The first wagers have been placed online in Arkansas’ fledgling online sports betting market. Players have been able to place bets via Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis so far, but authorities expect a major expansion of the industry in the coming months.
Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff launched its online sportsbook last month, and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort is expected to follow suit later this year.
A fourth sports book license has been awarded to Legends Resort & Casino, although the facility hasn’t been built yet. It is expected that the casino will partner with a large sportsbook to enter the state.
Online gambling is not a new phenomenon for local players in Arkansas. They have been playing at Daily Fantasy Sports sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings since it became legal to do in 2017.
The state approved online and mobile sports betting in February this year. It is legal to bet on all types of sports, including in-state college sports.
Arkansas was spurred to legalize and regulate its online gambling industry after seeing its neighbors, Tennessee and Louisiana, do the same.
Physical sportsbooks can each carry two mobile sportsbooks licenses.
The Arkansas Racing Commission oversees everything gambling-related in the state. The legal age to place a bet on sports in the Natural State (both online and off) is 21 years of age.
