How to Become a Lottery Retailer in Arkansas

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Learn how to become licensed as a lottery retailer in Arkansas, and speak with an Single Source Insurance agent today about purchasing the lottery bond you’ll need.

How Can I Get Licensed as a Lottery Retailer?

To become a retailer authorized to sell Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) tickets, you must call Retailer Licensing at 501-978-3950 and ask for a license application and instructions.

Steps in the Licensing Process

The application packet includes an ASL Landlord Approval Form, ASL Record Check Form, ASL Fingerprint Verification Form, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Form, and an Additional Location Application Form if applicable.

ASL maintains a Self-Bond program that requires all lottery retailers to pay a $50 fee annually for each retail location in which they operate. Failure to pay the bonding fee every year can result in license suspension or revocation.

Some lottery retailers may not be allowed to participate in the ASL�s Self-Bond program and must purchase their own surety bond in the amount specified by ASL or provide interest-bearing securities as security. Purchasing a surety bond is by far the less costly option.

Why Is an Arkansas Scholarship Uniform Lottery Bond Required?

When a retailer is required to purchase a lottery surety bond instead of participating in the ASL’s Self-Bond program, it’s generally due to a past failure to pay the required Self-Bond fee. In purchasing a surety bond, the retailer agrees to operate in compliance with ASL regulations and applicable sections of the Arkansas Code. The bond provides financial protection for ASL and the public by legally obligating the retailer (the bond’s “principal”) to compensate ASL (the “obligee” requiring the bond) or other injured party for damages resulting from a regulatory violation.

How Do Arkansas Scholarship Uniform Lottery Bonds Work?

The third party to an Arkansas lottery bond is the bond�s guarantor (the �surety�). The surety is responsible for investigating claims and guarantees that the principal will pay all claims found to be valid. �The principal is legally obligated to pay all legitimate claims.

However, having guaranteed the payment of claims, the surety will pay a valid claim initially, on behalf of the principal. This simply ensures swift resolution of the claim and does not relieve the principal of legal responsibility for the claim. The principal must subsequently reimburse the surety for any claim paid on the principal�s behalf. Not repaying that debt can result in the surety taking legal action against the principal to recover the claim amount.

How Much Does a Lottery Bond Cost?

Arkansas Scholarship Uniform Lottery Bonds are subject to underwriting. The cost of a bond is determined by two factors: the required bond amount established by the obligee and the premium rate set by the surety. The premium rate reflects the underwriter�s assessment of the risk involved in the surety paying claims on the principal�s behalf�specifically, the risk of not being repaid by the principal.

The underwriters will lean heavily on the principal�s personal credit score in assessing the risk level. A creditworthy principal is likely to repay the principal as required, so the risk is deemed to be low, and the premium rate will also be low. A less creditworthy principal will pay a higher premium rate to compensate for the higher risk.

Our surety bond professionals will get you the Arkansas Scholarship Uniform Lottery bond you need at a competitive rate.

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