A lawmaker from Arkansas is attempting to change the state’s gaming regulations. Earlier this year, Green Forest Senator Bryan King (R) proposed a joint motion to amend “Arkansas 32 Constitution, Amendment 100, concerning casino gaming.” The resolve, however, doesn’t go into additional depth about the precise adjustments he is looking for.
At the moment, Arkansas allows four physical casinos and three online sportsbooks. However, iGaming—which includes online table games and slots—has not been made lawful by the state.
Saracen Casino Advocates for iGaming Expansion
Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff has been actively exploring online gaming opportunities. The casino has reportedly approached the Arkansas Racing Commission to discuss potential regulations and even started developing an online gaming app.
Carlton Saffa, the casino’s chief marketing officer, previously explained their approach: “It would exactly mirror what we did with sports betting. With sports betting, we said ‘let’s go from the four walls of the casino to the four borders of Arkansas.’”
As part of its proposal, Saracen Casino has suggested allocating a portion of iGaming revenue to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) funds for Arkansas university athletes.
Expanding online gambling in Arkansas requires more than regulatory approval. To change the state’s gambling laws, the legislature must approve a constitutional amendment for public voting. Only after voter approval would the change become law, a process that could take several years.
Sports betting has advanced more quickly than the legalization of iGaming in the United States. Only seven states, including New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, have approved online casinos, despite the fact that 38 states permit sports betting. This year, iGaming proposals have been submitted in several states, including Illinois, New York, and Maryland, but their passage is still up in the air.
Opposition from land-based casinos is one of the main obstacles to the legalization of iGaming. Many worry that the earnings from in-person gaming could be impacted by online gambling. Potential obstacles for the proposal’s future have been indicated by the Arkansas Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, which has already expressed opposition to Saracen’s quest for online gaming.
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