Arkansas Lawmakers Pushing for Legalization of Online Casinos

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

• Twitter
• Email

More About John Isaac

Last updated: March 24, 2025

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Arkansas lawmakers filed House Bill 1861 to legalize online casino gambling in the state and ban unlicensed sweepstakes platforms. Having raised significant bipartisan support, the bill could realistically receive enough votes to be signed into law.

Key Provisions of House Bill 1861

HB 1861 was filed by Rep. Matt Duffield (R-Russellville) and Sen. Dave Wallace (R-Leachville). Following its introduction to the House on March 19, 2025, it was immediately referred to the House Judiciary Committee. If passed and signed into law, the bill could go into immediate effect due to an emergency clause it includes.

The proposed bill has received support from both Democrats and Republicans. This comes in the middle of the nationwide controversy around sweepstakes casinos. Adopting the so-called “no purchase necessary” or “dual currency” approach, these platforms remain highly unregulated, especially when compared to real money gambling sites.

As you probably know, sweepstakes online casinos don’t require a license to operate. Not only that, they also don’t pay gambling taxes as they’re not actually classified as gambling platforms. Despite their classification, it’s proven that the billion-dollar sector could potentially lead to gambling addiction, which is another red flag raised by lawmakers.

Legal Gambling Activities in Arkansas

Daily fantasy sports betting is legal in Arkansas, and the same goes for horse racing at licensed tracks. Although it’s yet to be prohibited, greyhound racing is no longer practiced. The Southland Greyhound Park in Memphis was the only dog track in the state, but it discontinued such activities in 2022.

Arkansas legalized land-based casinos in 2018. According to the state’s Racing Commission, up to four authorized locations can exist. As of this article, Arkansas features three fully licensed gambling establishments – Saracen Casino Resort, Southland Casino Resort, and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.

These three locations were authorized to offer retail sports betting in 2021. In March 2022, online sportsbooks were also launched. If HB 1861 is signed into law, Arkansas will become the eight state to legalize online casinos, joining New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island.

The Future of Gambling in Arkansas

Until recently, Arkansas was considered one of the most restrictive states regarding gambling. However, since 2018, we’ve witnessed a progressive, step-by-step legalization of many such activities. We expect this trend to continue in the future, and we’ll make sure to keep you posted on any updates.

A potential online casino legalization in Arkansas would generate additional tax revenue, which could boost the state’s economy. On the other hand, lawmakers and officials would have to find a way to guarantee a safe gambling environment and commitment to players’ safety and well-being.