Arkansas could regulate online sports betting early next year

The Arkansas Racing Commission is to vote next week on whether to approve online sports wagering. 

US.- The Arkansas Racing Commission, which regulates gaming in the state, will vote on November 18 on whether to approve a change in rules that would allow online sports betting. Scott Hardin, the commission spokesman, has said that if the change is approved as anticipated, mobile sports betting in Arkansas could begin in January or early February.

At present sports betting is legal in Arkansas but only at physical retail sportsbooks. Bill HB1942, introduced in April, 2021, would allow physical casinos to operate online pools, but there has been almost no movement on it until now.

If the seven-member Racing Commission greenlights the change, it would have to be published online for 30 days and go through a public hearing process. After that, the revised rule would require approval from the joint legislative Rules Committee and a sign-off from Governor Asa Hutchinson.

In the past, the governor has expressed support for mobile sports betting but asked the commission to establish some safety precautions, such as geofencing to restrict wagering to approved state boundaries. Hutchinson thinks that mobile sports betting would keep Arkansas competitive with neighbouring states such as Louisiana and Tennessee.

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