Arkansas Sports Betting: Best Legal Sportsbooks

Is sports betting legal in Arkansas?

Yes. Sports betting is legal in Arkansas both at casinos and through mobile apps. Voters approved Amendment 100 in November 2018, which authorised casino gaming, including sports wagering, at licensed casinos. Oaklawn in Hot Springs took the first legal bets in July 2019, and after the Arkansas Racing Commission changed its rules to allow mobile wagering, online betting went live in early 2022.

The Arkansas Racing Commission regulates sports betting alongside its oversight of the state's casinos. The minimum age is 21 for both retail and online wagering.

Why the big national brands are missing

Arkansas is legal online, but none of the three US sportsbooks we review, BetMGM, bet365 and BetRivers, is currently licensed there. The reason is structural: Arkansas rules require mobile operators to work through a licensed casino and to hand the majority of their online betting revenue to that casino partner. That economic model has kept most national operators out, leaving the market to casino-run apps.

For bettors this means fewer apps to compare and less competition on odds and promotions than in neighbouring Tennessee or Louisiana. Anyone who wants a wider choice of licensed books can legally bet in those states while physically located there.

If you do use an Arkansas app, check that it is tied to one of the state's licensed casinos and shows Arkansas Racing Commission approval. Smaller markets attract unlicensed sites that imitate local brands, and only a regulated operator is bound by the state's rules on fair settlement, identity checks and protection of customer funds.

Where to bet in person

Retail sportsbooks operate inside the state's casinos, including Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Southland in West Memphis and Saracen in Pine Bluff. Casino gaming in Pope County has a long political history: voters approved a 2024 constitutional amendment that removed the county's casino licence, so check local news before planning a trip there.

Online, accounts can be opened remotely and you must be physically in Arkansas when betting. Geolocation software checks this on every wager.

Razorbacks, Oaklawn and responsible gambling

Arkansas has no major professional team, so the Razorbacks dominate the betting conversation, along with live horse racing at Oaklawn each winter and spring. College football Saturdays in Fayetteville and SEC basketball usually drive the biggest handles of the year.

Winnings are taxable income at state and federal level. If betting stops feeling like entertainment, the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline and the self-exclusion options offered by casinos and licensed apps are available.