Proposed Arkansas bill to raise NIL money through 50/50 raffles doesn't pass

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HB 1044 sought to expand the funding mechanisms available to Arkansas universities by allowing them to hold raffles at home sporting events. The proceeds would be split between a randomly selected winner and the school’s athletics department. The funds could have been allocated for various purposes, including athletic scholarships, NIL compensation, facility upkeep, and general athletic department operations.

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State Representative RJ Hawk, the bill’s sponsor, framed it as a necessary step for Arkansas to keep pace with other schools in NIL fundraising.

“These universities, they work too hard. They work too hard fundraising and doing. Our student-athletes should have the best no matter what school you go to, whether it's UCA, Southern Arkansas, Harding, or U of A. Our schools should have the best, and this would have given them that,” Hawk said to THV11.

Despite these intentions, the bill faced significant opposition, particularly from members of the gaming industry, who took issue with the language of the legislation.

Saracen Casino Resort opposed the bill, stating that it didn’t go far enough and arguing there were better ways to raise money for NIL.

"We are all about collegiate sports, and we want to help raise money for NIL, but this bill as written needlessly cut out the folks most equipped and willing to help," Carlton Saffa, Chief Market Officer for Saracen Casino Resort said.

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