Compare every legal Arkansas sportsbook, how the casino-tethered market works, and what changed when FanDuel and DraftKings finally arrived in 2026.
In this article 11 sections
- Every legal Arkansas sportsbook
- Arkansas sports betting: the basics
- Is sports betting legal in Arkansas?
- Who operates Arkansas sportsbooks
- How Arkansas sports betting works
- What you can bet on in Arkansas
- Taxes, deposits and payouts in Arkansas
- Arkansas betting apps
- Responsible gambling in Arkansas
- Arkansas sports betting in 2027
- More
Every legal Arkansas sportsbook
BetSaracen
License: Saracen Casino Resort (Pine Bluff) · Live since May 2022
Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, owned by the Quapaw Nation, built BetSaracen with Amelco and launched it in May 2022. It is now the only Arkansas app still run by its own casino, with Razorbacks markets and odds boosts, and players can deposit or cash out at the Saracen cage.
DraftKings
License: Southland Casino Hotel (West Memphis) · Live since Mar 2026
Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis replaced its Betly app with DraftKings on March 20, 2026, after Arkansas Racing Commission approval in February. Bettors must be inside the state to wager, and Southland's retail sportsbook in its sports bar still takes in-person bets at kiosks and teller windows.
FanDuel Sportsbook
License: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs) · Live since Mar 2026
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, which took Arkansas' first legal sports bet in July 2019, retired its Oaklawn Sports app for FanDuel on March 20, 2026. The app adds same-game parlays, odds boosts and Razorbacks specials, and Oaklawn's retail sportsbook stays open with teller windows and kiosks.
Arkansas keeps betting on a short leash. Mobile wagering launched in 2022 but is tethered to the state’s three casinos (Saracen, Oaklawn and Southland), and a rule requiring operators to hand the casinos at least 51% of revenue kept the big national brands out for four years. The Arkansas Racing Commission regulates it, there’s no online casino, and the Razorbacks are the undisputed center of the sporting universe here. Casinos are taxed 13% on their first $150 million of net gaming revenue and 20% above that.
That changed in March 2026, when FanDuel and DraftKings went live through deals with Oaklawn and Southland. None of our sportsbook partners operate in Arkansas, so this page is a guide to the licensed field rather than a list of offers.
Arkansas sports betting: the basics
| Online betting | Yes, statewide via casino-partnered apps |
| Retail betting | Yes, at Saracen, Oaklawn and Southland |
| Legal age | 21+ |
| Regulator | Arkansas Racing Commission |
| Legal basis | Amendment 100 (voter-approved 2018) and Racing Commission rules |
| Number of online apps | Three (FanDuel, DraftKings, BetSaracen), as of March 2026 |
| Remote registration | Yes; you must be in Arkansas to bet |
| Betting on in-state college teams | Yes, including player props |
| Online casinos | Not legal |
| Tax | 13% of net casino gaming receipts up to $150M, 20% above |
Is sports betting legal in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas voters approved Amendment 100 in November 2018, authorizing casino gaming, including sports wagering, at licensed casinos. Retail sportsbooks opened first, and after the Racing Commission finalized mobile rules on March 4, 2022, Betly became the state’s first legal online sportsbook on March 5, 2022. BetSaracen followed on May 10, 2022 and Oaklawn Sports on September 2, 2022.
The defining rule is the revenue split. Commission rules require a mobile operator to give the partner casino at least 51% of its sports betting revenue, which made the state uneconomical for most national brands at launch.
Who operates Arkansas sportsbooks
| Sportsbook | Casino partner | Mobile app | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs) | iOS and Android | March 20, 2026 |
| DraftKings | Southland Casino Hotel (West Memphis) | iOS and Android | March 2026 |
| BetSaracen | Saracen Casino Resort (Pine Bluff) | iOS and Android | May 10, 2022 |
The Arkansas Racing Commission approved the FanDuel and DraftKings partnerships in late February 2026, and both went live around March 20. FanDuel replaced the Oaklawn Sports app, and DraftKings took over from Betly at Southland. Saracen, owned by the Quapaw Nation, kept its own BetSaracen platform.
- FanDuel: the most-used US sportsbook, with a polished app and strong same-game parlays.
- DraftKings: the other national market leader, with a busy promotions calendar.
- BetSaracen: the home-grown option, tied to the Saracen resort and its loyalty program.
Welcome offers from these books vary by state and change often; check each operator’s own terms page.
What the switch did to the market
The first weeks were bumpy for the casinos. In March 2026, with the new partnerships live for only 11 days, Oaklawn’s FanDuel-run mobile book took $35.7 million in bets but paid out $39.9 million, a loss of about $4.2 million. Southland’s DraftKings book set a record $18.23 million handle but lost $6.1 million. Saracen, on its own platform, took $32.6 million and turned a profit of about $2.15 million, according to figures reported by Axios.
How Arkansas sports betting works
Every Arkansas sportsbook is licensed through one of the three casinos and uses geolocation to confirm you are inside Arkansas before each bet. You can open and fund an account from anywhere, but you must be within state lines to place a wager, and you must be 21 or older. Residency isn’t required, so visitors can bet too.
What you can bet on in Arkansas
Arkansas sportsbooks cover every major US and international league: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, golf, MMA and motorsport, with moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, same-game parlays, futures, player props and live in-play markets. The law allows wagers on collegiate and sanctioned Olympic events, but not high school or amateur non-collegiate events.
Betting on the Razorbacks
Arkansas is Razorbacks country first and foremost. University of Arkansas football at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and basketball at Bud Walton Arena drive the calendar, and Arkansas places no restriction on in-state college wagers, so Hogs player props are on the board too. Arkansas State and Little Rock draw local action as well. With no major pro franchise, NFL loyalties split between nearby markets such as Dallas and Kansas City.
Local and global events to bet on in Arkansas
National events draw just as much action in Arkansas: the Super Bowl, March Madness, the NBA Finals, the World Series, the golf majors and the tennis Grand Slams. The Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn is a pari-mutuel horse race, bet through the track’s racebook rather than the sportsbook apps.
Bet types explained
The moneyline backs a winner straight up, the Razorbacks for instance, and a point spread adds a margin to balance favorite and underdog. A totals bet shifts the focus to combined scoring, parlays reward players who tie several picks together on one slip (every leg must hit), same-game parlays do that within a single Razorbacks game, and futures plus live betting round out the menu as the odds move during play.
Taxes, deposits and payouts in Arkansas
The headline 13% and 20% rates are paid by the casinos, not by you. Your winnings are taxable income at the federal level and in Arkansas. Winnings are reported gross, losses are deductible only if you itemize on Form AR3 and cannot exceed reported winnings, and for 2026 federal returns the gambling loss deduction is limited to 90% of losses. Operators issue a W-2G for larger wins.
Legal Arkansas apps support debit cards, online banking and ACH transfers, PayPal and other e-wallets, prepaid Play+ cards, and cash at a partner casino cage. Withdrawals back to PayPal or online banking are usually fastest once your identity is verified, and your first withdrawal triggers a one-time identity (KYC) check.
Arkansas betting apps
Choosing an Arkansas sportsbook
With only three apps, the choice is simpler than in most states. Compare the price on the markets you bet most, especially Razorbacks lines, how stable the app stays under load, and how quickly withdrawals clear. Holding all three lets you line-shop, which over a season matters more than any sign-up bonus.
How to check whether an Arkansas sportsbook is legal
A legal Arkansas sportsbook is tied to one of the three licensed casinos, runs geolocation, enforces the 21+ minimum and verifies your identity at sign-up. If an app lets you register from anywhere with no ID check and no location lock, it is almost certainly an unlicensed offshore site. Names like Bovada, BetOnline and MyBookie are not regulated in Arkansas or anywhere in the US.
Responsible gambling in Arkansas
Every licensed Arkansas app offers deposit, wager and time limits plus cool-off and self-exclusion tools. Set them when you open the account. The Arkansas Problem Gambling Council runs the state’s helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER, free and confidential, around the clock.
Arkansas sports betting in 2027
FanDuel and DraftKings’ first full year
Both national books arrived in March 2026. Their first full year of Racing Commission reports will show whether the switch grew the market enough to offset the casinos’ early losses.
Saracen’s next move
Saracen kept BetSaracen when its rivals signed with national brands. Whether it stays independent is the biggest open question for the market.
Online casino and sweepstakes bills
2025 bills to legalize casino apps and ban sweepstakes were withdrawn within a week and sent to interim study. The 2027 regular session is the next chance for a revival.
What is the best sportsbook in Arkansas?
There are only three to choose from: FanDuel, DraftKings and BetSaracen. FanDuel and DraftKings bring the bigger apps and the deepest same-game parlay menus, while BetSaracen is the local book from Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff. With so few apps, holding all three and comparing Razorbacks prices beats picking one.
Is FanDuel legal in Arkansas?
Yes. FanDuel launched in Arkansas on March 20, 2026 through a partnership with Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs.
Is DraftKings available in Arkansas?
Yes. DraftKings went live in March 2026 through Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis, replacing Betly.
How many sportsbooks are legal in Arkansas?
Three online apps operate: FanDuel, DraftKings and BetSaracen, each tied to one of the state’s three casinos.
Can I bet on the Arkansas Razorbacks?
Yes. Arkansas places no restriction on in-state college betting, including Razorbacks player props.
What is the legal betting age in Arkansas?
21 for sports betting and casino gaming.
Do I pay tax on sports betting winnings in Arkansas?
Yes. Winnings are taxable income on your Arkansas and federal returns. Losses can be deducted only if you itemize, up to the amount of winnings reported.
