To Amend Sections Of The Arkansas Code To Prohibit Greyhound Racing And Simulcasting Of Greyhound Racing.
Summary
HB1721 amends multiple sections of Arkansas law to prohibit greyhound racing and the acceptance of wagers on greyhound racing, including live races and simulcast races. The bill applies this prohibition to both horse-racing franchise holders and casino licensees, and it also bars the conduct of greyhound racing by those entities. In addition, it revises related statutory provisions so that greyhound pari-mutuel wagering is expressly excluded from certain gaming frameworks and remains governed, where referenced, by the Arkansas Horse Racing Law and Arkansas Greyhound Racing Law only to the extent consistent with the new prohibition.
The bill also makes conforming changes to laws governing electronic games of skill and the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act so that pari-mutuel wagering on horse or greyhound racing is carved out from those definitions and continues to be treated separately from other gaming activities. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2028, giving affected licensees and regulators a transition period before the ban becomes operative.
Impact
HB1721 would significantly change Arkansas racing and gaming law by eliminating greyhound racing and greyhound wagering at facilities regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission. It amends the Horse Racing Law, Greyhound Racing Law, Local Option Horse Racing and Greyhound Racing Electronic Games of Skill Act, and the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act to remove or narrow references to greyhound pari-mutuel wagering and to align related definitions with the new prohibition. The practical effect is to end live and simulcast greyhound racing in Arkansas for franchise holders and casino licensees, while leaving horse racing and other authorized gaming structures intact.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill had strong legislative support. It passed the House on third reading by an 86-5 vote and the Senate on third reading by a 34-0 vote, indicating broad bipartisan approval and little recorded opposition in the chamber votes. No committee transcripts were provided, so the discussion record is limited, but the final votes point to a generally favorable sentiment toward the measure.
Contention
The main point of contention is the outright prohibition of greyhound racing and greyhound wagering, including simulcast betting, which directly affects franchise holders, casino licensees, and any entities involved in the greyhound racing industry. The bill also raises implementation questions for regulators and affected businesses because it requires conforming changes across several gaming statutes and delays the effective date until 2028. The narrow recorded floor opposition in the House suggests some disagreement, but the Senate vote was unanimous, indicating that any objections were limited and did not prevent passage.
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