Arkansas Racing Commission approves system for multi-state machine gambling jackpots

Arkansas Racing Commission approves system for multi-state machine gambling jackpots

Article brief provided by Arkansas Times
  • Max Brantley, Arkansas Times
September 22, 2022 7:06 PM
  • Max Brantley, Arkansas Times

The Arkansas Racing Commission today approved a proposal from the Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff for a system that links gambling machines in Arkansas to machines in other states and thus creates a potential for large jackpots, sometimes as high as six or seven figures.

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The machine vendor IGT would oversee the so-called wide area progressive system. Other casinos in Arkansas would be able to take advantage of this arrangement as well. Rules already allowed such linkage, but Saracen was the first to ask to add the feature.

Progressive jackpots are familiar sights in major casinos around the country. A percentage of bets is held back from the normal division of revenue between casino and vendor to cover big jackpots.