Arkansas Racing Commission Approves Online Sports Betting

On Thursday the Arkansas Racing Commission voted to approve online sports betting.

Under the rules that the commission approved, gamblers would be able to bet on sporting events online via the casinos in the state.

The way the rules are written, wagers could be placed online via a computer, smart phone, or other mobile device from anywhere in Arkansas.

According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the new rules now go to the state legislature’s Legislative Council Committee for final review on January 28.

Lawmakers on the committee will vote to approve or deny the new rules at that time.

As we have said before, 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, there’s no way to guarantee that children won’t gamble via these smart phone apps.

When voters passed Amendment 100 in 2018, they were authorizing casino gambling at certain locations in Arkansas — not from anywhere in the state over the Internet.

This rule change would permit mobile sports betting anywhere in Arkansas. That isn’t what voters had in mind when they approved the casino amendment three years ago.

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

Arkansas already has enough problems from gambling. These new rules will only make those problems worse.

Bottom line: Online sports betting is a bad bet for Arkansas.

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

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.

Bad Bill Would Permit Internet Gambling on Sports

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.