Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has vetoed a bill that was to prohibit Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control inspectors from enforcing laws that relate to gambling activities and the operation of gaming devices, such as video slot machines, within the territory of the state. Senate Bill 496 was initially authored by Scott Flippo, a Republican member of the Arkansas State Senate.
Senator Flippo’s bill aimed at authorising inspectors from the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control to turn the blind eye whenever they came across illegal gambling operations while inspecting whether or not a given organisation or business was adhering to the Arkansas liquor laws. The bill, which passed both chambers of the Arkansas General Assembly, was sent to the state’s Governor for consideration at the end of last month.
Proponents of the bill claimed it would enable local businesses to generate additional profits by offering video gaming machines on their premises. They argued that the proprietors of small businesses struggle to compete with larger convenience store chains, which is why introducing a few video slot machines to their establishments was giving them a chance to remain in business.
What is more, Flippo himself commented smaller businesses in the district he is in charge of are being harassed by the alcohol bureau. The Senator went on to say, the Alcoholic Beverage Control, which is part of Governor Hutchinson’s executive branch, should not have its say as far as determining gambling legality is concerned.
The Charitable Gaming Law that is in force within the state of Arkansas allows various non-profit organisations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Elk’s Club to house video gaming machines as well as to facilitate bingo and games of chance, such as pull tabs.
Small businesses proprietors involuntarily skirt Arkansas laws and believe operating video slot machines on their premises is legal since they do not offer cash prizes to winning customers. The same applies in full force to gas station owners who house slot machines on their premises as they allow customers to pay for gas and groceries with the winnings they have accumulated on the said machines. As the said businesses and gas stations do not pay out winnings the way gambling establishments would do, they simply do not consider operating slot machines as gambling.
However, this is not the stance Governor Hutchinson has taken in his veto. According to the Arkansas Governor, the Alcoholic Beverage Control inspectors cannot be directed to disregard the state’s law and ignore illegal conduct. Even more so, considering two gas station owners were caught operating video slot machines in plain sight only last week. Hutchinson commented that prohibiting the executive enforcement of Arkansas laws is hardly a viable method of addressing the issue with unauthorised gambling operations in the state.
Cody Hiland, prosecutor for the 20th Judicial District praised the decision of the Governor and commented that video gaming machines are illegal within the state of Arkansas regardless of what the stake is. Hiland went on to explain businesses cannot give their customers any items of value in exchange for the money they spend on games of chance, such as video slots. Hiland also explained that one of the reasons why the said slot machines are dangerous is that they can easily be subjected to tax evasion.
- Author
Daniel Williams
