An important decision on the future of casino gambling is about to be made in Arkansas. The main question is whether voters in the state or locals should decide where new casinos are constructed. Local Voters in Charge (LVC) is spearheading the push for a constitutional amendment that would allow local governments to accept or reject casino licenses. Additionally, LVC is pushing for the cancellation of a Pope County casino license that was previously granted; this would have made the state’s fourth casino license void.
Ballot Initiative and Legal Battles
LVC’s proposed amendment may appear on the November ballot, allowing Arkansans to vote on whether local communities should have control over casino licenses. If passed, this change would not only grant local authority but also reduce the number of available casino licenses from four to three. However, the process has faced opposition from the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee (ACCC), which has filed a lawsuit against LVC, claiming they broke state laws in gathering signatures. Despite these legal hurdles, the measure is likely to advance to the ballot.
This argument reflects broader national conversations regarding gambling expansion in the US, especially in light of the growing acceptance of online betting. 2018 saw the close approval of Amendment 100 by Arkansas voters, legalizing sports betting in addition to casinos. Three casinos have opened since then, and internet sports betting has become very popular.
Although LVC’s amendment is centered on land-based casinos, it may have an impact on upcoming discussions over internet gambling in Arkansas. The result of the referendum in November will probably have an impact on the state’s gaming environment and may serve as a template for discussions of this kind across the country.
The post Arkansas Voters Set to Decide Casino Licensing Control appeared first on iGaming.org.