Players located in Arkansas who are looking for online casino games options will have a chance to vote for it in their state. Senator Bryan King has introduced a joint resolution which seeks to amend the state’s constitution that governs casino gaming.
Sen. King filed State Joint Resolution 8 (SJR8) last January 30, 2025. It was discussed during the Arkansas Senate’s State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee’s March 13 meeting.
While the resolution hasn’t specified details on proposed changes to the state’s constitution, at least one casino operator is currently advocating for the legalization of iGaming. That said, a simple majority of registered voters must support the proposal.
Moreover, Sen. King will need to specify what changes he would like to affect if SJR8 gets approved.
Who Is In Favor of SJR8?
So far, apart from Sen. King, other local lawmakers and the Saracen Casino Resort, a popular land-based casino located in Pine Bluff, are pushing for the approval of SJR8. The main reason for them supporting SJR8 is that the activity will enhance the available gambling options for Arkansas residents.
This includes digital table games, live dealer games, and online slot games. Having such options available will generate extra tax revenue for the state.
Arkansas has three commercial casinos which offer online sports wagering to its residents. There have been discussions over whether or not the casino operators could also offer online casino options without amending the constitution.
Last April 2024, Saracen Casino Resort’s Chief Marketing Officer Carlton Saffa asked the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) to draft rules for legal online casino play. Saffa argued that the constitution already authorized such gaming as it did not restrict casino gaming to land-based action.
Potential Hurdles for SJR8
Out of the 3 casino operators, one of them opposes the idea of online casinos. Namely, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort and its officials were critical about the loss of revenues at their casino should iGaming options become available in the market.
That said, Oaklawn offers the least opposition for SJR8. Time is of the essence, since Arkansas’ current legislative session ends on April 11, 2025.
However, even if Sen. King and supporters of SJR8 fail to meet the deadline, this scenario can be useful to test the waters for state’s consensus about it. Moreover, lawmakers can pinpoint specific proponents that need to be fleshed out to make it have a better chance of getting approved.
Should Arkansas lawmakers and its residents approve iGaming in their territory, they will be the latest US state to permit online gaming. They will follow huge iGaming markets such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Last Updated on by jonathan r
