lawmakers will approve a measure this year to legalize online casino gambling.
On Tuesday,Pirate Bonanza Stake March 25, state Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, told Gambling.com in a text message there is “no chance” the online casino gaming measure, House Bill 1861, will win legislative support. Hester is the Senate president pro tempore and a member of several committees in the upper chamber, including the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.
In the text message, Hester said the bill to approve online casino gaming, known as iGaming, will be “vigorously” opposed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Attorney General Tim Griffin. That makes the bill’s passage “impossible” at the Legislature, Hester said. He added that it would be difficult to get enough legislative votes for it to pass out of both chambers. The legislative session is set to end on April 11.
Online casino gaming allows bettors to use cellphones and computers to play traditional casino games like slots and craps for real money. It is legal in eight states but not in Arkansas or any state bordering Arkansas. However, online sports betting is legal in Arkansas. The state’s three brick-and-mortar casinos have sports betting apps available under their own brands for use statewide.
The three licensed Arkansas casinos are Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, and Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis. Oaklawn also has an app available for bettors wanting to wager on horse races.
Unregulated Online Gaming ‘Rampant’
Carlton Saffa, Saracen’s chief market officer, has spearheaded the effort to legalize iGaming in Arkansas while also banning unregulated, untaxed sweepstakes casinos.
"Unregulated online gaming is rampant across the U.S. and Arkansas," Saffa previously told Gambling.com. "Most are offshore, and many directly linked to China."
A companion Senate bill recently introduced along with HB1861 has been withdrawn. Hester said that the bill’s sponsor understood the bill to be about restricting China. The sponsor “was not aware of the iGaming portion,” Hester said.
The Social and Promotional Games Association recently issued a statement opposing iGaming legislation in Arkansas.
“The SPGA urges Arkansas lawmakers to reject this broad, punitive legislation and instead engage with stakeholders to create a balanced, informed policy,” according to the statement.