Arkansas Online Casino Legalization Pivots to Study Phase

The push for the Arkansas online casino bill has been put on hold for the time being. One month after its introduction, bill sponsor Rep. Matt Duffield has pulled his legislation due to the shortened 2025 session.

Arkansas has shorter and longer legislative sessions in alternating years. Usually, odd-numbered years have shorter sessions, so there will be more time to discuss iGaming in 2026.

During a hearing on April 7, the Arkansas House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee recommended HB1861 for study. That recommendation resulted in Rep. Matt Duffield, the bill’s primary sponsor, to withdraw the proposal. Senator Dave Wallace also pulled the Senate counterpart, SB524, just one day after introducing it.

However, this withdrawal doesn’t mean the end for USA online casinos operating in The Natural State.

What Are the Tenets of the Arkansas Online Casino Bill?

HB 1861 aimed to create a statewide emergency related to those funds and the prevalence of illegal gambling. This includes increased penalties for offering gambling to Arkansas residents without a license from the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC). 

Moreover, HB 1861 also established a new lottery within the state. The proceeds from the new lottery goes to fund payments to athletes at the University of Arkansas.

Finally, HB 1861 gives licensees the option to offer digital versions of table games, live dealer games, and online slots.

Those proponents will now be taken into consideration as part of legislative studies for the 2026 sessions at the earliest. The introduction of iGaming statewide on current physical casinos and its legality are key aspects the study will focus on.

Cannibalization Main Concern for Opposition

Representatives for Oaklawn have expressed fears that access to regulated online casino play would mean less revenue from gaming overall.

However, Oaklawn staff have not explicitly stated that they would decline participation if given the chance. Likewise, Southland Casino Hotel executives haven’t made any public statements regarding the Arkansas online casino bill being passed.

Meanwhile, executives at Saracen Casino Resort have been strong advocates for legal online casino access in Arkansas. This support for the Arkansas online casino bill has involved urging the ARC to create regulations for the gaming sector. The question of whether the ARC has the authority to do so may also become a topic of examination.