Online casino bill filed in Arkansas
HB 1861, which would legalize online gaming for Saracen Casino Resort, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort and Southland Casino Resort. has been filed to the Arkansas House Judiciary Committee, the Arkansas Times has reported.
A hearing is scheduled for no later than April for the bill sponsored by State Rep. Matt Dunnfield and State Sen. Dave Wallace.
In a letter sent to the Arkansas Racing Commission, Saracen Casino Resort Chief Marketing Officer Carlton Saffa said the bill filing was mainly defensive and a way to fight back offshore operators.
“Unregluated and untaxed casinos are live in Arkansas at great risk to consumers. These games are operated by shadowy offshore entities, many with links to China,” Saffa said.
Vena Schexnayder, Executive Director of the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council, told the Arkansas Times that there had been a recent rise in unregulated gaming, both offshore and sweepstakes. Nearly 50% of calls received by the Gambling Council were from young adults who had been gambling on unregulated operators.
“They’re not quite illegal on where they’re at, per se, in the Isle of Man or offshore, far away from the US borders and territories,” Schexnayder said. “So they’re not registered, not paying taxes, and not following any regulations, but they do have authorization to have bandwidth to be played by Arkansans across the state.”
Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
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