An expert hired by opponents of the casino expansion amendment has submitted ideas on rules changes to discourage problem gambling in the new and expanded Arkansas casinos and otherwise improve conditions for gamblers.

Lawyer Scott Trotter, in a letter to the Racing Commission, said he had joined with the Family Council and Rev. Steve Copley, who’d opposed the amendment, in hiring Drake University law professor Keith Miller to review proposed rules for casino regulations and make suggestions.

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Trotter urged the commission not to rush, particularly on clearing sports gambling, which could involve betting on colleges in Arkansas. Existing casinos are in operation at Oaklawn and Southland racetracks. Additional casinos are allowed in Jefferson and Pope Counties, with plans in a Quapaw tribe-owned casino farther along in Jefferson County. The opposition has arisen in Pope Couty. Trotter noted that he, Copley and Cox support a rule requiring letters of support from local officials in office at the time of casino applications. A Mississippi casino operator has tried to offer support for its proposal for a casino in Pope County by letters from local officials who left office at the end of 2018.

Here’s Miller’s full report and these are the key recommendations in his executive summary:

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* Casino’s should NOT be allowed to extend credit to gamblers.

* Credit card and ATMs should NOT be placed in the gambling area. (Correction: I omitted the NOT in the original post.)

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* 1 percent of net gambling revenue should be devoted to a state program for problem gamblers.

 * Procedures for “self-exclusion” of gamblers, administered by the state and enforced by casinos.

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* An administrative dispute resolution process for disagreements between casino and gambler.

* No smoking on gambling floors.

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* Study sports gambling before establishing rules for it and permitting it.

Miller is a distinguished professor at Drake and teaches courses in gambling law.

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The commission has a public hearing on rules proposals Feb. 21.