Arkansas mobile sports betting ready to launch in early March

The Arkansas joint budget committee has approved final rules that permit casinos to offer online bets beginning March 4.

US.- The Arkansas Joint Budget Committee (JBC) has approved mobile sports betting rules allowing Arkansans to place mobile wagers by March 4.

Mobile betting sites and betting apps will be able to accept wagers in Arkansas after a 10-day filing period, allowing mobile betting to begin in the state shortly before March Madness, the annual NCAA college men’s basketball tournament, which starts March 13. 

Arkansas mobile sports betting was expected to launch for the Super Bowl, but was held up over debate around a rule that means Arkansas casinos must retain 51 per cent of revenue from any contract with a third-party vendor.

Unanimously signed off on December 30, the 51 per cent split would set Arkansas apart from other states offering sports gaming: the national average share is between 5 per cent to 15 per cent with local casinos. Most states allow operators and casinos to negotiate their revenue-sharing agreements.

See also: Arkansas Racing Commission approves mobile sports betting