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Arkansas casinos may end up as the only cellular sports operators in the herbal state under proposed regulations passed through state regulators today.
National Lopass Sports has asked regulators to vote against one of the proposed rules, which would restrict third-party operators like FanDuel and DraftKings to no more than 50% of net profits from cellular sports in a still-approved Arkansas cellular marketplace. winnings would go to 3 licensed casinos in the state.
But the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) voted today to approve the proposed rule, as well as regulations that would allow sports apps across the state.
Former Arkansas Rep. John Burris, now a lobbyist for FanDuel and DraftKings, told the committee that the vote could end Arkansas’ national sports betting altogether.
“The other people behind me are in control,” he said of the casino representatives. “If they say no to what we are proposing, we cannot do business here . . . Only the 50% profit limit requirement prevents us from negotiating in the classic way for sports betting corporations to interact in other states in what which is a victory.
The vote pleased the 3 casinos, which are all sports betting in Arkansas under a 2018 constitutional amendment. All 3 had asked the commission to approve the regulations as written, adding the net profit sharing limit.
Casinos now work with retail sports and would have the option to work with cellular sports once they are legal. A fourth newly licensed casino planned for Pope County in northwest Arkansas could also eventually enter the cellular fray.
Carlton Saffa of Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff told the commission that casinos “can do what brands can do. “
“It’s not like it’s the Wild West if Pine Bluff is running mobile sports betting,” he added.
The proposed regulations now go to a legislative oversight committee, with approval imaginable as early as February. Arkansas legislative staff told Gaming Today on Tuesday that the regulations can go into effect in March, if they get a legislative review before that date.
It’s not yet clear when cellular sports can be introduced in Arkansas under the proposed rules.
However, CRA spokesman Scott Hardin told KTHV-TV last fall that he expects Arkansas cellular sports to go live until early 2022.
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