Trial Held in Lawsuit Over Casino Amendment

Gambling

This week the federal court in Little Rock held a bench trial in the lawsuit over Issue 2.

Issue 2 is a constitutional amendment that voters passed on November 5. The measure prevents the State of Arkansas from licensing a casino in Pope County.

It also prevents any additional casinos from being opened in Arkansas without a new constitutional amendment and without local voter approval at a special election.

Cherokee Nation Business received a license to operate a casino in Pope County before Issue 2 passed.

After Issue 2 passed, Cherokee Nation Business filed a federal lawsuit to block the amendment.

This week the federal court in Little Rock held a bench trial in the case. U.S. District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr. has indicated he plans to resolve the case quickly.

Legalized gambling has become a scourge in our state. On average, Arkansans are gambling more than a million dollars every day on sports betting alone. In spite of that, casino tax revenue has not improved Arkansas’ roads or boosted the economy. Instead it’s hurt our communities. Last year the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council reported a 22% increase in calls for help with problem gambling this year. Unless Arkansans take a stand, gambling addiction is simply going to continue wrecking lives and hurting families in our state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Bad Bill Would Legalize Internet Gambling in Arkansas

Gambling,

A bad bill filed at the Arkansas Legislature last week would legalize internet gambling in Arkansas.

Under current law, gambling is allowed at three casinos in the state — Oaklawn, Southland, and Saracen — and sports betting is allowed online via smart phones.

H.B. 1861 by Rep. Matt Duffield (R — Russellville) and Sen. David Wallace (R — Leachville) lets casinos licensed in Arkansas offer additional forms of gambling online.

The bill would legalize mobile gambling via smart phones from anywhere in Arkansas.

Family Council opposes gambling — but online gambling is a particularly serious problem.

Compulsive gamblers could gamble — and lose — 24 hours a day from anywhere in the state. That kind of gambling ruins lives, tears families apart, and hurts communities.

We already have seen how gambling addiction has become a serious problem. Last year the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council announced it has seen a 22% increase in calls for help with problem gambling — driven largely by sports betting.

Legalizing other types of online gambling would simply make these problems worse.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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