Competition arises concerning sponsorship funds for student athletes and online gambling legislation in Arkansas
In the heart of the United States, Arkansas, known for its strict gambling laws, is considering a potential shift in its iGaming landscape. The proposed House Bill 1044, introduced by State Rep. R.J. Hawk, is aimed at legalizing 50/50 Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) raffles, but the bill's future remains uncertain.
Carlton Saffa, the chief market officer at Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, has expressed concerns about House Bill 1044. If passed, the bill would prohibit casinos from serving as "a third-party operator" or administering a raffle for university fundraising. Saffa believes that the bill, as written, would not raise significant funds if casinos are banned from running 50/50 NIL drawings.
The bill is set for a hearing at noon on Wednesday in the House Committee on Rules in Little Rock. If approved by the House and Senate, the bill would need Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' signature or veto. However, Rep. Hawk's bill is not the only initiative related to iGaming in Arkansas. Carlton Saffa, intent on expanding online casino gambling statewide, plans to seek a separate bill that would legalize iGaming, allowing users to play traditional casino games such as slots and craps on their smartphones or computers for money.
The current iGaming landscape in Arkansas is limited to the three licensed casino operators. The state does not allow major online sportsbooks like DraftKings or FanDuel to operate independently, and fantasy sports operators offering pickβem games have received cease-and-desist orders as the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) considers such activities to be unlicensed sports betting.
House Bill 1044, if approved, would allow universities to offer 50/50 NIL raffles in addition to general raffles for fundraising. In a 50/50 drawing, half the money raised would go to NIL funds to recruit college athletes. The other half would go to the person who wins the drawing. Saffa suggests that his casino, Saracen Casino Resort, could raise more money than universities through a raffle, with no financial benefit to the casino.
Larry Henry, a veteran print and broadcast reporter and editor with experience with media outlets in states with gaming, including Tennessee and Louisiana, has been following the developments closely. Henry was recently interviewed on Gambling.com's "The Edge" regarding the proposed bill and Rep. Hawk's plans to legalize iGaming in Arkansas and launch an online NIL drawing.
As of now, no current publicly available details on a 50/50 NIL raffle bill in Arkansas have been found. This suggests either the bill is very recent with no public information yet or is not prominently covered as of now. For more detailed updates on proposed legislation around NIL raffles or expanded iGaming in Arkansas, monitoring the Arkansas legislature's official channels or gambling regulatory announcements would be advisable.
- In Arkansas, known for its strict gambling laws, a shift in the iGaming landscape is under consideration, as House Bill 1044, aimed at legalizing 50/50 NIL raffles, is currently up for debate.
- If passed, House Bill 1044 would prohibit casinos from serving as third-party operators for university fundraising raffles, causing concerns for casino officials like Carlton Saffa from Saracen Casino Resort.
- Despite these concerns, Saffa has plans to seek a separate bill that would legalize iGaming, allowing users to play traditional casino games online for money.
- In addition to the current three licensed casino operators, major online sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel are not yet allowed to operate independently in Arkansas.
- Larry Henry, a veteran reporter with experience in gaming states like Tennessee and Louisiana, is closely following the developments in Arkansas, particularly the potential for iGaming and online NIL drawings.
- As of now, there are no publicly available details on a separate bill for 50/50 NIL raffles in Arkansas, suggesting it may be a recent development or not yet widely covered in the general news or sports media.
