Arkansas Vote on Mobile Sports Betting Delayed

Potential sports bettors in Arkansas will need to wait one more day to learn whether mobile sports betting will be legalized.

The legislative vote that was supposed to happen on Wednesday, Feb. 16, has been postponed to Thursday, Feb. 17.

Arkansas mobile sports betting approval will be postponed for at least another day as a committee of legislators did not approve the mobile wagering authorization rules during this morning’s meeting. The panel will reconvene tomorrow to continue discussions.

— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) February 16, 2022

In December, the Racing Commission approved mobile sports betting, making it legal alongside retail sportsbook betting which has been permitted since 2019.

Furthermore, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is in favor of legalizing mobile sports betting, as long as the necessary regulations are put in place.

Hutchinson is cognizant of the competition from Tennessee and Louisiana in the region.

Following Tennessee’s approval of mobile wagering, the sports-betting handle at Arkansas’ Southland Casino Racing experienced a significant decrease in revenue amounting to millions of dollars. Situated just across the Mississippi River from its primary market in Memphis, Tennessee, Southland felt the impact of the new legislation.

Since Arkansas has already lost the chance to profit from Super Bowl LVI, it is vital to prioritize the implementation of mobile betting before March Madness.

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