Timeline of sports betting in Arkansas
Arkansas sports betting was legalized in November 2018 — six months after the federal ban on sports wagering was lifted in the United States. After several failed attempts to bring mobile sports betting to the Land of Opportunity, Arkansans could finally see online sportsbooks arrive in February 2022.
Here’s a glimpse into Arkansas’ sports betting journey:
Dec. 30, 2021: The Arkansas Racing Commission approves changes to Arkansas’ casino gaming rules to allow for mobile sports betting. The proposed changes would see online operators partner with and surrender 51% of profits to local casinos.
Jan. 28, 2020: Betly sportsbook launches a retail sportsbook in Southland Casino Racing.
Oct. 1, 2019: Saracen Casino resort opens Saracen Sportsbook, the second retail sportsbook in Arkansas.
July 1, 2019: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort takes Arkansas’ first legal sports bet as general manager Wayne Smith picks the Dallas Cowboys to defeat the New York Giants in the first game of the 2018-19 NFL season.
November 2018: State voters approve a ballot initiative to legalize casino gaming. Retail sports betting is included in the initiative.
May 14, 2018: SCOTUS overturns the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing each state to legalize and regulate sports betting on its own terms.
Mobile sports betting in Arkansas: Coming in February 2022?
With the Arkansas Legislative Council set to convene on Jan. 28, 2022, Arkansas mobile sports betting is expected to be given the go-ahead to launch as early as February.
Much to the dismay of online operators, Arkansas appears to be moving forward with a revenue-sharing agreement significantly in favor of local casinos. Arkansas' three casinos, partnering with two online sportsbooks each, will be granted 51% of all profits generated from online sports betting.
Arkansans should expect a competitive market when all is said and done. Mobile sportsbooks could offer some enticing welcome bonuses — especially if they launch operations ahead of Super Bowl 56.
Who can bet on sports in Arkansas?
You must be 21 years of age to partake in legal sports betting in Arkansas. Wagers can be placed at one of the state’s three casinos.
Here's everything you need to know about placing sports betting in AR:
Legal age
Arkansas sports betting is for adults 21 and older.
Mobile betting
Arkansans cannot place legal mobile bets just yet. The Arkansas Legislative Council will assemble on Jan. 28, 2022, to approve or deny mobile betting. If mobile wagering is authorized, The Arkansas Racing Commission will regulate all mobile wagering in the state beginning in February 2022.
Remote registration
Remote registration will surely accompany mobile sports betting in Arkansas. Sports bettors will have the ability to sign up, claim bonuses, make deposits, and confirm wagers from anywhere in the state.
Within state borders
To place a legal sports bet, you’ll have to visit a retail sportsbook in Arkansas. When mobile wagering arrives, bettors will be able to confirm their picks from anywhere in the state.
Retail sportsbooks
Bettors can find brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in each of Arkansas’ three casinos — Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Saracen Casino Resort, and Southland Casino Racing. A fourth casino, Legends Resort & Casino, has yet to be built but will house a sportsbook as soon as it's constructed.
Taxable winnings
Arkansas bettors will have to surrender 24% of their winnings to the federal government. In addition, Arkansas levies a 3% state tax on all gambling income.
Crossing state lines: Nearby betting sites in 2022
If you’re unwilling to wait for Arkansas to legalize mobile sports betting — or simply looking to try out a new retail sportsbook — there are some options nearby.
For the online gambler, Tennessee will be the best bet. The Volunteer State legalized online sports betting in July 2019 and currently has eight active sportsbooks to choose from, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars Sportsbook.
Mississippi is home to more than two dozen retail sportsbooks. Arkansas gamblers looking for a variety of in-person options will feel right at home along the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast.
The pros and cons of Arkansas sports betting
Arkansas is on track to launch mobile sports betting sometime in February 2022. Until then, Arkansans will be limited to three retail sportsbooks.
Mobile betting as early as February 2022
In-state college betting
Few events are off-limits
Currently limited to three retail sportsbooks
51% profit-sharing in favor of casinos could discourage top operators
No esports betting
How to start betting in Arkansas
To place a legal sports wager in Arkansas, you’ll need to visit a brick-and-mortar sportsbook in one of the state’s three casinos.
1
Select a sportsbook
We recommend exploring each sportsbook's offering in-depth before signing up and locking in your first pick. This means line shopping, comparing welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions, and ensuring your banking needs are met.
2
Register online
Until mobile sports betting arrives, Arkansans will be forced to visit a casino to register with a retail sportsbook.
3
Claim a bonus
While mobile sportsbooks will offer welcome bonuses to new bettors in Arkansas, retail locations rarely do the same. Welcome offers may include risk-free bets, no deposit bonuses, and deposit matches.
4
Deposit funds
Arkansas bettors must visit a retail location to make their initial deposits. When mobile sports betting arrives, sportsbook users will be able to make deposits remotely from anywhere in the state.
6
Start betting
Always read your chosen sportsbook's terms and conditions section to fully understand what each bet and promotion entails. We also recommend comparing odds whenever possible to ensure the best potential payouts. Not all sportsbooks offer bettors the same betting lines, so consistently identifying the most favorable odds will pay dividends in the long run.
7
Withdraw funds
Arkansans can access winnings in person at a retail sportsbook. Soon, bettors will experience the convenience of mobile withdrawals. Online sportsbooks will offer some combination of PayPal, eCheck, bank transfer, Skrill, and Play+ to users looking to withdraw funds. The method chosen will determine processing times.
Reading the odds
Arkansas sportsbooks default to American odds when displaying betting odds. Favorites are accompanied by a minus (-) sign. The following number indicates the amount you'll have the wager to generate $100 in profit. For example, -375 odds tell you a $375 wager is required if you're hoping to win $100.
Underdogs are shown with a plus (+) sign and represent the amount to be won when placing a $100 bet. For example, +600 odds represent the $600 you would stand to win should your $100 bet prove successful.
Wagers on underdogs will set you up for a larger payday. It's up to you to determine if the inherent risk is worth the reward.
Our odds converter lets you view odds in other formats, such as fractional and decimal odds.
Arkansas sports betting handle
Arkansas has seen a steady year-over-year increase in betting handle since accepting its first legal wager in July 2019. The addition of mobile betting in 2022 should propel the state’s monthly betting handle into eight figures.
Editor’s note: Arkansas casinos closed from mid-March to May 18 due to COVID-19.
Yearly breakdown
| Year |
Total handle |
Revenue |
Hold percentage |
Tax revenue |
| 2022 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2021 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2020 |
$32.8M |
$4.1M |
12.7% |
$583K |
| 2019 |
$11.2M |
$1.3M |
11.8% |
$173K |
Monthly handle
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Total |
| 2022 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2021 |
$7.1M |
$4.4M |
$5.9M |
$4M |
$3.6M |
$3.8M |
$2.9M |
$2.8M |
$7M |
$9.5M |
$8.3M |
- |
$59.9M |
| 2020 |
$2.5M |
$4.3M |
$1.5M |
- |
$509 |
$1,189 |
$179K |
$1M |
$3.9M |
$6.5M |
$6.2M |
$6.4M |
$32.8M |
| 2019 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
$416K |
$778K |
$2.2M |
$2.2M |
$2.9M |
$2.6M |
$11.2M |
What you can't bet on in Arkansas
While most events are fair game in Arkansas, some bet types are not permitted in the Natural State. Wagers on political events, esports, and amateur athletes under 18 are off-limits.
Politics
There is no legal way to wager on politics in Arkansas or any other U.S. state.
esports
Arkansas has yet to legalize esports betting. State regulators could revisit the legality of this bet type with the launch of mobile betting.
What about AR college sports?
Fortunately for Arkansas bettors, the state's sports betting law permits wagers on both out-of-state and in-state college teams.
Legal sportsbooks in Arkansas
With just three retail sportsbooks, AR bettors' choices are limited. However, the state's proposed sports betting legislation calls for up to six online operators.
You can currently place a legal sports wager in Arkansas at the following locations:
Land-based AR sportsbooks
| Sportsbook |
Venue |
Address |
Phone number |
Odds provider |
| Sports Bar & Grill (Betly) |
Southland Casino Racing |
1550 N. Ingram Blvd. West Memphis, AR 72301 |
1-(800)-467-6182 |
IGT |
| Oaklawn Sportsbook |
Oaklawn Casino Racing Resort |
2705 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901 |
(501)-623-4411 |
SBTech |
| Saracen Sportsbook |
Saracen Casino Resort |
1 Saracen Resort Dr, Pine Bluff, AR 71601 |
(870)-686-9001 |
IGT |
Home team advantage: Arkansas sports
While it's tempting to support your Razorbacks with your bankroll, it's important not to let your sports allegiances cloud your judgment when betting. Be sure to research every bet thoroughly before blindly backing your hometown squads. Check out our how to bet guides to get started.
Other types of gambling
Arkansas is still relatively new to gambling, as the state’s three fully operational casinos launched in 2019.
The only forms of online gambling in Arkansas are horse race betting and DFS (daily fantasy sports). Online casinos are illegal in the Natural State.
Casino
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Saracen Casino Resort, and Southland Casino Racing offer classic table games, slots, and much more. Both Oakland and Southland feature high-limit areas, while Saracen’s dedicated poker room is a must for card sharks.
Although real money online casinos are off-limits in Arkansas, gamblers can turn to sweepstakes casino websites. These sites allow players to get started for free with the aim of earning real cash prizes.
Poker
Arkansas gamblers can find live poker at Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff. Unfortunately, online poker is not available in the state.
Horse racing
There is one thoroughbred racing venue in Arkansas. Oaklawn Casino Racing Resort, known initially as Oaklawn Park, opened in 1904 and is home to "The Racing Festival of the South." The Arkansas Derby highlights each racing season in the Natural State.
Pari-mutuel wagering is permitted both at the track and online in Arkansas.
Daily fantasy sports
Arkansas is one of a handful of states that have passed legislation to legalize DFS. In 2017, the general assembly passed Act 1075 (then HB2250), deeming DFS a game of skill and not a form of gambling. FanDuel and DraftKings have a stronghold on the Arkansas DFS market.
Responsible gaming in Arkansas
Like other states with regulated gambling, Arkansas has taken steps to provide the resources needed to prevent, monitor, and treat gambling addiction.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) offers self-help resources to those in need. Problem gamblers can also join a self-exclusion program to ban themselves from any gambling facility voluntarily.
Visit the National Council on Problem Gambling
Legal U.S. sports betting markets
Arkansas was one of the first states to legalize sports betting. Today, the following states have some form of legal sports wagering in place:
