Carlton Saffa is seeking to bring internet casino gambling to Arkansas, writing directly to Arkansas Racing Commission Chair Alex Lieblong. Saffa is the Chief Marketing Officer at Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, AR and envisions over $12 million in annual tax revenue for Arkansas from the rule change. Arkansas would also be the first state in its region to open iGaming to consumers.
The commission currently controls all gambling matters in the state of Arkansas which include horse racing and any casino games. A rule already exists within the commission to allow for online poker, though this has yet to be made available to any potential players. The rule change would not only allow for that to finally happen, but for Arkansas to open other types of table games and slots as well.
Saffa also has said that he believes people in Arkansas are already finding ways to gamble in online casinos that are not regulated or taxed by the commission currently. Operators would be forced to function under government supervision and could be taxed by the state to provide the revenue Saffa estimates.
Internet casino gambling has been found to be a more lucrative business for states that even provide sports betting in association but this can also lead to a negative effect for physical casinos. Casino operators where iGambling has not yet been authorized believe that allowing such easy access to gambling would hurt hotel businesses. Having consumers never stray from their phones could see restaurants, in-person casinos and other amenities be left obsolete by gamblers.
Saffa plans to counter this point with hopes to appear before the commission on May 4, looking to provide research that shows how iGambling can actually boost physical casino gameplay and profit.
The battle for iGaming authorization will ultimately come down to how Lieblong and other commission members believe online casinos can affect an already functioning industry. Saffa’s Saracen Casino Resort has already partnered with an iGaming online wallet company Paysafe, combining with the BetSaracen sportsbook app to assist in deposits and withdrawals. More on this partnership from 2022 can be found here.
