Commission approves keno to electronic gambling at racetracks
Posted on Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Arkansas Racing Commission on Thursday approved the addition of keno to the electronic gambling games that can be run at Southland Gaming and Racing in West Memphis, agreeing that the version of the game involves the use of some skill.
“Electronic games of skill” are allowed in Arkansas at racetracks at Southland and at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, though critics say the games are little different from slot machines.
Southland had asked for approval of the keno games and a few others. Gaming Laboratories International, known as GLI, is a consultant to the Racing Commission and it evaluates proposed games for whether they meet the state test of involving skill. A GLI report submitted to the commission verified that the keno game was proper under state law.
Keno is similar to bingo or a lottery. The player picks a group of numbers and can win by matching numbers drawn by the house.
Southland President and General Manager Troy L. Keeping said the keno game that won approval involves putting up a partial group of numbers and giving the player a chance to increase his bet or keep it the same.
Keeping said demonstration games are available for patrons to use for practice so they understand the skills needed to play before they start betting.
Doug Jones, an opponent of expanded gambling in the state, argued at the meeting that the keno machines and most other games are simply methods of gambling and should not be allowed. Jones, who is a member of the group Watchmen of Garland County, said he wants the commission to take a broader look at the influences the casinolike atmosphere and games at the tracks have on gamblers.
Racing Commission Chairman Cecil Alexander said the panel has hired GLI to make the determination on whether a game can be considered a game of skill.
“That’s what we’re going to rely on,” Alexander said. “Our position is to follow the statute as the Legislature passed it.” Southland operates about 700 gambling games. Oaklawn is expanding to add about 500 games on top of the 500 it already operates.
The tracks added the games after voters approved them in local elections in 2006. The Arkansas Supreme Court last year rejected a challenge to the 2005 law that allowed the local votes for the games.
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