Arkansas Lawmakers Files Online Casino Bill

Players who frequent real money online casino sites in Arkansas might have more regulated options down the road. Local lawmakers have recently filed House Bill 1861 (HB 1861) which aims to legalize online casinos within The Natural State.

HB 1861’s sponsors are Representative Matt Duffield and Senator Dave Wallace. Its cosponsors include Senate President Pro Tem Bart Hester, Representative Ken Ferguson and Representative Glenn Barnes.

What are the Main Proponents of HB 1861?

HB 1861 strives to give the three casinos operating in the state the go-ahead to operate online casinos. This way, any entity that will operate unregulated and unlicensed online sportsbooks or casinos within the state will incur felony charges.

HB 1861 would include the scope of mobile gaming to online versions of traditional casino games like blackjack, roulette, and craps. Three licensed casinos in Arkansas will offer such casino games via mobile apps. 

Currently, the licensed casinos are Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Saracen Casino Resort and Southland Casino Resort. These casinos offer sports betting on their platforms, but do not support online casino games.

Moreover, the bill also allows the licensed casinos to expand interactive gaming to include specific intellectual property usage. This includes using drawings to benefit name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives that state universities use to pay student athletes. Both the drawings and interactive games would be subject to approval by the Arkansas Racing Commission.

HB 1861 looks to increase economic development and support higher education institutions and affiliated nonprofits in Arkansas.

As of this writing, HB 1861 awaits its April hearing with the House Judiciary Committee. Its sister bill, Senate Bill 524 (SB 524), was introduced earlier this week, but was withdrawn by its author.

As per its language, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ approval would not be strictly necessary for the bill to become effective. HB 1861 will become law if both chambers approve the bill and the Arkansas Governor didn’t veto it within a certain period, or if the veto was overridden.