Jackpot: Arkansas’ Casino-style Wagering Tops $2 Billion
by October 11, 2012 6:40 pm 95 views
Arkansans may not be voting to expand casino operations in state this year, but that won’t stop gamblers from playing the slots.
Electronic games of skill wagering at Arkansas’ two racetracks and casinos set a new record topping $2 billion for the year with three months to go. The cumulative total of EGS wagering is the highest since the gambling began in late 2006.
Hot Springs-based Oaklawn and West Memphis-based Southland saw EGS wagers eclipse the $2 billion mark for the first time ever after September 2012 numbers were reported. For all of 2011, EGS gambling at the two tracks totaled $1.967 billion.
For the month, Oaklawn showed $80.93 million in EGS wagers bringing year-to-date totals to $710.75 million. One year ago, Oaklawn reported September EGS wagers of $57.43 million.
At Southland, EGS wagers topped $143.95 million for the month and year-to-date totals hit $1.329 billion. Compared to a year ago, Southland reported September EGS gambling of $116.38 million.
EGS wagers include gambling spent on video blackjack, poker, slot machines and other casino-style games.