Arkansas Betting Sites: Online Sports Betting On the Horizon
If you’re an Arkansas resident or are interested in sports betting in the state, you might be wondering what online sports betting options are available to you. The state has had a long journey to providing legal Arkansas sports betting, and thankfully players will find that the state has made recent leaps to providing sports betting options.
Here, we’ll provide readers with an extensive guide to the best betting sites Arkansas has to offer. Though there aren’t any current Arkansas betting sites available for sports, there is plenty of evidence pointing to the likelihood that the state will be providing them soon. Here you’ll find details about laws, alternative betting options, and a glimpse into the future of Arkansas sports betting.
What Betting Options are Currently Legal for Arkansas Residents?
Players who are looking to place bets within the state of Arkansas will find that there are currently no Arkansas betting sites available for sports operating with a state license for Arkansas online sports betting. However, players are able to place sports bets in the state at the three land-based retail sportsbooks and casinos in Arkansas, with Oaklawn and Southland both featuring horse tracks.
Is Daily Fantasy Betting Legal in Arkansas?
Though the legality of many other forms of Arkansas online sports betting is somewhat up in the air, one option that is tried and true with guaranteed legality is licensed Arkansas daily fantasy betting. Daily Fantasy Betting, or DFS for short, has been legal in Arkansas as of 2017, with the introduction of Act 1075 in the state.
This means that licensed online Daily Fantasy Sports providers such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fantasy Draft are legal for paid fantasy bets in Arkansas. Each of these also provides a great Arkansas sports betting app for placing convenient bets in the state, so be sure to visit these sites and check out what’s on offer through these popular and customizable gaming platforms.
Are there Legal Offshore Sites Available for Arkansas Players?
When it comes to considering the legality of offshore betting sites, there is always a discrepancy, and it is usually quite a murky grey area. There are many states in which the legality of offshore betting sites is entirely debatable, as it may be ignored in terms of legislation, not regulated, or otherwise legally ambiguous. However, a good rule of thumb is that if it is not licensed specifically in your state of play, then it’s seldom legal for betting.
This means that while there are no laws that specifically outlaw playing at offshore betting sites in Arkansas, players will need to exercise a great degree of caution playing at popular offshore betting sites like Bovada, MyBookie and BetOnline. As there is no license for offshore betting sites in Arkansas, this means that there is also no guarantee of safety when betting offshore in the state.
Land-based Casinos in Arkansas
Although there’s no doubting the fact that the online world has come to dominate sports betting markets, there are still many players who prefer the intimacy and excitement of placing their bets at a physical sportsbook location. If that’s you, you’ll be happy to learn that there are several legal land-based Arkansas casinos offering sports betting.
Among these, players are able to place bets at three locations, with a fourth apparently on the way. These currently operational land-based sportsbooks in Arkansas include Saracen Casino Resort, Southland Casino Racing, and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. Players can place bets on football leagues (including college football), basketball, and effectively all other essential sports betting options.
Arkansas Racetrack Betting
In addition to the other sports betting options provided at Arkansas land-based casinos, there are also racetrack betting options available at several of the Arkansas sportsbook locations in the state. This is a welcome feature in a state which is not known for its diverse selection of betting options.
Players who have placed bets on horse racing before will know that it is one of the most exciting betting types, and there’s nothing quite like the thrill of seeing a race unfold in real time. Visit Southland Casino Racing, Oakland Racing Casino Resort, and other Arkansas sportsbook locations for more information.
The Nearest States with Legal Sports Betting
As legal online sports betting is still in its infancy in the state of Arkansas, there’s no doubt that some players will feel the itch for a greater variety of choice. If the best betting sites Arkansas currently has feels insufficient, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of nearby states with legal online sports betting options, and we have a list of sports betting sites already.
Players can already placed bets at several physical sportsbook locations within Arkansas. While there have been recent developments in terms of online versions of these in the form of Arkansas online sports betting apps, it’s not a widely available option yet. Here below, we’ve provided a list of the closest nearby states with online sports betting.
What Could Legal Sports Betting in Arkansas Eventually Look Like?
On top of the currently legal land-based sportsbook betting options in Arkansas, there is huge potential for new developments in Arkansas sports betting. Some things that are already underway including the introduction of legal and licensed online sportsbooks, which are associated with sportsbooks which are already operatonal in the state.
Among these options include the likes of the first licensed Arkansas sports betting app, which players will be pleased to note is already available. This app comes courtesy of Southland Racing Casino’s Betly online sportsbook, which is available for Android users and Apple users as of April 26 2022. Saracen Casino Resort is also making progress, so players can expect more safe and licensed Arkansas betting sites in the near future.
Licensing and oversight from regulatory licensing agencies, of which the Arkansas Racing Commission is the primary authority in the state. As the best betting sites Arkansas bettors can enjoy become available, you will be able to place bets on the likes of NFL, MLB, local college football and local minor league teams such as the Arkansas Travelers.
What are the Arkansas Gambling Laws?
| Betting Type | Law |
|---|---|
| Sports Betting | Legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Legal (Not Yet Widely Available) |
| Land-based Casino | Legal |
| Online Casino | Not Legal |
| Poker | Legal (Limited) |
| Racetrack Betting | Legal |
| Arkansas Gambling Age | 21+, 18+ for Pari-Mutuel Horse and Greyhound, Bingo, Raffles, State Lottery |
As players can see from the table above, there are some limited betting options in Arkansas when it comes to both poker and online casino gaming in the state. Players also won’t be able to be find many online sports betting options in Arkansas as yet, however this is subject to change in the near future.
Players who are eager to place sports bets online in Arkansas can check out Southland’s Betly online sportsbook, or visit any of the physical sports betting locations in the state. There are also some video poker and poker room betting options in Arkansas, which are included at Saracen Casino Resort and Southland Casino Racing.
The History of Sports Betting and Gambling in Arkansas
As is the situation with the vast majority of USA states, Arkansas has a long and complicated story when it comes to legal sports betting and gambling in the state. Here, we’ll go into the history of sports betting and gambling in Arkansas, providing an overview of keystone moments in the development of sports betting availability.
With the overturning of supreme court legislation against online sports betting in 2018, many states clamoured to change state law to provide licensed online sports betting. Arkansas is one of the most recent states to vote to approve the governance of online and mobile sports wagering, following a unanimous decision by the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) in December 2021.
The state of Arkansas has experienced a constant push pull between lawmakers, betting advocates and the interests of private groups determined to influence state gambling law. As such there had been many attempts to introduce legal Arkansas sports and casino betting which were cut down, with incremental developments in 1957 and 2005 paving the way to legal gambling websites in Arkansas.
As of 2019, the Racing Commission began accepting gaming license applications, leading to the eventual introduction of legal online sports betting in Arkansas in 2021. As of late March 2022, players in the state have been able to use the Betly mobile sports betting site and app in association with Arkansas’ Southland Casino Racing land-based sportsbook.
What is the Future of Sports Betting in Arkansas?
When it comes to the future of Sports Betting in Arkansas, there is near-infinite potential. The state has officially allowed legal two online sports betting apps for each sportsbook located within the state. It’s too early to say, but this has potential to lead to licensing for pre-existing interstate sportsbooks.
At this point, this is only speculation. However, as we have seen with the introduction of legal horse race betting and the 2005 introduction of casino elements at race tracks, these incremental developments lead to big changes in the state so a wider range of Arkansas betting sites coule be just around the corner.
For now, players who are interested in checking out states with more sports betting options will find them at our list of legal sports betting states.
Rest assured, we’ll keep you updated on the best betting sites Arkansas offers to bettors as and when they arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
As we draw our guide to legal sports betting in Arkansas to a close, we’d like to help clarify any misconceptions about the availability of sports gambling in the state. Here, we’ve provided readers with answers to frequently asked questions about placing legal sports bets in Arkansas.
⚖️ Is online gambling and sports betting legal in Arkansas?
There is limited legality of online gambling and sports betting in the state of Arkansas. Until very recently players were not able to place online sports bets in the state, however this has changed as of 2022. Check out our page on the betting options in Arkansas for more details.
🛡️ What is the state legal gambling age?
As is the case with the majority of states in the USA, the legal gambling age in Arkansas is 21 and above. There are exceptions to this rule however, with the state allowing players of the age 18 and up to bet on horse races, state lottery, and some other betting varieties. Be sure to visit our section on Arkansas betting laws to learn more.
🚨 Are sites such as Bovada and MyBookie legal and safe in Arkansas?
When it comes to considering the legality of such sites as MyBookie and Bovada, players should exercise caution. These sites are not technically legal or licensed for play in the state of Arkansas, so they can’t be considered safe for play. For safe and licensed legal sports betting sites Arkansas and beyond, visit the link provided.
🔎 Can I play at a state online sportsbook if I am not in the state?
Players will find that you can only play at state licensed sportsbooks within the state of licensing. That means that you will always need to find a relevant sportsbook which is licensed in your region of play to ensure a safe and regulated bet, though you may be able to create an account while interstate. Find out more about neighboring sports betting states here.