Latest news with #SaracenCasino
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to bring online gaming to Arkansas filed in legislature
Video: Sports betting is getting much easier, will that change us? LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill filed Wednesday in the Arkansas legislature would legalize online gaming in the state. House Bill 1861 states two goals. Its first goal is to make any out-of-state online gaming provider the same as anyone operating an illegal gambling house or game in Arkansas. The second goal is to permit any Arkansas casino license holder to provide online games of chance. Saracen Casino requests change in Arkansas law to allow online gambling If the bill becomes law, the Arkansas Racing Commission would need to approve legal gaming systems. One such system could include a name, image, and likeness raffle. Any current commission rules would extend to the online system called 'interactive gaming.' The bill has 20 cosponsors alongside its lead sponsor, Rep. Matt Duffield (R-Russellville), and primary sponsor, Sen. Dave Wallace (R-Leachville). Wallace had filed an identical bill in the Senate as its lead sponsor and Duffield as its primary sponsor, but that bill was withdrawn Thursday morning. Saracen Casino requests change in Arkansas law to allow online gambling The bill includes an emergency clause, meaning if it receives enough votes in the legislature and is signed into law by the governor, it would go into immediate effect. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
