Legal online sports betting has just arrived in Arkansas, with the first bets being taken online by Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis. The market can now expect a big expansion as more sportsbooks go live in the Natural State.
Players are able to wager real money playing daily fantasy sports while they wait for legal online sports betting sites and apps to be rolled out. Playing on DFS sites has been legal in Arkansas since 2017, and so players are able to enjoy platforms such as DraftKings and FanDuel completely legally.
The best Arkansas Fantasy Sites
More on Arkansas Sports Betting
- Arkansas Sports Betting: Current Situation
- Neighboring states with legal sports betting
- Arkansas Sports Betting FAQs
- Top Arkansas Betting Sites Ranked
- Arkansas Sports Betting History
- Arkansas Sports Teams to bet on
Arkansas Sports Betting: As it stands
| Online Sports Betting | Yes |
| Mobile Sports Betting | No (Launch imminent) |
| Retail Sports Betting | Yes |
| Minimum Age | 21+ |
Online sports betting is now completely legal around Arkansas, with the first website that accepts bets being launched by Southland Casino Racing. This will soon be followed by legal online betting sites offered by the other two Arkansas casinos, the Saracen Casino Resort and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.
Currently, Southland only offers a desktop site for players to use their online sportsbooks. However, they hope to finalize and launch their mobile app within weeks.
Saracen expects to have its website open for business in time for the annual March Madness NCAA men’s basketball tournament, with its app following quickly behind. Oaklawn Racing is slightly further behind in development and anticipates launching its legal online sports betting catalog in late spring or early summer.
Neighboring states with legal online sports betting
Arkansas is following in the footsteps of three of its neighboring states who have already legalized sports betting.
- Find out more on Tennessee sports betting
- Find out more on Louisiana sports betting
- Find out more on Mississippi sports betting
Arkansas Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Arkansas?
Sports betting is completely legal in Arkansas, with the proposition to introduce legal sportsbooks to casinos in the Natural State passing as far back as November 2018. The first retail sportsbook was then opened by Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in July 2019, followed by Saracen Casino in October 2019.
Online and mobile sports betting was approved in February 2022, with each physical sportsbook being granted two mobile sportsbook licenses. The first of these were launched in early March 2022, with Southland Casino and Saracen Casino being the first to market with desktop sites.
Who governs sports betting in Arkansas?
Control over legal sports betting in Arkansas is handled by the Arkansas Racing Commission, which oversees all gambling in the Natural State. They are tasked with ensuring all betting is done in a safe and fair way, along with authorizing licenses for sports betting operators.
Where can I bet on sports in Arkansas?
You are now able to place sports bets online statewide in Arkansas thanks to the desktop sportsbook run by Southland Casino Racing. This will soon be followed by a mobile sports betting app, with Saracen Casino looking to launch their online sports betting options by the time March Madness tips off on 13th March.
This is on top of the legal retail sports betting options at Arkansas’ casinos. Southland Casino Racing, Saracen Casino, and Oaklawn Racing Casino. All three have sportsbook options for bettors on site.
How old do you have to be to bet in Arkansas?
The current age to legally place a bet on sports in Arkansas both online and at a casino sportsbook is 21 years old. There are no current plans to review this age restriction.
What sports can I bet on in Arkansas?
There are no restrictions on what sports you can bet on in Arkansas, meaning you are able to back the best of the action from across all of the best sports both domestically and from around the world.
This includes betting on in-state college sports. Unlike other states Arkansas does not have bans on in-state betting on Arkansas college sports, meaning you are free to back the University of Arkansas Razorbacks or Arkansas State University Red Wolves.
Our top Arkansas Sports betting sites
- Southland – Arkansas’ first legal online sportsbook
- Saracen – Great range of markets
1. Southland
Southland Casino Racing were the first of Arkansas’ casinos to launch its online sports betting services. They offer their online site in conjunction with Betly, and hope to soon add a dedicated mobile betting app too.
The Southland sportsbook offers a big range of domestic and international sports to bet on, with plenty of lines on each game available meaning you’ll always be able to find the exact bet you want. There are also special profit-boosted lines for both regular bets as well as parlays, along with daily selected odds boosts.
New players to online betting with Southland Casino will receive a $250 risk free first bet, meaning that if your first bet loses your stake up to $250 will be refunded with free bets. These can then be put on other events, with any winnings paid out to you in cash.
2. Saracen
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | ✔ | X | ✔ | X |
The online sportsbook from Saracen Casino Resort was the second online sports betting option to launch in Arkansas, going live in May 2022. The casino aimed for a launch date before March Madness, but they were unable to do so.
The online sportsbook from Saracen follows their retail offering, with a huge selection of sports and lines available to bet on. There is a good selection of daily special bets and odds boosts available for online customers too.
Most likely Arkansas sports betting sites
- BetMGM – National leading online sportsbook
- FanDuel – Fantastic value bets
- DraftKings – Great stats breakdowns
- Caesars – Generous promotions and bonuses
Caesars
Caesars are going to be one of the top online sportsbooks that will look to begin operating in Arkansas soon. Should they be granted access, players will find one of the best selections of rewards and promotions available on the market. Right now, new bettors in legal states can get a First Bet up to $1,000 on Caesars.
The Caesars name is one of the most respected and well-known in the entire gambling market. They bring the same levels of hospitality to their online players around the country as they do for those who visit them in their Las Vegas, NV home.
This is alongside a full selection of sports to bet on, including special daily bets and odds-boosted lines. There is also an easy-to-use one-game parlay builder for players who like to concentrate the action on a single big game.
Caesars also just launched in Maine with a welcome offer that lets new users get up to $1,000 in bonus bets if their first bet doesn’t win.
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | X | ✔ | ✔ |
DraftKings
Players in Arkansas can already access the DraftKings daily fantasy sports games. The site will no doubt be looking to add to this and obtain a license to bring their leading sportsbook to the Natural State as well.
Bettors on the DraftKings sportsbook will find an excellent breakdown for events, with a tab for statistics available for most games. This lets players see who is looking the most in form for each match, and goes alongside the longer analysis articles which DraftKings also publish to highlight each day’s best action.
There is a complete selection of both domestic and international sports available to bet on, with special parlays and odds boosts on some of the best action each day. There is also an easy-to-use one-game parlay builder which allows players to toggle the bets which can be combined.
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | X | ✔ | ✔ |
FanDuel
Arkansas residents may already be familiar with FanDuel thanks to their leading legal daily fantasy sports games. However, FanDuel also has one of the best sportsbooks on the market and will likely look to obtain a license to offer it in the Natural State.
What makes FanDuel stand apart from its peers is the great value they offer its players. When lines are compared side by side from across the market, those offered by FanDuel often have a slightly better payout.
FanDuel’s new customer offer involves placing a simple $5+ wager to get started, all eligible new users will receive $200 in bonus bets if their first bet wins!
FanDuel offers a full selection of sports and futures on their sportsbook, along with regular promotions and odds boosted lines. There is also a quick and easy same-game parlay tool to help build up tickets for one game of action.
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | X | ✔ | ✔ |
BetMGM
BetMGM Promotional Offers Not Available in Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Washington DC, Ontario, or Puerto Rico
BetMGM has already stated that they would like to obtain a license to operate in Arkansas. This is great news for sports bettors in the Natural State as BetMGM has quickly become one of the leading online sportsbooks in the country.
There is a huge catalog of sports from around the country and world to bet on with BetMGM, with a deep selection of lines for each event. Thanks to the sleek design of both BetMGM’s website and app, it’s easy to navigate the big selection of bets to find exactly the one you want.
New BetMGM users can claim an exclusive deposit match offer up to $1,600 with the BetMGM new customer offer. This means that your first deposit will be matched at 20%. For example, if you make a $400 first deposit, you’ll receive $80 in sports bonus. This offer uses bonus code NYP1600 and carries a 10x wagering requirement.
There is another new customer offer that lets new users get up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first bet doesn’t win with bonus code NPBONUS. This offer is not active in New York, Nevada, or Puerto Rico. Bonus bets expire in 7 days. One new customer offer only.
There is also a daily selection of special parlays and enhanced Lion’s Boost lines. For players who prefer to play one-game parlays, there is an easy bet builder available on most games which makes the process quick and easy.
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | X | ✔ | ✔ |
Is Retail sports betting legal in Arkansas?
Retail sports betting has been legal in Arkansas since November 2018, with the first sportsbooks accepting bets in July 2019. There are currently three sports betting locations in Arkansas, with plans for a fourth with the new River Valley Casino.
| Sportsbook | Location |
| Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort | Hot Springs, AR |
| Southland Casino Racing | West Memphis, AR |
| Saracen Casino Resort | Pine Bluff, AR |
Latest Arkansas Sports Betting News
The latest news for sports betting in Arkansas revolves around the gradual rollout of legal online sports betting. Currently, players only have one option, which is the desktop site offered by Southland Casino. This will soon change, though.
Southland hopes to have its mobile app live within weeks, while Saracen Casino is also aiming to have its online sports betting software online in time for March Madness on the 13th of March. Oaklawn Racing Casino is also planning to launch its online betting options, however not until early summer.
With each casino location being granted two mobile sports betting licenses there is hope that major national bookmakers will soon be able to form partnerships to operate. Among the forerunners here will bet BetMGM and DraftKings, who were a part of the consultation process.
The history of Arkansas Sports Betting
The push to bring legal sports betting to Arkansas began in 2018 after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PAPSA) was struck down by the Supreme Court. This allowed individual states to decide on their own sports betting laws.
The ballot to approve retail-only sports betting passed in November 2018, with the first retail sportsbook opening in July 2019 at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. This was followed up by the Saracen Casino opening a sportsbook kiosk in October 2019 and Southland Casino Racing in January 2020.
In December 2021 the framework for legal online sports betting was finally agreed upon, and this was duly approved in February 2022. The legislation granted two online sportsbook licenses each to the three casinos already operating in Arkansas.
Southland was the first to begin accepting legal online sports bets in March 2022, with Saracen expected to be the next to launch. With each casino being granted two licenses, the next step is expected to be having national bookmakers such as BetMGM and DraftKings form partnerships to operate in Arkansas.
Arkansas Sports Teams to bet on
Arkansas is not currently home to any professional sports teams, although its close proximity to Texas often draws fans towards the Lone Star State teams. However, the home state Arkansas Razorbacks gives the state plenty to cheer about in college sports.
Dallas Cowboys
With Dallas being less than 200 miles from the Arkansas state border, it’s no surprise that many fans in the Natural State follow the Dallas Cowboys as their NFL team of choice.
The Cowboys have long been known as ‘America’s Team’ thanks to their huge popularity among fans who don’t have a home market franchise. The success that the Cowboys have enjoyed on the field has no doubt helped fans gravitate towards them.
The Cowboys have won five Super Bowl championships, with their first two coming in 1971 and 1977 before winning a further three between 1992 and 1995. With franchise quarterback Dak Prescott finally secured with a long-term deal, the Cowboys will hope that another dominant spell is just around the corner.
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The University of Arkansas Razorbacks may not be a national powerhouse, but they are still a constant bowl threat and sell out both of the stadiums they use throughout the year.
The Razorbacks haven’t won a national title since 1964, however the team is best known for some of the most long running rivalries in football. Their grudge with Ole Miss dates back to their first meeting in 1908, while their fight with Missouri goes back to 1906.
The Razorbacks have also picked up a number of new rivalries as the college system has evolved. There are also regular clashes against LSU, Texas, and Texas A&M for fans to cheer.
Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball
The Razorbacks men’s basketball team had their glory years in the mid-nineties. They won the 1994 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and nearly pulled off a repeat after being runners-up in 1995 as well.
The team has always been a contender for March Madness, however, they have not had a run deep into the tournament until 2021. That year the Razorbacks made the Elite Eight, and will hopefully act as a sign of big improvements to come.