In Bald Knob, Arkansas, the city council has approved a ban on bingo for cash prizes. This comes as a result complaints from many residents about the games. From the report: “Alderman Johnny Hodges said the games tend to draw more players from nearby Searcy than Bald Knob. Hodges said many seniors in Bald Knob no longer use the senior citizens’ center because of the games.” Read more from 40/29 News by clicking here.
Oaklawn and Southland are the only two establishments in Arkansas permitted to offer “electronic games of skill”—a fancy term for casino gambling performed electronically, usually through a video screen. However, even though Arkansas is currently limited to two traditional gambling venues, Oaklawn and Southland still drained nearly $2 billion from the state’s economy in 2011. Wagers were up 100% at Southland and 45% at Oaklawn compared to 2010. This is disconcerting for two primary reasons.