Arkansas Name, Image, Likeness raffle bill fails in committee
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill for funding student-athletes failed in committee on Wednesday afternoon.
House Bill 1044 would have allowed higher education or affiliated non-profits to hold raffles on game day to fund scholarships or pay athletes for using their name, image or likeness (NIL).
Additional Arkansas constitutional amendments filed in legislature
Typically, institutions hold a 50/50 raffle on gameday, where 50% of the proceeds go to the person holding the winning ticket, and 50% goes to the institution. Testimony during the House Rules Committee meeting was that universities planned to use an app on game day to support the raffle.
Testimony against the bill included that from a representative of Saracen Casino, which had earlier offered to conduct NIL raffles through its app. In September, Saracen Casino officials proposed to state gaming officials that it could implement a 50/50 NIL online raffle, arguing that it would stop illegal offshore casinos from offering the raffles, raising Arkansas tax revenue.
Bill filed in Arkansas legislature to allow NIL 50/50 raffles by colleges, universities
The Arkansas Racing Commission did not entertain Saracen's proposal.
Oaklawn Casino officials opposed implementing NIL raffles since Saracen's NIL model included iGaming, such as online slot machines.
Fluoride bill fails in Arkansas Legislature committee
In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of using NIL for student-athletes to make money while playing for a school. Previously student-athletes were not allowed to be paid, which the court felt was outdated in making its ruling.
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