TO MAKE OPERATION OF AN ILLEGAL ONLINE CASINO OR SPORTS BETTING A FELONY; TO CREATE THE INTERACTIVE GAMING ACT; TO REGULATE INTERNET GAMING AND INCLUDE NAME, IMAGE, OR LIKENESS GAMES AND GAMING; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB 1861 would criminalize operating illegal online casinos or sports betting by classifying it as a felony. It proposes creating the "Interactive Gaming Act" to establish a regulatory framework for legal internet gaming, specifically including name, image, and likeness (NILL) games like fantasy sports and casino-style games. The bill also aims to regulate these activities under the new act while explicitly covering games already authorized under Arkansas' Scholarship Lottery Act. The bill declared an emergency to expedite its passage but was withdrawn by the author on April 7, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee for interim study.
Bill status
died
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 19, 2025
Last action Apr 7, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
10
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Amendments
2
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommended for study in the Interim by the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Introduced
Amendment No. 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced
Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Introduced
Filed
lower
2 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HB 1861
Scope: AR
Hi! I can help you understand HB 1861. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline