Top Arkansas Sports Betting Sites: Best Sportsbooks in Arkansas for 2024
Legal online sports betting in Arkansas enables bettors to take advantage of sign-up offers and promotions from the leading betting platforms in the Natural State. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of everything you should know about sportsbooks in Arkansas.
| Sportsbook | Bonus | Availability | Claim Offer |
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$1,000 First Bet on CaesarsTerms & conditions apply |
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Claim Offer
Review |
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20% Deposit Match up to $1,000New customers only. Deposit min. $5. Place daily first bet of min. $5 and get up to a $100 bonus bet for 10 consecutive days. Daily bonus issued within 72 hours. |
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Claim Offer
Review |
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$1000 1st Bet OfferTerms & conditions apply |
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Claim Offer
Review |
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First Bet Offer up to $1500Bonus bets expire in 7 days. One new customer offer per user. Additional terms apply. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. |
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Claim Offer
Review |
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$500 1st Bet OfferTerms & conditions apply |
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Claim Offer
Review |
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Deposit $50 play with $100Terms & conditions apply |
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Claim Offer
Review |
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Deposit $50 play with $100Terms & conditions apply |
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Claim Offer
Review |
Arkansas sports betting updates
Sports betting in Arkansas was legalized in November 2018, six months after the federal ban on sports wagering in the U.S. was lifted. After multiple unsuccessful efforts to introduce mobile sports betting in the "Land of Opportunity," Arkansas residents finally saw online sportsbooks launch in March 2022.
Here’s a timeline of key events in Arkansas’ sports betting history:
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Feb. 16, 2024: Several states, including Arkansas, issued cease-and-desist orders to daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators Underdog and PrizePicks for offering unlicensed sports wagering.
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Sept. 2, 2022: Oaklawn Sports mobile app launched in Arkansas, becoming the state’s third legal online betting option.
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Aug. 23, 2022: Kambi extended its partnership with Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, covering Oaklawn’s retail sportsbook and providing an online betting solution for the upcoming ‘Oaklawn Sports’ launch.
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May 10, 2022: After months of delays, Saracen Casino Resort's BetSaracen app finally launched, making it the second legal online betting platform in the state.
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March 23, 2022: Saracen Casino Resort’s BetSaracen app had not launched as expected, with hopes to be live for March Madness hindered by issues involving "partners, vendors, and testing labs."
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March 5, 2022: Betly became Arkansas' first legal online sportsbook to go live.
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March 4, 2022: Online sports betting officially launched in Arkansas, but the state's three casinos were not ready to offer mobile sportsbooks. They aimed to go live before March Madness.
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Feb. 22, 2022: Arkansas' mobile sports betting regulations were formally approved by the Joint Budget Committee of the state legislature, putting online betting on track for March Madness.
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Feb. 17, 2022: Lawmakers passed adjustments to gambling rules to allow legal online sports betting in Arkansas. The updated regulations were sent to the Joint Budget Committee for a final vote.
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Jan. 25, 2022: The Arkansas Racing Commission removed mobile sports betting from its legislative agenda, postponing the discussion to a later meeting. This last-minute delay prevented the state from launching mobile sports betting before Super Bowl 56.
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Dec. 30, 2021: The Arkansas Racing Commission approved changes to the state’s casino gaming rules, allowing mobile sports betting. The proposed changes required online operators to partner with local casinos, surrendering 51% of profits.
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Jan. 28, 2020: Betly launched a retail sportsbook at Southland Casino Racing.
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Oct. 1, 2019: Saracen Casino Resort opened the Saracen Sportsbook, becoming the second retail sportsbook in Arkansas.
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July 1, 2019: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort accepted Arkansas’ first legal sports bet, with general manager Wayne Smith betting on the Dallas Cowboys to defeat the New York Giants in the opening game of the 2018-19 NFL season.
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November 2018: State voters approved a ballot initiative to legalize casino gaming, which included provisions for retail sports betting.
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May 14, 2018: The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing states to legalize and regulate sports betting independently.
Is sports betting legal in Arkansas?
Yes, Arkansas has an authorized and regulated sports betting market. In November 2018, voters passed a statewide ballot measure, paving the way for land-based sports betting, which debuted in July 2019. This was later expanded with mobile sports betting through online platforms, which became available in March 2022.
Who can bet on sports in Arkansas?
You must be 21 years of age to partake in legal Arkansas sports betting. Wagers can be placed in person at one of the state’s three casinos or online with three Arkansas betting sites.
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 can place mobile bets using one of the three sports betting sites available in the state.
Remote Registration
Remote registration allows Arkansas sports betting to take place anywhere in the state. Sports bettors have the ability to sign up, claim bonuses, make deposits, and confirm wagers from home, the bar, or any other location in AR.
Within State Borders
To place a legal sports bet, you’ll have to have both feet on the ground in Arkansas. Bettors cannot place wagers with an AR sportsbook from outside the state.
Retail Sportsbooks
Legal in-person sports betting occurs at each of the brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in 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 another legal Arkansas sports betting location 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.
The pros and cons of Arkansas sports betting
Arkansas launched mobile sports betting in March 2022. Currently, three online sportsbooks and three retail sportsbooks are available to bettors.
Online betting underway- In-state college betting
- Few events are off-limits
Online betting underway- 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 register with one of three licensed Arkansas sports betting sites or visit a brick-and-mortar sportsbook in one of the state’s three casinos.
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.
Register online
Until more online operators receive the green light for launch, Arkansans will be limited to three online sites. Alternatively, bettors can visit a casino to register with a retail sportsbook.
Claim a bonus
While mobile Arkansas sportsbooks will offer welcome bonuses to new bettors, retail locations rarely do the same. Online welcome offers include bonus bets, no-deposit bonuses, and deposit matches.
Deposit funds
Arkansas bettors can register with one of three licensed operators or visit a retail location to make their initial deposits.
Choose your bet types
All of the popular bet types are available in the Natural State. These include point spreads, Over/Unders (totals), moneylines, props, futures, live betting, and more.
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.
Withdraw funds
Arkansans can access winnings online or in person at a retail sportsbook. Arkansas sportsbooks 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 to 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.
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 sports betting does not include esports betting. State regulators could revisit the legality of this bet type with the launch of mobile betting.
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 daily fantasy sports. Online casinos are illegal in the Natural State.
