Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff, Arkansas will be the first facility in the state that will link its gambling machines to other markets. That will give gamblers the potential for jackpots up to six or seven figures. The casino’s machines will be linked with other machines in Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey and South Dakota.
Rules have been in place for some time allowing casinos to link to other states, but Saracen Casino is the first of the state’s four licensed casinos. The other three, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Southland Gaming and Racing, and the yet-to-open Legends Resort and Casino, have not said if they will link to the other states. Gambling has been legal in Arkansas since 2018.
International Game Technology (IGT) would be responsible for monitoring the progressive system. IGT, which is based in Las Vegas, oversees a number of progressive systems across the country.
Progressive jackpots are common in both slot and gaming machines, such as video poker. The jackpots arrive when a percentage of bets are withheld from casinos to supply the funds needed to payout jackpots.
The bigger jackpots, however, are found on slot machines. Popular games like Wheel of Fortune and Buffalo commonly reach six or seven figures. Four lucky customers have won more than $1 million at different Las Vegas casinos this year.
Carlton Saffa, Saracen Casino Resorts chief market officer, said he is excited to see his casino linked with others around the United States.
“We view multi-state jackpots as part of being a Vegas-style casino,” Saffa said. “Before the end of this year the machines at Saracen will, quite literally, be linked to those on the Las Vegas strip.”
