Legal sports betting in Arkansas is a done deal, more than a year after voters approved regulation of the industry back in November 2018.
It means Arkansas sports betting should be up and running in time for Razorbacks fans to wager on their favorite college football team in 2020. The first wagers were taken July 1, 2019 at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.
Betting in the state had been restricted but that changed with the Supreme Court decision to throw out the 1992 law that permitted sports betting in only Nevada and a few select states. It had been the subject of a voter referendum and was approved (Issue 4 on the ballot) by a 54 per cent margin. (Read Arkansas legalization updates).
Is sports betting legal in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas voters approved the measure and the first wagers were booked in July 2019. It became the eighth state to approve sports betting.
Where can I bet at Arkansas sportsbooks?
Currently there are no online sportsbooks permitted to legally serve Arkansas sports bettors. Betting at the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort was the first option, while the sportsbook in Pine Bluff (the Saracen Casino Resort) is now up and running. The Southland Casino in West Memphis also started offering services in January 2020.
These three locations were listed in the legislation as approved companies allowed to offer sports betting. As of early 2020, the fourth had failed to do so.
What about mobile sports betting apps in Arkansas?
The law passed did not deal with remote betting. So, until that part of the law changes, sports betting in Arkansas must happen at the casino. We presume an amendment will be voted on at some point to permit this, as sits fair more convenient and will ensure more betting handle if people within the state of Arkansas can do mobile betting.