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Arkansas Online Sports Betting

Tyler Poda Mon 9/16 5:44am PT
Arkansas online sports betting information and news.
(Shutterstock)

Arkansas online sports betting is officially a go.

Sports Betting has been legal in Arkansas since 2018, but only within the confines of the state’s three casinos: Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff, Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis, and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs.

On February 22, 2022, the Arkansas legislature approved a rule to allow these casinos to take their sports betting operations online. Southland Casino Racing subsequently opened up its Betly Online Sportsbook March 5, and Saracen followed on May 10 with its BetSaracen app. Oaklawn rolled out their app, Oaklawn Sports, a few months later on September 22. Continue reading for Arkansas sports betting information, including updated news, mobile sportsbook launch announcements, and more — everything you need to bet online in Arkansas!

Online Sportsbooks in Arkansas

The three Arkansas Casinos decided to go their own way, as opposed to partnering with larger third parties such as DraftKings and FanDuel, because the State included a clause in the new sports betting bill allowing the Casinos to keep at least 51% of online sports betting revenue if partnered with an online sportsbook company. Typically, these larger companies keep 85% to 95% of the revenue when partnered with Casinos in other states. 

Lobbyists in favor of the national sportsbooks argued that the clause violated the Dormant Commerce Clause, which prevents states from creating laws that discriminate against out-of-state entities, but the ruling was upheld.

As long as this ruling is in place, the Casinos will cater to their online sports bettors on their own. As mentioned, Betly, BetSaracen, and Oaklawn Sports are now available to anyone in Arkansas. No other operators are in the state.

Each Casino is allowed to partner with two national online sportsbooks under the regulations of the new Bill, leaving six openings for potential suitors. If things were to change, these would be the likely candidates to strike a deal:

BetMGM

BetMGM is one of the largest online sportsbooks in the country, and is already live in neighboring states Tennessee and Mississippi. It seems likely, given the size of the company and their involvement in the region already, that they would be one of the first in line. If and when they do, you’ll want to take advantage of our BetMGM bonus offer and download the BetMGM app.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings is already live in Arkansas for daily fantasy sports, which means they sort of already have a foot in the door with one of the best DFS apps. They recently merged with SBTech, Oaklawn’s sports betting partner, as well. Keep an eye out on when you’ll be able to bet on DraftKings odds in Arkansas.

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook is partnered with International Game Technology (IGT), which is behind the sports betting operations of both Saracen and Southland Casinos. This connection could jump them to the front of the line to get in on the Arkansas action. Only time will tell. We particularly like FanDuel for their same game parlay platform.

Other Possible Arkansas Sports Betting Apps

Top Arkansas Sports Teams To Bet On

All three Casinos offer opportunities to bet on all major professional and college sports, but the most popular teams to bet on in Arkansas are as follows:

What Sports To Bet On At Arkansas Sportsbooks

In addition to the main sports, Arkansas also offers betting options for these sports:

Online Gaming, DFS History in Arkansas

Arkansas was the first State in 2017 to pass a law allowing Daily Fantasy Sports when Governor Asa Hutchinson signed bill HB 2250 in April of that year. Shortly after, DraftKings and FanDuel swooped in to provide a platform for players. Monkey Knife Fight also joined the Arkansas DFS landscape and is one of the more popular options in the state. DFS winnings are subject to federal tax. They Must be included in your tax return and are taxable at a rate of 25%. The DFS operators are taxed at a rate of 8% by the state as well.

Arkansas DFS players have shown interest in the most popular DFS games such as NFL, NBA and MLB, but they also show a large interest in NHL DFS and College DFS as well.

There isn’t a professional hockey team in Arkansas, but there are several minor league teams that seem to have built a connection between the sport and the DFS players of the State.

As for the college DFS interest, the entire state of Arkansas is crazy about their Razorbacks. It’s interesting to note a number of states that offer DFS have outlawed betting on college football leagues. Arkansas is not one of them.

The University of Arkansas is the closest thing to a professional sports team the state has to root for, and their following reflects that. It’s the reason the atmosphere at their home football games is often one of the best in the country, despite not always having the most competitive teams. College football DFS allows all the UofA fans to implement their favorite players in their lineups and gives them something to cheer for on a Saturday afternoon. 

DFS props are also available for college basketball and college football at sites like PrizePicks.

Online Banking, Deposit Methods For Arkansas Sports Bettors

In order to participate online sports betting, you will need to deposit funds. Thankfully, there will likely be a number of avenues to do this, such as: 

With most of these deposit methods, your deposit will likely hit your account within seconds, which is very convenient for an antsy sports bettor, or if you’re trying to place a bet right before a game starts.

Withdrawals can be requested at any time, but expect a 24-48 hour approval period and expect a form of ID to be required for your initial withdrawal. The fastest options for withdrawal are as follows:

Since the online sports betting scene in Arkansas is just getting off the ground, there will likely be a plethora of bonuses and bonus plays for newcomers. It’ll be a perfect time for players to take advantage of the bonus bets that could be on the horizon as the operation gets off the ground. It’ll be important for the Arkansas bettors to shop around the different sportbooks to see which ones are offering the best deals early on.

Arkansas Online Sports Betting FAQ

Which sportsbooks are available in AR?

The state’s three casinos each have a retail and mobile sportsbook option. Betly, BetSaracen, and Oaklawn Sports are available as mobile apps to anyone in the state.

How old do you have to be to bet on sports in Arkansas?

Gamblers have to be 21 or older to bet at Arkansas sportsbooks.

Will the big sportsbooks ever come to Arkansas?

Right now, it seems unlikely. While the big sportsbooks are not prohibited from partnering with one of the three casinos to launch in the state, the revenue sharing structure makes it potentially unprofitable for any operator to launch in Arkansas. Unless something changes, we don’t expect any more sportsbooks to launch in the state.

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