Sports Betting’s Financial Devastation

Gambling,

Research continues to reveal the true cost of America’s sports betting experiment.

Since the Supreme Court legalized sports betting in 2018, powerful gambling corporations have promised easy revenue and harmless entertainment. The reality has been far different.

Mobile betting makes the problem worse. A comprehensive study by UCLA researchers found that states with online sports betting saw credit scores drop nearly three times more than states with only physical sportsbooks. The study tracked seven million Americans and found a roughly 10% increase in bankruptcies in states with mobile betting apps — roughly 30,000 more bankruptcies per year, nationwide.

Arkansas families are not immune to these problems. Arkansas legalized sports betting in 2019, and Arkansans now wager more than a million dollars a day on average. In 2024, the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council announced a 22% increase in calls for help with problem gambling — driven largely by sports betting.

Sports betting promises easy money but delivers financial ruin. As powerful corporations try to make gambling part of everyday life, it’s important for Arkansas to protect citizens and families from predatory gambling. Otherwise, problem gambling will simply hurt more and more people in our state.

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

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40 Days for Life Prayer Campaign Starts Next Week

Abortion, , , ,

The semiannual 40 Days for Life prayer campaign begins next week.

40 Days for Life is not a rally or protest. It’s a peaceful assembly for prayer and reflection — and it works.

Every year we hear stories of babies saved, abortion clinics shut down, and abortion workers coming to Christ in the wake of a 40 Days for Life prayer campaign.

In the past, 40 Days for Life has said that the “no-show” rate for abortion appointments can go to as high as 75% when someone prays in front of an abortion facility.

This year, pro-lifers will take turns praying on different days and at different times from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily outside the Planned Parenthood facilities in Little Rock and Rogers from February 18 through March 29.

Planned Parenthood does not perform abortions in Arkansas, because state law generally prohibits abortion except to save the life of the mother. However, the organization does refer women to abortion facilities in other states.

Something as simple as praying outside an abortion facility can make a huge difference.

You can learn more about the 40 Days for Life vigils in Little Rock by going to 40daysforlife.com/en/littlerock.

You can learn more about the 40 Days for Life vigils in Rogers by going to 40daysforlife.com/en/rogers.

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

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Proposed EFA Restrictions Do Not Appear on State Board of Education Agenda

Home School, ,

The State Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 12:30 PM this Thursday, February 12, at the Arkansas Department of Education Building located at Four Capitol Mall in Little Rock. The meeting agenda is available here.

It appears the board does not plan to vote on proposed rules prohibiting homeschoolers from using Educational Freedom Account (EFA) funding to pay for team sports under the LEARNS Act.

Family Council has reached out to state officials about the status of the proposed rules. Sources tell us that the board may choose to “table” the rules for discussion later on. The situation is still very fluid, so we will let you know if we learn of any changes between now and the State Board of Education meeting on Thursday.

Here is a little more information about the situation:

In January the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that the Department of Education planned to move forward with rules prohibiting EFA spending on team sports under the LEARNS Act despite public comments from more than 200 citizens who oppose them. Family Council and its homeschool division, the Education Alliance, were among those who submitted public comments against the proposed rules.

At the time, there was talk that the State Board of Education could cast a final vote on the rules at its February meeting.

The Department of Education’s proposed EFA restrictions go beyond what state law allows.

The restrictions would completely prohibit any EFA spending on registration fees, equipment costs, dues, and any costs associated with club or team sports.

Arkansas law clearly caps spending in these areas at 25% of a student’s total EFA funding, which means no more than one-fourth of a student’s EFA money can go toward team sports and extracurricular activities. The Department of Education wants to prohibit spending on team and club sports altogether.

Many homeschoolers have also pointed out that completely prohibiting EFA spending on team sports is unfair because public schools fund team sports with state money.

At this time it looks like the State Board of Education will not vote on the EFA restrictions at its February meeting this Thursday. Our office plans to monitor the situation. If the board decides to vote on the rules, we will let Arkansas’ home schoolers know.

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