The group Driving Arkansas Forward said it is progressing in its efforts to place on the November ballot a constitutional amendment allowing up to three more casinos in the state. A spokesperson said the group soon will submit a revised proposal so it can start collecting signatures in a petition drive.
Under the Arkansas Casino Gaming and Highway Funding Amendment of 2018 proposal, a casino would be built in Jefferson County and Crittenden County, and Miller, Mississippi, Pope, Union or White counties. Operators would be required to invest at least $100 million in each casino.
Driving Arkansas Forward contends casino revenue could generate an additional $45 million a year for Arkansas highways. The proposal states 65 percent of tax revenue would be dedicated to state highways; 22.5 percent to the casino host city; and 10 percent to the casino host county. The Arkansas Lottery Division would regulate the casinos and receive 2.5 percent of tax revenue.
Meanwhile, according to the Arkansas Racing Commission, wagering on electronic casino-style games at the state’s two existing racinos, Oaklawn in Hot Springs and Southland in West Memphis, together surpassed $5 billion in revenue in 2017. At Southland, gamblers spent $3.061 billion, with March topping out at $305,132,267 in wagers. At Oaklawn, bettors spent $1.941 billion, with March the most-winning month at $202,221.921.
Arkansas gets 18 percent of the revenue from electronic gambling machine wagers, receiving $60.3 million between July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, compared to $55.9 million in the previous fiscal year. In the first seven months of the current fiscal year, tax revenue from electronic gambling machines totals $36 million, up 9.7 percent over the same period in the previous year.
In 2016, Southland and Oaklawn posted $4.81 billion in total electronic gambling machine wagers, compared to $4.46 in 2015. Both facilities expanded their casinos in 2014, when wagers hit a record of $3.53 billion.
