In Arkansas, that state’s Senate Judiciary Committee has approved SB 496 to prohibit Alcoholic Beverage Control Division agents from enforcing rules against gambling devices in permitted businesses.
The bill also authorizes the sale of pull-tab cards.
The Arkansas Times reports the proposed legislation, in what it calls “a law suit waiting to happen,” also gives to each prosecuting attorney the power to define gaming devices in their districts. An amendment was additionally proposed that would make it a crime if a law officer does enforce an anti-gambling law.
This move comes despite the state having a constitutional prohibition against gambling, except for the state lottery and pari-mutuel wagering.
Arkansas does have a law to allowing prizes worth up to $12 on arcade-type games in the Dave and Buster’s that recently opened in Little Rock. Opponents of that bill had warned it would inevitably lead to expansion of gambling elsewhere. Several legislators have complained about enforcement of anti-gambling rules in businesses in their district.