Arkansas Proposes Bill to Legalize Online Casino Gambling

Bill Expands Mobile Gaming to Include Roulette, Blackjack, and Poker

House Bill 1861, which received bipartisan support, was introduced last week and is now under review by the House Judiciary Committee as it moves toward becoming law. The bill proposes expanding mobile gaming options to include, but not be limited to, aslot machines, video poker, and table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker.

These mobile games would be offered through apps operated by Arkansas’s three licensed casinos: Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, and Southland Casino Resort in West Memphis.

Sports Betting Already Legal in Arkansas

According to the American Gaming Association, seven U.S. states currently permit legal online casino gaming: Michigan, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, and West Virginia. Arkansas has already legalized sports betting, with mobile apps managed by the state’s three casinos.

Sponsored by Rep. Matt Duffield and Sen. Dave Wallace, the new legislation represents a collaborative effort between licensed casinos and lawmakers to address the growing issue of illegal offshore iGaming. This expansion aims to promote responsible gambling while ensuring that tax revenue benefits the state.

Online Casino Wagering Legal in Eight U.S. States

In addition to expanding mobile gaming, the bill would authorize Arkansas casinos to offer interactive games and operate drawing games of chance approved by the Arkansas Racing Commission. These games would raise funds to support “name, image, or likeness” (NIL) collectives, in line with the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act, or other organizations affiliated with collegiate athletics programs in the state. NIL collectives provide a way to financially compensate student-athletes.

Recently, several states have issued cease-and-desist letters to offshore casino and sports betting operators illegally targeting U.S. players. Arizona was among the latest, sending a warning to Bovada Online Gambling. One of the emerging concerns nationwide involves sweepstakes casinos, which market themselves as free-to-play fun money games but actually allow players to purchase digital currency, blurring the line between legal and illegal gambling.