An act REGARDING GREYHOUND RACING, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas            A Bill
2 95th General Assembly

3 Regular Session, 2025                                          HOUSE BILL 1721

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5 By: Representative M. Brown

6 By: Senator J. Scott

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8                              For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT REGARDING GREYHOUND RACING; TO AMEND SECTIONS

10  OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO PROHIBIT GREYHOUND RACING AND

11  SIMULCASTING OF GREYHOUND RACING; AND FOR OTHER

12  PURPOSES.

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15                                Subtitle

16                       TO AMEND SECTIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE

17                       TO PROHIBIT GREYHOUND RACING AND

18                       SIMULCASTING OF GREYHOUND RACING.

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20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

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22  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 23, Chapter 110, Subchapter 1, is

23 amended to add an additional section to read as follows:

24  23-110-106. Prohibition -- Definitions.

25  (a) As used in this section:

26  (1) "Casino licensee" means any individual, corporation,

27 partnership, association, trust, or other entity holding a license issued by

28 the Arkansas Racing Commission to conduct casino gaming at a casino; and

29  (2) "Franchise holder" means any individual, corporation,

30 partnership, association, trust, or other entity holding a franchise to

31 conduct horse racing under this chapter.

32  (b) A franchise holder or casino licensee is prohibited from:

33  (1) Accepting wagers on greyhound racing, either live or

34 simulcast; and

35  (2) Conducting greyhound racing.

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1   SECTION 2. Arkansas Code Title 23, Chapter 111, Subchapter 1, is

2 amended to add an additional section to read as follows:

3   23-111-106. Prohibition -- Definitions.

4   (a) As used in this section:

5   (1) "Casino licensee" means any individual, corporation,

6 partnership, association, trust, or other entity holding a license issued by

7 the Arkansas Racing Commission to conduct casino gaming at a casino; and

8   (2) "Franchise holder" means any individual, corporation,

9 partnership, association, trust, or other entity holding a franchise to

10 conduct greyhound racing under this chapter.

11  (b) A franchise holder or casino licensee is prohibited from:

12  (1) Accepting wagers on greyhound racing, either live or

13 simulcast; and

14  (2) Conducting greyhound racing.

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16  SECTION 3. Arkansas Code � 23-111-508(d)(3), concerning the authority

17 of the Arkansas Racing Commission to adopt rules permitting wagering on live

18 or televised racing, is amended to read as follows:

19  (3) In addition to the pari-mutuel or certificate system of

20 wagering as authorized by this chapter, the commission is authorized and

21 directed to establish and adopt rules permitting the conduct of pari-mutuel

22 or certificate system of wagering upon racing, either horse or greyhound,

23 horse racing shown live or in any other manner approved by the commission by

24 television or otherwise to or from the premises of the franchise holder.

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26  SECTION 4. Arkansas Code � 23-113-103(5)(B), concerning the exceptions

27 from the definition of "electronic games of skill" under the Local Option

28 Horse Racing and Greyhound Racing Electronic Games of Skill Act, is amended

29 to read as follows:

30                 (B) "Electronic games of skill" does not include pari-

31 mutuel wagering on horse racing and greyhound racing governed by the Arkansas

32 Horse Racing Law, � 23-110-101 et seq., or the Arkansas Greyhound Racing Law,

33 � 23-111-101 et seq., whether pari-mutuel wagering on live racing, simulcast

34 racing, or races conducted in the past and rebroadcast by electronic means;

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36  SECTION 5. Arkansas Code � 23-113-603(a), concerning pari-mutuel

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1 wagering on horse racing and greyhound racing under the Local Option Horse

2 Racing and Greyhound Racing Electronic Games of Skill Act, is amended to read

3 as follows:

4   (a) Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and greyhound racing, whether

5 on live racing, simulcast racing, or races conducted in the past and

6 rebroadcast by electronic means, shall continue to be governed by the

7 Arkansas Horse Racing Law, � 23-110-101 et seq., and the Arkansas Greyhound

8 Racing Law, � 23-111-101 et seq., respectively, and not by this chapter.

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10  SECTION 6. Arkansas Code � 23-115-103(13)(C)(iii), concerning the

11 exclusion of pari-mutuel wagering from the definition of "lottery" under the

12 Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act, is amended to read as follows:

13             (iii) Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing or

14 greyhound racing governed by the Arkansas Horse Racing Law, � 23-110-101 et

15 seq., or the Arkansas Greyhound Racing Law, � 23-111-101 et seq., whether the

16 pari-mutuel wagering is on live racing, simulcast racing, or races conducted

17 in the past and rebroadcast by electronic means;

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19  SECTION 7. DO NOT CODIFY. EFFECTIVE DATE.

20  This act is effective on and after January 1, 2028.

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