Legislation for legalizing online poker and casino games in Maine and Arkansas faced significant setbacks, effectively halting progress. In Maine, the bill stalled in committee, facing opposition from local commercial casinos which would be excluded from operating online gaming. Meanwhile, Arkansas's sponsor retracted the online gaming proposal before it was even reviewed, favoring a more measured approach through an interim study. The proposed measures included tax structures and marketing restrictions aimed at regulatory clarity, but opposition has left the future of online gaming uncertain in both states.
In my view, I'm not certain it's advantageous for me to ask members of this committee today for a hard 'yes' or hard 'no' for a topic that doesn't need to have a rushed answer. I would like to ask for an interim study on this bill so we can have further discussion and come to a solid conclusion we feel comfortable with, and that we're not gonna be rushed through the process here at the end of the session.
The bill would allow the state's three licensed casinos to operate online gaming platforms with the Arkansas Racing Commission regulating the industry. The plan would also make it a felony to offer an unregulated online gaming platform in the state.
The Maine bill aimed to permit tribal casinos to partner with online gaming operators, featuring a tax on online revenue and strict marketing restrictions, but faced opposition from commercial casinos.
Unregulated and untaxed casinos are live threats to our gaming industry... We need to ensure that our state’s gaming landscape is fair and regulated, and the bill was aimed at achieving that.
Collection
[
|
...
]