Is Arkansas sports betting legal?
As of July, 2019, sports betting is legal and live in the state of Arkansas. Most people do not think of Arkansas when they think of sports or sports betting, but the industry is up and running.
Arkansas does not have many betting options available to bettors. The industry should continue to improve in Arkansas in the coming years, but this remain one of the smallest markets in the US.
History behind Arkansas Sports Betting Legal Issues in Arkansas
Legalized sports betting in Arkansas dates back to 1929, although there were earlier attempts to legalize betting. In 1916, a bill was passed that would have allowed betting on horse racing at Oaklawn.
That bill was vetoed by the governor and the Supreme Court upheld that decision, effectively shutting down betting on horses. In 1929, lawmakers were once again able to pass a bill to legalize horse betting, and that bill was signed into law.
Arkansas continued to have very limited gambling options until 2005 when video gaming machines were legalized throughout the state. This was a sign of things to come as lawmakers continued searching for new forms of revenue.
In 2009, Arkansas launched the state lottery with all of the proceeds going to the education fund in the state. In 2017, both bingos and raffles were officially allowed, but the biggest change would come a year later.
Lawmakers spent a large portion of their time in 2018 trying to pass an expanded gambling law that included legalizing sports betting. It required a new constitutional amendment, which meant that voters had to pass a referendum.
Issue 4 was approved by a 55 percent majority vote, paving the way for sports betting in the state. The bill called for four sports betting licenses to be available to retail casinos, two of which were already established.
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort and Southland Casino Racing were immediately eligible to apply for a sports betting license, and they did so very quickly. Oaklawn took the first official sports bet in July 2019, with Southland joining in 2020.
Issue 4 also called for two new casinos to be built, one each in Jefferson and Pope County. These new casinos would be able to offer sports betting after receiving the proper licensing.
Mobile or online betting was not included in the law, and that form of betting is still outlawed in Arkansas.
Financial History behind Legal Sports Betting in Arkansas
When looking at the financial history behind sports betting in Arkansas, it is pretty clear to see that the state is leaving plenty of money on the table. Not having mobile betting has kept the state from really achieving a ton of success.
The state of Arkansas has had a rough and slow start to the sports betting industry, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has played a large role in that. The shutdown of casinos from March to late-May kept the state from seeing any sports betting revenue.
The first full month with at least two sportsbooks available in Arkansas was February 2020, and the state saw a total sports betting handle of $4.29 million. Revenue for that month was $411,587.
Sportsbooks began shutting down in March, which lowered the sports betting handle total to just $1.59 million. The state collected revenue from sports betting of just $222,371 during February.
The industry did not really start picking back up again until July 2020, and it was a very slow restart. Oaklawn was the only retail sportsbook open in July, but it has since been joined by Southland and Saracen.
Total sports betting handle during July totaled just $179,315, and the state actually lost almost $20,000 during that month. In August, the sports betting handle jumped up to $1,008,992, and the total revenue was $69,625.
These are very modest numbers compared to the rest of the industry, but it appears that Arkansas is headed in the right direction, and the numbers should continue to increase.
Sportsbook Apps in Arkansas
There are currently no sportsbook apps available in Arkansas, as state lawmakers did not approve mobile or online wagering. This is a significant blow to sports betting operators, taking away one opportunity in the growing sports betting industry.
With a limited amount of retail sportsbook locations in Arkansas, this would be the perfect opportunity to offer mobile sports betting. Lawmakers will continue to look at the current sports betting landscape, and they can always make adjustments to the law in the future.
There are several big-name sports betting operators throughout the country that are always looking to add new states, and Arkansas would be a great fit. Without knowing for sure, here are a few sportsbook apps that might appear in Arkansas if and when mobile sports betting becomes legal.
- IGT
- SBTech
Both of these sports betting operators are currently partnering with the retail locations, and it would not take much work to offer mobile betting as well. IGT and SBTech will likely try to persuade lawmakers to include mobile betting at some point in the future.
Other big-name sports betting operators such as FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, William Hill, and PointsBet would all be likely candidates to launch mobile sportsbook apps if the state finally launches mobile betting.
Land-Locked Locations to Bet on Sports in Arkansas
Arkansas has very limited gambling laws. With just two retail casino locations in the state, it severely limited where retail sports betting can take place.
With the approval of sports betting, the state also allowed for another pair of casinos to be built, giving bettors two more options to place retail bets. It’s unlikely that lawmakers will increase the number past four in the next few years.
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort accepted the first sport in Arkansas in July 2019, and that location partnered with SBTech to provide sports betting services. Oaklawn was the only retail sports betting location for almost six months.
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort is located in Hot Springs, Ark., and the race track has been open since 1905.
Southland Casino Racing was the next location to offer retail sports betting, officially taking bets beginning in January 2020. Southland has partnered with IGT to provide retail sports betting services.
Southland Casino Racing is located in West Memphis, Ark., making it a perfect location for sports betting customers from Tennessee as well.
Lawmakers have also approved two more retail sports betting locations in Pope and Jefferson counties. Each county will be allowed to build a brand new casino, and a sports betting license has been reserved for each location.
The Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff has also been issued a sports betting license, and that location has partnered with IGT. This was the casino project awarded to Jefferson County, but the entire casino project has not yet been completed.
A casino in Pope County is still awaiting approval from local leaders, and there haven’t been any applications submitted for sports betting at this time.
Sports Teams to Bet on in Arkansas
Arkansas is not home to any professional sports teams, which makes it hard for sportsbooks to find popular teams to feature. Arkansas does allow betting on collegiate sporting events, and SEC football is extremely popular throughout the state.
The Arkansas Razorbacks are the most popular team in the state, especially when it comes to football. If bettors aren’t betting on the Razorbacks, bets are still being placed on other SEC games during college football season.
The Arkansas State Red Wolves are another popular college team to bet on, and there are also several minor league teams that play in the state.
Arkansas’ proximity to the state of Tennessee also opens up many other betting opportunities for sports fans. The Southland Casino Racing location is just minutes away from downtown Memphis, making some of the Memphis teams extremely popular.
Tennessee is home to several professional teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies, Tennessee Titans, and the Nashville Predators. Southland Casino Racing sees plenty of action on these teams.
Outside of the local teams, betting on the NFL and college football is king in Arkansas. This is consistent with the entire sports betting industry throughout the US.
FAQ for betting in Arkansas
When was sports betting legalized in Arkansas?
In November 2018, voters approved Issue 4, which expanded gambling laws throughout the entire state. This allowed for two more casinos to be built, and legalized sports betting. The first official sports bet was placed in July 2019 at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.
What is the legal betting age to bet on sports in Arkansas?
Arkansas has set the legal sports betting age at 21 years of age. This is the standard age across the sports betting industry in the US.
Is mobile sports betting offered?
At this time, mobile or online sports betting is not offered in Arkansas. Lawmakers did not include any form of mobile betting in the sports betting legislation, and it has not been brought up since the industry has launched.
Who can apply for a sports betting license?
There are just four sports betting licenses available in Arkansas, and it is clear where these will be issues. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort and Southland Casino Racing received the first two available sports betting licenses.
The new casino projects in Pope and Jefferson Counties will receive the other two sports betting licenses.
Can I bet on collegiate sports in Arkansas?
Yes, betting on collegiate sports is legal and available in the state of Arkansas. Arkansas does not have any professional sports teams, so sportsbooks are counting on the college teams to drive sports betting.
Do I have to be a resident of the state to bet on sports?
No, there is no rule that says you have to be a resident of Arkansas to place a bet at one of the retail sportsbooks.
Are Daily Fantasy Sports legal in Arkansas?
Arkansas became the first state in the year 2017 to both legalize and regulate the Daily Fantasy Sports industry. Arkansas became the 11th state in the US to do both of these things at that time.
Is sports betting safe in Arkansas?
Yes, the state regulates the sports betting industry, making it safe for anyone to place a legal bet on sports.
And that concludes my post about Arkansas sports betting legal issues changing in 2019.