LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill filed Wednesday in the Arkansas legislature would legalize online gaming in the state.
House Bill 1861 states two goals. Its first goal is to make any out-of-state online gaming provider the same as anyone operating an illegal gambling house or game in Arkansas. The second goal is to permit any Arkansas casino license holder to provide online games of chance.
If the bill becomes law, the Arkansas Racing Commission would need to approve legal gaming systems. One such system could include a name, image, and likeness raffle.
Any current commission rules would extend to the online system called “interactive gaming.”
The bill has 20 cosponsors alongside its lead sponsor, Rep. Matt Duffield (R-Russellville), and primary sponsor, Sen. Dave Wallace (R-Leachville).
Wallace had filed an identical bill in the Senate as its lead sponsor and Duffield as its primary sponsor, but that bill was withdrawn Thursday morning.
The bill includes an emergency clause, meaning if it receives enough votes in the legislature and is signed into law by the governor, it would go into immediate effect.
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