New Online Casino Push in Arkansas Could Fold Amid Governor’s Reluctance
Physical Betting Casinos Made $708 Million in 2024, Up 3% From the Previous Year
All Aboard?
After weeks of nothing happening with SJR8, last Wednesday 20 legislators filed a new bill to expand online casinos in Arkansas.
However, rumors out of Little Rock are saying House Bill 1861 is dead on arrival. Tuesday state Senator Bart Hester told Gambling.com there is “no chance” it will move.
The legislator says that with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Attorney General Tim Griffin opposed, it’s almost impossible to pass the bill before the session ends on April 11.
In Arkansas, online sports betting already has a local legal framework. Currently, the three casinos in the state all have virtual sportsbooks for locals to use. But mobile gambling apps where you can play blackjack for real money are still unregulated in the Natural State.
A lot to get to in today’s newsletter [link in next tweet 👇], starting with the latest on Arkansas’ online casino efforts I reported last week.@NEWSLarryHenry spoke with the sponsor who provided some details and an outlook on the effort, which has until April 11 to get done.
— Steve Ruddock (@SteveRuddock) March 10, 2025
Second Chance at Online Casinos
If you followed along before, SJR8 was a “shell bill” that would have changed Amendment 100. That’s the 2018 legislation that allowed Arkansas cash casinos to open. But lawmakers never gave it any attention.
Now, House Bill 1861 has swooped in with different gaming rules. Representative Matt Duffield and Senator Dave Wallace filed the bill which would allow Arkansas’s three casinos to offer legit gambling sites.
All online gambling would be regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission. The bill would also allow universities to host online raffles for student-athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collectives.
Supporters say legitimate online casino services would bring in new revenue for public programs, including possible funds for law enforcement or education. The bill has an emergency clause. If passed it would take effect immediately upon signature or override.
Recent Success
Arkansas has a solid land-based casino industry that generated $708 million in 2024, up 3% from 2023. The three casinos in the state brought in almost $110 million in tax revenue, up from $104.58 million in 2023.
Boosted by Amendment 100 in 2018, the impact on employment has also been major.
WATCH: Last week, @carltontsaffa urged Arkansas lawmakers to reject a bill excluding casino participation in university NIL fundraising. A House panel rejected the bill. Saffa wants casino online participation and iGaming. pic.twitter.com/bFPbxZZ920
— Larry Henry (@NEWSLarryHenry) February 17, 2025
Tough Odds in the Final Stretch
Even if the House Judiciary Committee schedules a hearing today, it still has to clear multiple readings and debates, plus any conference committees, before it gets to Huckabee Sanders’s desk. That’s a long shot for any bill, let alone one that’s going to draw opposition.
Arkansas isn’t the only one debating online gambling regulations. New Hampshire and Wyoming made casino news with similar proposals, only to have them die in committee due to partisan bickering.
Opponents are still unconvinced, saying more time and data are needed before they give the green light to digital betting casinos.
Either way, the next few days will tell if Arkansas is ready to roll the dice on a new frontier or fold under the pressure of time and opposition. Right now, the odds are against it, but in the wild world of politics, never say never.
Comments (0)