Poker Arkansas Straight

What Is A Arkansas Straight In Poker, price of tecno spark 2 in slot nigeria, holland casino blackjack regels, prominence poker glitch money 30 Free Spins Bonus on Voodoo Magic January 7, 2018. Arkansas is bordered by two states – Mississippi and Louisiana – that are seriously considering the virtues of online lawful poker websites with games like real money Texas Hold’em. Also, last year AR state officials authorized a form of online gambling and betting – shocking we know. As a rule, legitimate, safe Arkansas Straight In Poker gambling sites will offer comparatively small casino bonuses ($500-$3000) with rollovers of Arkansas Straight In Poker 15-25X. Sites to avoid will generally offer higher bonuses ($5000 and up) with rollover requirements in the. Created by BooG690 on September 18, 2009. An Arkansas flush is a flush made with four cards of that suit on the board. This term is used in community card poker.

Poker Arkansas Straight

Whereas other states in America’s Deep South are at least considering the virtues of online real money Internet poker, it looks like The Natural State’s anti-iGaming stance is here to stay in AR. Although Arkansas does permit several types of real cash gambling and wagering, it can by no means be considered a poker gambling or casino haven. In fact, some would argue that Arkansas is one of the most conservative states when it comes to legal Internet poker websites and gambling related activities.

Yet, there are glimmers of hope. Arkansas is bordered by two states – Mississippi and Louisiana – that are seriously considering the virtues of online lawful poker websites with games like real money Texas Hold’em. Also, last year AR state officials authorized a form of online gambling and betting – shocking we know. But it still remains highly unlikely that Arkansas’ powers-that-be will ever give iGaming any serious deliberation. The good news is that real cash poker gambling fans can still play at international Internet poker websites though!

Gambling inside The Natural State isn’t as straightforward, but there are real money US poker sites that will take you as a player.

Casino Measure Rejected; Form Of Internet Gambling Authorized

Quick Jump

  • 4 The Facts
In late 2012, political consultant and poker player Nancy Todd [1] proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow for the construction of four land-based casinos offering Texas Hold’em poker and other real cash game variants in Arkansas [2]. After receiving the required 78,133 signatures, Todd’s poker gambling proposal was rejected by AR state officials, who cited the proposal’s ambiguous and vague language as the reason behind its dismissal.

Todd would go on to make amendments to the language, but unfortunately, Arkansas’ Supreme Court ruled that the acquired signatures – which were gathered before the revision to the lawful poker amendment – were now outdated.

In other news, Arkansas rocked the real money gambling world in early 2014 by passing a piece of legislation legalizing Internet betting and gambling [3]. Senate Bill 329 granted permission to Arkansas’ two racetracks – Oaklawn Racktrack and Southland Park – to allow AR residents to partake in real cash betting on horses or greyhounds via their smartphone or other Internet enabled device. Astonishingly, that Internet gambling bill received no resistance from either the House or Senate and was passed unanimously in both. That means real money online horse and dog betting is legal for 2021.

Could an online lottery be next? Going further, will Senate Bill 329 pave the way for legal online Internet poker in Arkansas in 2021 and beyond? Real money poker website fans really hope so, but only time will tell.

Can Players From Arkansas Play Online Poker?

Believe it or not, Arkansas’ residents in The Natural State will have absolutely no problem finding an online poker website and real money Internet poker rooms to do their poker gambling. If you’re wondering how that’s possible, we don’t blame you. The answer is simple: There are a vast number of legal poker websites located outside of Arkansas’ borders that accept players from the US. And while they don’t all permit players from every state to register a real cash poker account, all the poker websites on our homepage are more than welcoming to players from Arkansas looking for a game of Internet Texas Hold’em poker or any other betting game.

Is Online Poker Legal in Arkansas?

There are several facets of Arkansas’ gambling statues that could pertain to online poker players playing on real cash Internet poker websites. However, the language of the gambling law as it stands in 2021 is noticeably vague, and can be interpreted one of several different ways. It’s for this reason that we highly suggest you speak with a legal expert, conversant in gambling law if you want to be certain you’re playing on a poker website in a legit way.

Overall, Arkansas takes a severe stance against real money wagering, outlawing it in nearly every capacity, including real cash poker games. Noteworthy aspects of the betting laws are listed below:

Arkansas

There is no definition of gambling or gaming in the statues. Yet, it can be inferred from several passages that all types of real money wagering are illegal. As stated by Section 5-66-106: It is unlawful for any person to bet any money or other valuable thing or any representative of any thing that is esteemed of value on any game prohibited by 5-66-104. Reinforcing this statement, Section 5-66-106(a) states that any game of chance and games where any money or property may be won are illegal.

Residents are not permitted to set up, keep, or exhibit any gaming table or gambling device Section 5-66-104. It is assumed that real money poker tables would fall under this category.

In 2021 the penalties for participating in a gambling game in AR like real money poker are relatively mild, at least in comparison to those inflicted on underground gambling operators. Participants are subject to a fine of between $50 and $100 (Section 5-66-106(b)), whereas poker gambling and casino game device owners could be charged with an unclassified misdemeanor and may be imprisoned any length of time not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one (1) year.

In 2009, Arkansas’ gambling statues were amended to include electronic wagering. They state: Wagers on electronic games of skill may be made only by individuals physically present at the location on the ground of the franchise holder’s authorized racetrack park site.

While there are no laws that deal directly with online Internet poker, the law seems to infer that poker website operators and Arkansas players partaking in it would be abusing the Internet gambling law.

Arkansas’ gambling law can be interpreted such that even all social home games of real money poker in 2021 where no rake is charged would be illegal. That certainly doesn’t bode well for the future of online casino gambling or real money poker betting websites. On a bright note, we are not aware of any arrests in AR prompted by someone playing Texas Hold’em poker or any other game at online poker websites.

If you wish to learn more, feel free to review Arkansas’ state code [4].

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The Facts

The History Of Gambling In Arkansas

Although it might seem hard to believe, Arkansas was once the gambling Mecca of the South. After the Civil War restored peace to the Union, the city of Hot Springs [5], located in Garland County, AR, became well-known for its poker betting and gambling venues. All of this took place amid a local (and hostile) family dispute that would ultimately result in the death of several law enforcement agents.

Table games, real cash poker, horseracing and other forms of gambling thrived in Hot Springs throughout the early 20th century and beyond, with many of the areas facilities overseen by the area’s growing mob influence. It wouldn’t be until the late 1960s that the new Republican regime put a halt to illicit gambling, burning all casino and real money poker equipment in the process.

Poker Arkansas Straight

AR State’s first horse racing facility, Oaklawn Park [6], was constructed in 1904. It would remain the only major racing facility in the state until Southland Greyhound Park opened its doors in 1956. Despite a plethora of casino and poker betting room openings in nearby states throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Arkansas would remain steadfast in its anti-gambling convictions. In fact, it wasn’t until 2008 that a second form of real cash gambling would be legalized in the state, and it wasn’t in the form of casinos or legal poker websites.

That year, charitable bingo and raffles were deemed legal. In addition, the implementation of a statewide lottery was approved by Arkansas voters in 2008, and in 2009 the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act permitted a committee to oversee and regulate the Lottery of Arkansas. The state would join forces with other states by the end of 2009, resulting in the first real cash lottery tickets being sold for Powerball, and eventually Mega-Millions, within its confines.

Regulated Gambling Options in Arkansas

Right now, there are but a few regulated offline and Internet gambling options in the Natural State. Players can participate in various lotteries, charitable bingo and raffles (but not casino nights), and wager money on horse and dog race betting. Currently in 2021, there are no commercial or tribal casinos with real money poker rooms located within the state of AR.

Interestingly enough, Arkansas’ two racing facilities are authorized to house electronic games, but only if the games necessitate the use of skill. As a result, electronic real cash poker tables can be found at the Oaklawn race track.

What are the chances of poker players in Arkansas finding a real-money online game in a state that is so against gaming?

The Future Of Regulated Online Gambling In Arkansas

It almost goes without saying that because Arkansas has yet to legalize land-based casinos and poker betting, it has little interest in creating legal Internet poker websites for 2021. Compounding matters, since rejecting Nancy Todd’s casino and real money poker proposal in 2012, no further attempts to regulate commercial casinos or lawful poker rooms have been made. And although the state’s lottery and horseracing facilities implement computerized real cash gambling technology, Arkansas’ officials have been historically against online Internet poker games like Texas Hold’em and all other poker gambling variants.

While an Arkansas-based intrastate Internet poker and gambling iGaming operation will likely never see the light of day, there is a remote possibility that Arkansas’ legislatures will one day turn to online real money poker websites and casino gambling to bolster AR’s struggling economy but that’s unlikely to happen during 2021. Without an intrastate pact, we can’t see Arkansas passing an iGaming bill for legit poker websites any time soon.

Fun Fact

One of the Godfather’s of the modern poker era, Amarillo Slim, was born in Johnson, Arkansas. Born Thomas Austin Preston, Jr. in 1928, Slim would go onto win the third ever WSOP Main Event in 1974. He would win four WSOP bracelets betting on real money poker in total.

In a battle of old vs. new, real cash poker pro Slim would finish second to the then relatively unknown Phil Ivey in the 2000 WSOP $2,500 PLO event.

The Bottom Line

Arkansas is so opposed to online gambling and real money Internet poker that it would likely be one of a handful of states to opt out of a Federal iGaming bill relating to real cash poker websites. Even if the stars aligned and it did enter the online poker landscape and offer residents a choice of legal poker websites where they could enjoy betting real money on poker games like Texas Hold’em AR’s less than three million inhabitants could hardly sustain a healthy legit Internet poker populace.

Although we could see several land-based casinos and real cash poker rooms pop up within Arkansas’ borders over the next ten years, an iGaming real money Internet poker bill making real money poker betting websites legal just doesn’t seem to be in the cards – not right now at least.

References

[1] ↑Queen of Diamonds – the official blog of Nancy Todd

[2] ↑Arkansas Supreme Court Rejects Nancy Todd’s Casino Measure

[3] ↑Cook: GOP-Controlled State Legislature Authorized Internet Gambling

[4] ↑Arkansas State Code

[5] ↑City of Hot Springs Arkansas

[6] ↑Oaklawn Racing & Gaming

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Home » US Poker Laws » State Laws » Arkansas Poker Laws

Arkansas Quick Links

  • 1.The State of Arkansas & Gambling Laws
    • 1.2Sec. 5-66-106.
  • 2.Arkansas Online Poker Laws Explained
  • 3.Is It Legal to Play Poker?
  • 4.Will Arkansas Regulate Online Poker?
  • 5.Arkansas' Gambling History

Relevant state code: 5-66-101 et seq.; 23-110 et seq.

Like many other conservative southern states, Arkansas takes a restrictive approach to gambling. Though Arkansas may be nicknamed the “Land of Opportunity”, that promise doesn’t necessarily hold true for poker enthusiasts and those who like to place an occasional wager or two. While Arkansas at first embraced gambling after the Civil War – largely thanks to the influence of mobsters – public opinion eventually shifted and the status of gambling in Arkansas today is far different from what could have been.

Arkansas Gambling Laws

If you want to live in a state that pretty much completely bans gambling as you know it, pack your bags for Arkansas. There are actually two casinos in Arkansas but archaic gambling laws mean that the games you’ll find inside won’t look much like the poker, blackjack, and craps you probably know and love. Locals can also head to the horse track at Oaklawn Jockey Club or watch the dogs run at Southland Greyhound Park and there are some very low limit video poker and slot machines at both, but that’s the extent of that state’s leniency casino-wise. Table games are strictly forbidden.

Section 5-66-106

Take a look at the 2010 Arkansas Code, Section 5-66-106 and you’ll see that the law succinctly defines their stance on gambling:

Poker Arkansas Straight Talk

Poker
  1. “It is unlawful for any person to bet any money or other valuable thing or any representative of anything that is esteemed of value on any game prohibited by state law.”

The phrase “any game prohibited by state law” leaves the powers that be plenty of room to decide what type of gaming they want to prohibit and that list can change at any time. That’s likely why parti-mutuel betting such as horse and dog racing is deemed okay while joining some strangers for a few rounds of Texas Hold’Em is a whole other kettle of fish. The vague language in the code also means that it could technically be illegal for Arkansas residents to make a bet on something as seemingly innocuous as how many fish two friends might catch during a weekend outing, which adds to the strangeness.

Another relevant section of the code is 5-66-107, “Gambling Devices”:

  1. '(a)It is unlawful for any owner or occupant of any house, outbuilding, or other building or any steamboat, or other vessel to knowingly permit or suffer any games, tables, or banks mentioned in ß 5-66-104 or permit or suffer any kind of gaming under any name, to be carried on or exhibited in his or her house, outbuilding, or other building, or on board of any steamboat, flatboat, keelboat, or other vessel on any of the waters within this state.
  2. (b) Upon conviction, a person who violates this section is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and shall be fined in any sum not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and may be imprisoned any length of time not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one (1) year.'

Poker Arkansas Straight

Similar to many other states, Arkansas’ regulation of gambling devices is actually stricter than the regulation of gambling itself, putting the onus on organizations and hosts rather than individual players.

While there are racetracks and related gambling in Arkansas, wagering on other types of sports of games is illegal. So are card games like poker, although there are some exceptions for charitable gaming (bingo and raffles) and social gaming provided those gatherings follow all the rules laid out by the state.

As for online gambling, there are no regulations that specifically prohibit, ban, or otherwise regulate internet-based gaming.

Rather hilariously, just as Arkansas gambling laws are very similar to the way they were originally enacted in 1967, the penalties have also remained largely unchanged. If you’re convicted of gambling, you may be levied with a whopping fine of $10 or, for larger offenses, as much as $25 – hardly a deterrent and as those fines have not been updated, it seems that gambling penalties are not seen as a top-level item on the state’s agenda.

Arkansas Online Poker Laws

As mentioned, there are currently no laws on the books in Arkansas that deal with the particulars of online gambling by name, which is not surprising since the state still relies on laws that were written in the late 1960s, before computers and internet gaming were even fully conceptualized. That leads most online poker enthusiasts to feel pretty confident that they can play online and not worry about enforcement but the broad nature of basic anti-gambling laws means that interpretation could get gamblers in trouble when they least expect it.

Gambling laws that make “any game of change” during which “any money or property may be won” completely illegal could technically mean that online gambling is against the law, too, but with low fines and a legislature that seems to have little if any interest in cracking down on those who gambling in the privacy of their own home, the risk appears to be ridiculous low. The only thing that gamblers should keep an eye on is laws regarding “gaming devices”, which allow for a little more interpretation and relatively steeper fines, though the penalties are still close to laughable.

The most important takeaway is that there has yet to be a single occurrence of a gambler arrested for or charged with a crime as a result of online gambling. Could it happen? Sure, but it’s pretty unlikely. In the meantime, there are plenty of online casinos that welcome business from Arkansas residents and plenty of residents are happy to play.

Is it Legal to Play Poker in Arkansas?

The old-school gambling laws in Arkansas make it illegal to play poker for money in casinos, at home, or even for the sake of charity. One section of the Arkansas criminal code deals with poker in detail:

  1. “If a person bets any money or any valuable thing on any game of brag, bluff, poker, seven-up, three-up, twenty-one, vingt-et-un, thirteen cards, the odd trick, forty-five, whist, or at any other game of cards known by any name now known to the law or with any other or new name or without any name, upon conviction he or she is guilty of a violation and shall be fined in any sum not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25).”

So three things are clear: you can’t bet anything of value even if it’s not money, you can’t make up a new name for poker and expect to be granted a legal exception, and even if you’re caught the fine won’t cost you more than a night at the movies.

What the laws don’t address is any form of online poker although some conservative forces argue that the general gambling laws include language that could very well apply to internet-based gambling as well. That’s clearly a matter of interpretation and no one in a position of legal power seems to be interested in making any official clarifications.

Straight Poker Game Hand

Will Arkansas Regulate Online Poker?

Straight Vs Flush

Poker

This seems very unlikely. While it’s always possible that conservative factions will want precisely defined legislation that outlaws online poker or that more progressive groups will lobby for the exact opposite, at present there’s a status quo that no one’s very interested in disturbing. There’s a sort of “live and let live” attitude that prevails; as long as people aren’t gambling in the open in outright defiance of the law or flaunting their pastime, no one seems to care.

That said, the state lottery was only in enacted in 2009 and it passed because of the lottery’s ability to funnel money intended for the state’s educational system. If internet gambling could raise similar funds for state use, regulation and taxation could become an increasingly attractive option.

History of Gambling in Arkansas

If you think Las Vegas has rich, mob-related casino history, check out the background of an area in Arkansas called Hot Springs (now a spot practically synonymous with leisurely vacations and spa retreats). This federally protected reserve had gambling way back in the post-civil war era and the men in charge were gangsters who also controlled the area’s liquor. By the 1920s, Hot Springs had more than 10 casinos – more than Vegas boasted at the time – but that all changed in 1947 when the law blew through town and many of the big casino owners ended up in legal trouble. Gambling in Hot Springs came to an end in 1967.

The early 20th century brought baseball training camps to Arkansas and with the camps came a bump in tourism. Those visitors needed somewhere to go and the Oaklawn racetrack held the answer. That racetrack is still running today, albeit with some significant alterations and additions.

Straight Poker Games

The law that closed down Hot Springs in 1967 is largely still in effect today with a few exceptions. In 2005, the infamous “Game of Skill” legislation took effect, allowing the state’s biggest racetracks to include electronic skill-based games. Though the machines in these so-called “racinos” don’t much in common with the slot machines you’d see in Atlantic City or Vegas as far as jackpots and options go, they’re still popular, and the potential for profits has led racetracks to try out new versions that combine electronics and live dealer options.

In 2007, the Charitable Bingo and Raffles Enabling Act allowed for some restricted versions of charitable gambling. Two years later, the Arkansas launched the state’s first lottery which was granted an exception due to its status as a fundraising “scholarship lottery” that would generate money funneled into the state’s education programs.

Also in 2009, Arkansas lawmakers allocated $200,000 from the state budget to help fight and treat gambling addiction. It was a bit of an odd move considering the heavy restrictions on gambling in the state which may be why the money was soon rerouted to other causes. The National Council on Problem Gambling stepped in to take up the slack. Using money contributed by the Oaklawn and Southland tracks, the council established a gambling helpline that aims to combat the proliferation of racino gambling which currently generates a staggering $3.5 billion in legal wagers on an annual basis. Funding was for problem gambling was cut in 2015 by lawmakers and as of 2017, the NCPG continued to fund the hotline and basic services without the asistance of the Arkansas government.

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