Sports betting in Arkansas is no longer just on the horizon—it's live and growing. Retail sportsbooks and sanctioned horse-race wagering have been legal for a while. Mobile and online sportsbooks are here too: the state authorized online wagering in early 2022, and several casino-partnered apps are operational.
Let’s examine what that means for residents of the Natural State, including the legal landscape, the number of active operators (and how many could still enter), and what to watch for next. We’ll also update you on legal changes and the rollout of additional apps and platforms in Arkansas.
Check back here for the latest news on gambling and sports betting in Arkansas.
Is AR Sports Betting Legal? | Yes |
Launch Date | March 5, 2022 |
Legal AR Sportsbooks | Betly, BetSaracen, Oaklawn Sports |
Sports betting is entirely legal in Arkansas: you can place bets in-person, online, and via mobile. Retail sportsbooks operate at three casino locations: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs), Saracen Casino Resort (Pine Bluff), and Southland Casino Racing (West Memphis).
With mobile and online sports betting now legal in Arkansas, every casino in the state has launched its own betting app.
The Arkansas Racing Commission regulates sports betting.
Arkansas sports betting is legal in all forms: online, mobile, and in-person. You must be 21 or over to register for an online sportsbook account and place bets.
Although online sports betting is legal and live, the market is relatively small and tightly controlled. Only three sportsbooks are accepting online bets:
These are the online counterparts to the three retail sportsbooks and casinos open since 2018. In 2018, Arkansas made a key amendment to its gambling laws following a public referendum. Under the amendments, retail sportsbooks were permitted at the state’s land-based casinos.
The Arkansas Racing Commission regulates sportsbooks, casinos, and racinos. The Commission also oversees all thoroughbred horse racing and greyhound racing. Pari-mutuel betting is permitted at all racinos and racetracks. However, no online casino apps are currently available.
Despite its online launch, Arkansas’s mobile market is less competitive or expansive than many other states. There are fewer choices and no major national brands.
This is due to a significant regulatory hurdle: online operators in Arkansas must share at least 51% of their revenue with the partnered casino licensee. This revenue-sharing burden is much steeper than in comparable regulated states (like Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi), discouraging national brands from entering the state's market.
Here are the factors our experts consider when rating sportsbooks around the U.S.:
Is AR Sports Betting Legal? | Yes |
Launch Date | March 5, 2022 |
No. of AR Sportsbooks | 3 |
Legal Betting Age | 21 |
Sports Betting Bill | Amendment 100 |
Total Licenses | 4 (one per casino) |
Regulatory Body | Arkansas Racing Commission |
Sports Betting Revenue | $1.5M (July 2025) |
AR Population | 3.1M |
Sports betting in Arkansas was approved via a statewide voter referendum on Amendment 100 to the state constitution. The amendment authorized four casino licenses in Arkansas: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs), Southland Casino Racing (West Memphis), and Saracen Casino Resort (Pine Bluff). One additional license is available in Pope County, but it is still pending launch.
It also legalized in-person sports wagering at casinos and assigned oversight to the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC). Retail sportsbooks began opening in 2019 and 2020.
Each active casino could partner with up to two online operators, which ARC must approve. At least 51% of net sports-betting revenue must go to the casino licensee. The amendment established a 13% tax rate on the first $150M of net gaming revenue per year and 20% on any revenue above $150M.
In 2021, the ARC began to review whether to expand sports betting online. By early 2022, the online and mobile betting market was allowed to open. This expanded the 2018 constitutional authorization to include online sports betting within the ARC’s purview.
Arkansas has three casinos or racinos, each with its own retail sportsbook. A fourth casino and sportsbook, Legends Resort & Casino, got the green light in 2021.
Sportsbook | Casino | Address | Opening Date |
---|---|---|---|
Oaklawn | Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort | 2705 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901 | July 2019 |
Betly | Southland Casino Racing | 1550 N. Ingram Blvd. West Memphis, AR 72301 | Jan. 2020 |
Saracen | Saracen Casino Resort | 3513 Market St Pine Bluff, AR 71601 | Oct. 2020 |
Amendment 100 allows bettors to wager on college sports, including in-state teams.
The University of Arkansas boasts several Razorback teams, predominantly in basketball and football. The Razorbacks basketball team has seven conference tournament titles, most recently in 2000. Many Razorbacks stars have gone on to enjoy success in the NBA.
Arkansas gamblers already have access to full sports betting at retail outlets in the state. The state's first online and mobile sportsbooks will likely offer the same range of markets. You’ll also be able to wager on college sports in Arkansas, but politics may be excluded.
The Arkansas legislature passed DFS back in 2017. Under Act 1075 of 2017, entering paid DFS contests within Arkansas is legal. Operators are taxed 8% on gross revenues, although activity has been slow in Arkansas. DraftKings and FanDuel wasted no time in opening their sites to AR fantasy enthusiasts. You can pay to join real-money fantasy sports pools to win cash in NFL or MLB contests
Betting at ADW (Advance Deposit Wagering) sites in Arkansas is already legal. You can place real-money pari-mutuel bets on races across the US and overseas. Sites like TVG offer odds and markets on all tracks, including thoroughbred meets in Arkansas.
We only recommend signing up for legal sportsbooks in Arkansas. While offshore sportsbooks are available in Arkansas, you can’t guarantee that your funds are secure and that the gaming can be trusted.
At legalized sportsbooks, you get:
Online sports betting should be fun, but that's not for all gamblers. Gambling addiction affects people nationwide, but U.S. sportsbooks will provide responsible gambling resources to get you help fast.AR mobile sportsbooks supply links to problem gambling charities. You’ll also be able to set your own deposit limits or request a time-out.
If you need help controlling your play, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling in Arkansas at 1-800-522-4700.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Arkansas. That includes in-person betting, online betting, and mobile betting.
Yes, you can bet on sports online in Arkansas.
Three land-based casinos in Arkansas offer legal sports betting: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs), Saracen Casino Resort (Pine Bluff), and Southland Casino Racing (West Memphis). Some of these also provide racing betting.
Three online sportsbooks are available in Arkansas: Betly, BetSaracen, and Oaklawn Sports. These are the online arms of the three land-based retail sportsbooks: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs), Saracen Casino Resort (Pine Bluff), and Southland Casino Racing (West Memphis).
No, you do not need to be an Arkansas resident to bet online. However, you must be physically present in Arkansas when you sign in and bet online.
Yes! Several racetracks and racinos offer pari-mutuel betting on greyhounds and horse races.
Three land-based casinos offer sportsbooks in Arkansas: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs), Saracen Casino Resort (Pine Bluff), and Southland Casino Racing (West Memphis)