Arkansas Fantasy Sports Betting

Arkansas Legal Sports Betting Overview

Arkansas Sports Betting Summary

Arkansas legalized retail sports betting following a November 2018 vote on launching casinos in the Natural State. This came after the US Supreme Court had struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protect Act of 1992 (PASPA) in May 2018, thus allowing individual states to legislate wagering and launch retail and online sportsbooks. Issue 4 was amended following a public vote and the first retail sportsbook in AR opened in July 2019 at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. There are currently three retail sportsbooks at casinos and racinos in Arkansas, with a fourth under construction.

The Arkansas Racing Commission proposed changes to sports betting rules to allow online betting sites in 2021. The alterations were approved by the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee in February 2022. Betly became the first online sportsbook to launch in AR just a month later. Current Arkansas regulations require sportsbooks to share 51% of revenue with a partner casino.

Read our complete guide to sports betting in Arkansas to discover the best AR sportsbooks, the latest rules and regulations, and the top sports teams to bet on.

Arkansas Online Sportsbooks Compared

There are two online sportsbooks available in Arkansas – Betly and BetSaracen. A third app, Oaklawn Sports, is due to launch in 2022. Personal preference is key to selecting a betting site, so we’ve compared the sportsbooks across some key factors to help you choose the best option for you:

• Best Mobile App – Betly

Betly provides a simple-to-use app that is perfect for beginner bettors. Navigation is easy, and the dark grey color scheme with shades of white makes everything comfortable to read. Betly’s mobile app works on screens of any size, providing a tailored betting experience on your tablet and your phone.

It’s worth noting that while you can download Betly app from the Apple App Store, the sportsbook is not currently available on Google Play. On Android devices, you can visit Betly mobile browser site and find a direct download link of the Betly APK file.

• Best Welcome Bonus – Betly

Betly offers you an excellent value welcome bonus with a $250 risk-free bet. All you must do is sign up, deposit, and place a wager up to $250. If the bet wins, you get to keep your money. However, you earn a free bet equal to your original stake if it loses. You must bet on an event with -250 odds or greater, and you can’t cash out your first bet. When you wager with free bets, you get to keep your profits. However, this doesn’t include the value of the free bet.

• Best for Competitive Odds – BetSaracen

Both Arkansas sportsbooks offer excellent betting odds, but BetSaracen has a slight advantage. You’ll find competitive betting lines on all the major league sports, and the sportsbook’s run lines on MLB games are some of the best you can find. BetSaracen also provides excellent betting lines on niche sports, particularly air racing and the UFC.

• Best for Market Coverage – BetSaracen

BetSaracen offers you more than 20 different sports to bet on, including major league sports like the NFL and NBA. However, it’s with niche sports that BetSaracen shines. Few sportsbooks in the US will let you wager on truck racing, rodeo, bull riding, and college lacrosse. You’ll find live betting options for major league sports, but every event has dozens of markets available.

• Best for Beginner Bettors – BetSaracen

BetSaracen is perfect for beginner bettors, with an easy-to-understand welcome bonus and a desktop site that’s simple to use. The customer support covers a lot of ground with its FAQs which include video tutorials to help bettors get started. BetSaracen also provides bettors with updates about offers and betting types through Twitter and Facebook. These allow beginner bettors to stay connected through more familiar sites.

• Best for Payout Speed – Betly

Betly requires only two working days to process your withdrawal request. On top of this, the sportsbook recommends allowing 1-3 days for your payment method to process the withdrawal. Overall, transactions usually take 3-7 days. We found withdrawals are generally on the quicker side of this time frame.

How to Place a Bet in Arkansas

Online sports betting is pretty new to Arkansas, so sports fans may not have tried it yet. If you’re unsure how to start, follow the steps below and start betting in minutes:

1. There are two online sportsbooks in Arkansas, with a third expected to launch soon. Read our comparisons and choose the best AR sportsbook for you.

2. Both AR sportsbooks provide mobile apps you can download by visiting the sportsbook on your mobile browser. Alternatively, you can use your mobile’s app store if it supports the betting app.

3. Register an account by giving your full name, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security number, phone number, and address. You must also allow the app to access your geolocation services to prove you are in Arkansas.

4. Visit the cashier section of the site and make your first deposit. You can select your payment method and how much money to add but ensure you deposit enough to meet the welcome bonus’ minimum deposit requirements.

5. Find a sport and browse through its markets. Add a betting line to your bet slip, choose how much to bet, and place the wager.

6. If your bet wins, return to the cashier section with and follow the sportsbook’s instructions to make a withdrawal.

7. You must verify your account before withdrawing your winnings to protect you from fraud and underage gambling. Send copies of your photo ID and proof of address to the sportsbook to prove your identity.

Who is Eligible to Bet in Arkansas?

You don’t need to live in Arkansas to place bets. But you must be at least 21 years old and physically located within the state to place legal bets. You can prove you are in AR by activating the geolocation services on your device. You must verify your age with a photo ID at online and retail sportsbooks. In addition, all people listed below are prohibited by law from placing sports bets in Arkansas:

• Players, coaches, or employees of any professional or college sports team members.

• Officials, referees, or umpires of professional or college sports leagues.

• Any individual who has professional or regulatory authority to influence players.

• Any individual employed by a sports league who can create or influence rules for that sport. (e.g., NFL, NCAA)

• Any individual employed by an organization that has licensing from the Arkansas Racing Commission.

• Any individual who has an ownership stake in a sports team.

• Any individual with access to non-public information about a sports team (e.g., player medical records).

• Any individuals that have voluntarily excluded themselves from gambling activities.

• Any individual prohibited from betting at a state or federal level (e.g., due to criminal history).

Latest Arkansas Sports Betting Updates

Timeline for Sports Betting in Arkansas

• May 12, 2022: BetSaracen launches its online sportsbook.

• April 26, 2022: Betly launches its mobile app for Apple devices.

• March 5, 2022: Betly, partnered with Southland Racing Casino, launches the first online sportsbook. The sportsbook is only available on desktops.

• February 22, 2022: The Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee signs off on the Arkansas Racing Commission’s rules, legalizing sports betting.

• December 30, 2021: The Arkansas Racing Commission approves rules for online sports betting with a unanimous vote. The rules go to the Legislative Council.

• October 15, 2020: Saracen Resort Casino opens as the first purpose-built casino in the state. The casino comes complete with a BetSaracen retail sportsbook.

• January 29, 2020: Southland Casino launches the second retail sportsbook in the state.

• July 9, 2019: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort opens the first retail sportsbook and accepts the first legal wagers. The General Manager of Oakland, Wayne Smith, placed the first bet, wagering $5 on the Dallas Cowboys to beat the New York Giants in the NFL opener.

• November 6, 2018: Arkansas Issue 4, “Casinos Authorised in Crittenden, Garland, Pope, and Jefferson Counties Initiative,” passes a vote 54% to 46%. This vote amends legislation so that casinos can launch in the state, including facilities for sports betting.

• May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). Each state now has the right to legislate sports betting.

Arkansas Sports Betting Background

While the Arkansas Racing Commission introduced new rules for sports betting in 2021, lawmakers made efforts toward legalization well before then. In April 2019, Senator Will Bond put forward SB 669 to introduce online betting on events approved by the Arkansas Racing Commission, but the bill died within a month. No further legislation could have been introduced until 2021 because Arkansas lawmakers only meet in odd-numbered years. When 2021 came around, online sports betting was not at the forefront of lawmakers’ concerns. Instead, it was the Arkansas Racing Commission that successfully proposed the changes.

Future of Arkansas Sports Betting

The future is bright for Arkansas, with a fourth retail sportsbook on the way operated by the Cherokee Nation Businesses/Legends Resort & Casino. There is no set date for the completion of the casino’s construction in Pope County, but bettors can expect a new wagering venue in the coming years. Oaklawn Sports is the only retail sportsbook not to launch its own betting app but is currently working on developing one. The app, expected to launch in late 2022, will compete with the Betly and BetSaracen apps.

Leading sportsbook operators DraftKings and BetMGM wrote open letters to the Arkansas Racing Commission prior to a meeting on online sports betting in December 2021. Both sportsbooks lobbied for the state to allow each casino to partner with three or four mobile sportsbooks. Considering the state is almost at its maximum of four casinos as outlined in the Issue 4 vote in 2018, there could be as many as 16 online sportsbook licenses. However, the Chief Market Officer for Saracen, Carlton Saffa, said his preference was for one online operator per casino.

While this doesn’t guarantee the operators will launch sportsbooks in AR, it shows commercial interest for further expansion in the market. In the meantime, AR sports fans can legally play Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games via the ESPN, Boom, Yahoo!, FantasyDraft, DraftKings, and FanDuel sites.

Arkansas Sports Betting Locations

Arkansas legalized casinos after a change to legislation in November 2018. Both AR racetracks launched casinos soon after. Arkansas sports betting legislation allows racinos and casinos to be licensed for retail sports betting. There are three locations in Arkansas with retail sportsbooks, and a fourth is currently under construction in Pope County.

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

• Address: 2705 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901

• Website: https://www.oaklawn.com/casino/

• Phone Number: (501) 623-4411

• Operator: Oaklawn Sports

Oaklawn launched the first retail sportsbook in Arkansas in July 2019. The sportsbook offers betting windows and kiosks, the latter of which are available 24/7. Every sports event has as many as 300 wagering options, and you’ll find the most markets on the NFL and college football. You’ll also find live betting options on the NBA, MLB, and NCAAF. If you win a wager, you can cash out your winnings at the casino cage cashier 24/7. The Oaklawn Sports app is expected to launch very soon.

Southland Casino Racing

• Address: 1550 Ingram Boulevard, West Memphis, AR 72301

• Website: https://www.southlandcasino.com/sportsbook/

• Phone Number: (800) 467-6182

• Operator: Betly

Southland Casino Racing is famous for its greyhound racing track but now has a retail sportsbook that launched in January 2020. You’ll find the Betly sportsbook at the hotel’s Sports Bar & Grill, or you can find kiosks on the second level. The sports betting windows are open from 9am-10pm on the weekend and 10am-10pm Monday to Friday. You can also use onsite kiosks 24/7. The casino launched the first AR online sportsbook, Betly, in April 2022.

Saracen Casino Resort

• Address: 1 Saracen Resort Drive, Pine Bluff, AR 71601

• Website: https://www.saracenresort.com/

• Phone Number: (870) 686-9001

• Operator: BetSaracen

Following a constitutional amendment in November 2018, Arkansas was allowed to license casinos. Saracen Casino Resort was partially built in October 2019 and finished in October 2020. Currently, it is Arkansas’ only purpose-built casino. The casino also has a BetSaracen sportsbook, where you can bet on an excellent variety of niche sports. Arena football, truck racing, rodeo, and bull riding are just some of the options.

Arkansas Lottery Locations

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery was approved on a ballot in November 2008 and joined the Multi-State Lottery Association in 2009. However, the state lottery has no association with the Arkansas Racing Commission or sports betting. You cannot place sports bets at any lottery retailers in AR.

Off-Track and Stadium Betting Locations

Retail sportsbooks can only launch in AR at land-based casinos and racetracks. That means you won’t find in-person betting at sports venues or stadiums. However, you can use mobile sportsbook apps to bet at these locations.

Arkansas is home to one of the most famous events in US horse racing, with the Arkansas Derby held at Oaklawn Park every April. Pari-mutuel betting was legalized in Arkansas when Governor Junius Futrell signed Act 46 of 1935. However, only two locations permit betting. The first is the racetrack at Oaklawn Park, and the second is the simulcasts of races at the Southland Casino Racing resort. There are no OTB locations in the Natural State.

Arkansas Responsible Gambling Resources

• The Arkansas Problem Gambling Council – Founded in 2021 to provide services and programs for people with a gambling problem. It also provides support services to affected families. (800) 522-4700

• Gamblers Anonymous – Organizes meetings where people suffering from problem gambling can meet and share experiences. It also offers Zoom calls and a recovery program.

Arkansas does not operate a state-wide self-exclusion program that allows bettors to prohibit themselves from online and retail sportsbooks. However, the casinos like Southland Casino Racing provide independent self-exclusion programs. The online sportsbooks in AR have taken steps to provide problem gambling resources such as deposit and spend limits.

Teams to Bet on in Arkansas

• Pro Sports

Arkansas has no professional sports teams for local residents to bet on. AR is the 18th least-populous state in the US, so it’s unlikely any current major league teams will relocate there. It’s improbable expansion franchises will spring up in the likes of Little Rock, Fort Smith, or Fayetteville either.

However, there are many pro sports teams in neighboring states that residents of the Natural State choose to get behind by placing sports bets. The following professional sports teams are based in neighboring states and receive heavy support from Arkansas residents:

• Minor League Sports

There are two minor league baseball teams in Arkansas. The Arkansas Travelers are a Double-A Class team based in Little Rock and are affiliated with the MLB’s Seattle Mariners. Based in Springdale, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Double-A Class team affiliated with the Kansas City Royals.

• College Sports

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions: Members of the Southwestern Atlantic Conference (SWAC), the Golden Lions represent the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The Golden Lions achieved football success in 2012, winning the SWAC and the HBCU National Championship.

Arkansas Razorbacks: Representing the University of Arkansas, the Razorbacks are the best-supported sports team in the Natural State. The ‘Hogs’ have won 48 National Championships, primarily in track and field. The football team is best known for participating in one of the greatest college football games of all time, losing 15-14 to the University of Texas' Longhorns in the 1969 National Title game. The team also won a National Title in 1964.

Arkansas State Red Wolves: The Red Wolves are based out of Jonesboro and represent Arkansas State University. The team competes in the Sun Belt Conference, and its football team won five Sun Belt Conference Championships between 2011 and 2016. The Red Wolves also boast one of the best rugby programs in the country.

Central Arkansas Bears: Representing the University of Central Arkansas, the Bears sports program has 18 varsity teams (eight men’s and 10 women’s). The most famous Bears alumnus is Scottie Pippen, who joined the basketball team as a walk-on. Pippen would go on to be recognized as one of the greatest basketball players of all time after playing for the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA. Unsurprisingly, his Bears jersey number is retired.

Little Rock Trojans: The Trojans of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will be joining the Ohio Valley conference from 2022 onwards, having previously competed in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans have reached the NCAA Tournament five times. In 2016, the team was 12th seed and made the second round, upsetting 5th seed Purdue.

• Women’s Sports

There are no professional women’s sports teams in Arkansas. However, there are still plenty of Division I women’s teams to get behind. The Arkansas Razorbacks have recently dominated Arkansas women’s sports, winning a triple crown of National Championships in cross country, alongside the indoor and outdoor track and field titles in 2019.

How Does Arkansas Compare to Other States?

• Market Coverage

Arkansas sportsbooks cover many different sports betting markets, with BetSaracen offering a particularly impressive range of sports. Major league sports have several betting options, and both Betly and BetSaracen also provide lots of college sports betting in AR. Moreover, Arkansas might offer some of the best niche sports markets in the US, with rodeo, bull riding, and more available. In-state college sports betting is allowed in AR, matching states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. The number of markets covered by Arkansas sportsbooks will only increase if more operators join the market.

• Competitive Odds & Prices

Both Betly and BetSaracen offer competitive betting odds compared to some of the more prominent operators in the US. Betly offers excellent odds for in-play college football. However, neither of these sites offer the frequent odds boosts that top US sportsbooks like BetMGM provide. BetSaracen has the advantage of offering betting lines on sports not covered in most states, such as truck racing and the Pro Bowling Tour. The betting lines, prices, and offers available to AR bettors may improve further if new sportsbooks provide competition to the established operators.

• Gambling Revenue

Arkansas retail sportsbooks must pay 13% tax on net revenue up to $150 million. Above $150 million, the tax rate increases to 20%. AR is the only state in the US with a tax rate with different brackets for sportsbook revenues. The tax percentages are similar to New Jersey (14.25%) and Tennessee (20%).

55% of tax goes to the Arkansas General Revenue Funds, 19.5% to the city that hosts the taxed casino, 17.5% to the Arkansas Racing Commission, and 8% to the casino’s host county.

As of May 2022, the state’s betting handle is $155,662,786, and sportsbooks have kept $17,792,276 in revenue. This gives a hold rate of 11.4%, which is the fifth best hold in the US. Only Delaware, Maryland, Montana, and Washington DC have better hold percentages. The state has collected $2,531,234 in betting tax.

• Betting Taxes

Regardless of which state you are betting in, you must declare your gambling winnings to the IRS. Anyone who makes more than $600 in a year must fill out a W-2G form. Your sportsbook should send this to you if it applies. In addition, sportsbooks can hold up to 25% of your winnings for tax reasons. Your state income tax will include gambling winnings. This tax ranges from 0.0% to 5.9% in Arkansas, depending on your income.

In Arkansas, your gambling winnings are included in your state income tax. Arkansas has three income tax brackets, with each bracket divided into subdivisions based on your earnings within the bracket. The low-income bracket for earners earning below $22,899 per annum has a minimum tax rate of 0% for their first $4,699, with the maximum being a 3.4% rate for earning between $13,900 and $22,899. The middle income tax bracket covers incomes between $22,900 and $82,000, and ranges from 0.75% on the first $4,699, to 5.90% on income between $38,500 and $82,000. The high-income tax bracket covers incomes over $82,001, taxing the first $4,200 earned at 2% and all earnings over $8,301 at 5.9%.

Sportsbooks must also pay taxes on a federal level per the Internal Revenue Code. An excise tax of 0.25% applies to every sports betting handled, and sportsbooks must pay $50 for every employee involved in taking wagers.

Who Oversees Sports Betting in Arkansas?

The Arkansas Racing Commission oversees sports betting in the Natural State. The main priority of the commission is to create new sports betting rules and enforce those rules. The legalization of sports betting, a proposal from the commission rather than a politician, shows this in action. The commission ensures every AR sportsbook that launches is safe and sticks to the rules for player safety and responsible gambling.

The Arkansas Racing Commission is headed by seven commissioners, each chosen by the governor with advice from the Senate.