Arkansas Racing Commission To Consider Rule Change That Would Permit Sports Betting Via Mobile App

Casinos, Gambling,

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported last week that the state’s Racing Commission intends to consider a rule change that would legalize sports betting via mobile app.

Under Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution casino gambling — including sports betting — currently is offered at Oaklawn, Southland, and Saracen casinos.

The rule change effectively would let Arkansans who are 21 and older place bets of sporting events from anywhere in the state via a mobile app.

Here are a few key points to remember about sports betting and mobile gambling:

First, it’s impossible to monitor online gambling to be sure all state and federal laws are being followed. No matter how many safeguards and security features are in place, it’s impossible to guarantee that children won’t gamble via these smart phone apps.

Second, when voters passed Amendment 100 in 2018, they were authorizing casino gambling at certain locations in certain counties. This rule change would permit mobile sports betting from any location in Arkansas. That probably isn’t what voters who supported the casino amendment back in 2018 had in mind.

And third, people who gamble online face a serious risk of developing a gambling addiction. Some research indicates that people who engage in sports betting are twice as likely to suffer from gambling problems.

Bottom line: Mobile sports gambling is a bad bet for Arkansas.

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Bad Bill Would Permit Internet Gambling on Sports

Gambling,

On Monday Rep. Lee Johnson (R – Greenwood) filed H.B. 1942.

This bad bill lets casinos in Arkansas conduct internet gambling on sporting events.

The bill is incredibly open-ended.

H.B. 1942 authorizes internet sports betting on professional sports, amateur sports, and college sports.

Besides applying to athletic events like football or basketball, the bill also permits internet sportsbetting on motor race events, electronic sports, competitive video game events, and any other event authorized by the Arkansas Racing Commission.

Between the state-run lottery and the casinos, Arkansas already has too much gambling. We don’t need any more.

Read The Bill Here.

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Proposal Would Legalize Internet Gambling, Keno Under State Lottery

Arkansas Lottery, Gambling,

On Monday Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R – Russellville) filed H.B. 1869 legalizing iLottery and Keno in Arkansas under the auspices of the state-run lottery.

H.B. 1869 would let Arkansans use a smart phone, tablet, computer, or other electronic device to gamble on the Arkansas Lottery via the Internet. It also would permit Keno in Arkansas — which is a controversial casino-style game.

Lottery officials lobbied unsuccessfully for Keno in 2013 and 2014, but lawmakers soundly rejected that proposal.

Keno is different from other lottery games. Drawings for Keno usually take place every few minutes rather than once a day, and the odds of winning a jackpot prize tend to be worse than other lottery games.

Its fast pace makes Keno a popular casino game, because players can pick numbers and place bets over and over again in a short amount of time.

As a result, Keno often is played in a live room full of gamblers.

One of the reasons lawmakers rejected Keno a few years ago is that they did not want the State Lottery creating miniature casinos in bars, convenience stores, and gas stations across Arkansas.

The way H.B. 1869 is written, Arkansas could end up with miniature casinos that offer Keno, and Arkansans may even be able to play Keno non-stop on their cell phones.

If the Arkansas Lottery authorizes Keno — and especially if lottery officials make it possible for people to gamble online — that’s going to increase problem gambling and gambling addiction in Arkansas. That makes H.B. 1869 a bad bill.

Read H.B. 1869 Here.

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