Mobile Sports Betting Could Be Coming To Arkansas

• There are two brick-and-motor sportsbooks open in Arkansas right now.
• The Arkansas Racing Commission creates the rules and regulations for sports betting.
• The Commission is interested in changing some rules to allow for online and mobile betting.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In recent weeks, the Arkansas Racing Commission has expressed interest in allowing for mobile wagering.
Going Mobile

The Arkansas Racing Commission creates the rules and regulations for sports betting in the state. Because the Commission can create rules, they want to make a new one that would change Arkansas’s sports wagering landscape.

The Commission has a desire to bring Arkansas sports betting to an online and mobile space. The process to create a new sports betting rule is rather linear.

“The racing commission would make the change, they would edit the rule, the rule is then provided to some legislative committees to look at, really give that rubber stamp of approval and then once that’s finished, the rule in place,” said Scott Hardin of the Arkansas Racing Commission.

Right now, the Commission has not confirmed when such a rule change would take place. The current legislative session in Arkansas is currently over. State legislatures will not meet again until 2020 to rubber-stamp the potential new rule change.

A Reason To Go Mobile

One of the main reasons that the Commission wants to go mobile is to increase revenue. So far, Hardin told KATV that $8.5 million has been wagered in sports bets in the last half-year. Around $7.5 million has been paid out in winning bets. This is with sports betting being located in only two retail locations.

Revenue reports in states like New Jersey show that mobile dominates the sports betting scene. More than 80% of the sports betting revenue in New Jersey comes from online and mobile betting. The trend is similar to other states that have mobile sports betting.

Sportsbooks in the state also have a desire to go online. The Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort’s general manager expressed interest in mobile betting. Doing so would allow the sportsbook to reach a wider audience instead of having to rely on locals or those willing to travel.

With the Commission interested in adding mobile wagering, Arkansas sports betting may very well change. Adding mobile will likely increase the overall revenue in the state and allow for more people to bet on sports.

News tags: Arkansas | Arkansas Racing Commission | Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort | Scott Hardin