Arkansas legislature introduces new online betting bill

Rep. Lee Johnson on Monday introduced House Bill 1942, which would permit online sports wagering in Arkansas. The proposal calls for the “immediate” start of online sports betting operators in the state. After the bill was read two times, it was referred to the Committee on House Rules. 

Under the terms of the bill, the Arkansas Racing Commission will implement rules and restrictions for the state’s online sports betting program.

The bill would allow for state bettors to register an account for one of several potential mobile operating skins online or in person and no limitations for collegiate wagering were included in the bill, meaning gamblers could wager on in-state college teams, including Razorbacks basketball and football games.

Arkansas legalized sports betting in November 2018 after a ballot initiative was approved by state voters that made casino gaming legal in the state. The initiative also approved sports betting operations to be held in the newly established casinos.

Oaklawn, located in Hot Springs, took the state’s first legal sports bets on July 1, 2019. There are currently three casinos in the state and all have working sportsbooks, while the construction of a permitted fourth casino has been delayed.