Arkansas Online Sportsbook May Launch March 4, But Will Sportsbook Apps Be Ready?

Arkansas forward Connor Vanover (23) shoots a free throw against Gardner-Webb during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, November 13, 2021 in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

• Arkansas Online Sports Betting Can Legally Launch Friday, March 4, 2022
• At Least One Arkansas Casino Says Its Sports Betting App Is Ended
• It is likely that no major sports betting operators will be involved in the early launch

Arkansas online sports betting can legally launch on Friday, March 4, just 10 days after being approved by a joint budget committee, but will sports betting apps be ready after such a short delay?

Arkansas’ Joint Budget Committee accepted a subcommittee report allowing online sports betting on Tuesday, February 22. By law, online sports betting had to wait for a 10-day filing period with the Secretary of State before it could be legally launched. The 10-day period will end this Friday, March 4, and at least one state casino hopes to be ready to launch its own sports betting app as close to the date as possible.

Arkansas casinos will use their own sports betting apps

Pine Bluff’s Saracen Casino announced Feb. 22 that it would launch its own sports betting app, BetSaracen, ahead of the start of the NCAA March Madness tournament, which kicks off on Tuesday, March 15.

“We’ve been working on BetSaracen for a year, so today’s vote is exciting for us and for Arkansas. We’ll be launching BetSaracen, a first-class mobile betting app born and raised in Arkansas ahead of March Madness .”

💪💪💪💪💪💪 https://t.co/t0jqPuwRE6

— BetSaracen (@BetSaracen) February 22, 2022

Today, Carlton Saffa, Marketing Director of Saracen Casino, Recount Dime Sports Betting that the BetSaracen sports betting app has been completed and is awaiting final clearance from Google and Apple before the app can go live. Although the launch date is unknown, Saffa said it will be before the start of the NCAA March Madness tournament.

“On the Saracen side, we are ready. Our team has been working on this for over a year and we’re thrilled to have played a part in pushing for mobile legalization and proud that we’re launching it soon. The specific launch date is on app store timelines and payment processors, and that work on their end could only begin after the state of Arkansas authorizes mobile games. I’m confident we’ll be live before the NCAA Tournament,” he said. Dime Sports Betting.

Arkansas Racing Commission spokesman Scott HardinRecount Dime Sports Betting that the other two state casinos approved for online sports betting, Southland Casino and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, would both use their own sports betting apps and were in different stages of development.

Arkansas Online Sports Betting 51% Profit Rule

Arkansas differs greatly from other states that have legalized online sports betting with a 51% revenue split rule between state casinos and potential sports betting operating partners. The 51% rule requires Arkansas casinos to retain at least 51% of all online sports betting profits if they are associated with an online sports betting operator. Online sports betting typically retains between 85% and 95% of revenue in partnership with out-of-state casinos.

Representatives from several online sports betting companies, including DraftKings and FanDuel, spoke at the subcommittee hearing and claimed that the 51% rule violated the Federal Commerce Clause by discriminating against vendors outside of State.

The rule will likely initially block major online sports betting companies from entering the state, which is why Arkansas casinos rely on their own designed sports betting apps.

Retail sports betting has been legal in Arkansas since it was approved in November 2018 following a statewide ballot initiative. A total of $33 million was wagered on sports at the state’s three casinos in 2020. The total doubled to $68 million in 2021. Overall, more than $120 million was legally bet on sports since Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort accepted the first sports bet in 2019. .

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