In the heart of Pine Bluff, the gaming landscape is poised for a potential seismic shift. The Saracen Casino Resort is raising the stakes, pushing to amend Arkansas legislation that currently keeps online gambling under lock and key.
Rivals Clash Over Online Gambling Legislation
While the Saracen Casino is rolling the dice, its closest competitor, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, is holding firm. Oaklawn warns that opening the virtual doors to online gambling could spell disaster for land-based casinos, impacting visitor numbers and, more critically, state tax revenues.
A Vision for ‘Play Saracen’
Saracen Casino has grand plans in motion. They’re appealing to the Arkansas Racing Commission to expand their horizons beyond the confines of online sports betting, which is all the state currently allows. Envisioning a vibrant digital casino experience, they plan to enable gamers to indulge in all-time favorites like slots, craps, and blackjack straight from their smartphones.
“Play Saracen,” their prospective mobile app, is already in the works. The casino hopes their pitch will resonate with the commission, mirroring their earlier success in transforming sports betting with their “Let’s go from the four walls of the casino to the four borders of Arkansas” campaign.
“An Incredible Bonus” Proposition
Carlton Saffa, Saracen’s chief marketing officer, has an ace up his sleeve to make this proposal irresistible. He suggests a 50/50 online drawing where half of the proceeds would bolster NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) funding, aimed at recruiting top-tier athletes for state universities.
Introduced in 2021, the NIL initiative allows college athletes to monetarily benefit from their identity, a monumental shift in collegiate sports. Under Saffa’s plan, the legalization of online casino gaming would not only inject substantial funds into the NIL programs but also offer affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition options for all US residents. Saffa envisions this as an “incredible bonus,” with the potential to funnel “hundreds of thousands of dollars a week” into college sports programs.
Oaklawn’s Stance on Tax Collection Impacts
However, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort remains staunchly opposed. They argue that the rise of online gambling could cut into the foot traffic at physical casinos and thereby decrease state lottery funds designated for scholarships.
Louis Cella, president of Oaklawn, sounded the alarm in a recent op-ed, articulating that online gambling could siphon off discretionary spending that would otherwise benefit local communities, ultimately leading to diminished sales tax revenue for public services.
A Battle of Wits and Wagers
Carlton Saffa countered these concerns in an interview with KATV, describing Oaklawn’s objections as a “smokescreen based upon a fear of competing.” Since the launch of sports betting in Arkansas, Saracen’s sportsbook has reportedly seen “about three times as many wagers online as Oaklawn.”
Saffa didn’t mince words, calling Saracen “the new kid on the block” eager to innovate and hustle. He emphasized that if the rule change doesn’t get a hearing from the commission, Saracen will take their case to the state legislature in January.
The battle lines are drawn, and as these two giants of Arkansas gaming community face off, the outcome will undoubtedly set the stage for the future of gambling in the Natural State. Whether the cards fall in favor of digital gaming or remain stacked against it, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
