Arkansas was one of the first US states outside of Nevada to legalize sports betting in 2018, primarily focusing on retail wagering. Although it took several years to get fully legal status, Arkansas now offers bettors a growing number of options. There are plenty of online sportsbook options that cater to various preferences in betting that Arkansawyers have.
Even though the Arkansas online betting market isn’t as saturated and robust as some of the other states in the US, you’ll find that the best Arkansas sportsbooks provide competitive odds, user-friendly mobile apps, and generous welcome bonuses to attract new players. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or a newcomer to betting online, there’s something for everyone on the best betting pages in AR.
Our experts leave no stone unturned when grading and reviewing the top Arkansas sports betting sites. As such, there is a meticulous reviewing process that we carefully go through step by step. Here is what that looks like:
Reputation and trustworthiness: Only trustworthy sites with a proven track record of satisfied punters have a chance to find themselves on our lists. We carefully check online forums where players can express their problems and how prompt the operator resolves them.
Security and safety: Gambling on a safe platform is a paramount objective for every bettor in Arkansas. As such, we pay close attention to the security features the betting site implements to protect players’ sensitive data.
Bonus offers: The range of promotions has the power to define your online betting experience. Therefore, we constantly search for bookmakers with rewarding bonuses catering to every punter’s preferences.
Sports and betting markets: The heart and soul of any Arkansas online sports betting site, a rich list of markets will make the experience more engaging. We suggest platforms that feature betting options for all popular sports in Arkansas—both for pre-match and live betting.
Arkansas Sports Betting Laws and Regulations
In 2018, SCOTS overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act that allowed each US state to regulate sports betting as they preferred. As such, retail sports betting is legal in Arkansas, along with casino gaming.
The first bet was placed by Wayne Smith, the general manager of Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, who backed the Cowboys to defeat the NY Giants at the start of the 2018/19 NFL season.
This is how the gambling legislation was structured up until December 30, 2021, when the Arkansas Racing Commission voted to change the gaming rules to allow online sports betting throughout the state.
Amended rules came into effect the following year, and according to them, each of the state’s casinos was allowed to offer up to two individually branded online sports betting sites. Partnerships with other legal online betting platforms were allowed, who may conduct online betting through their sites on behalf of Arkansas casinos.
Furthermore, the site and the mobile betting app must display the casino’s name for third-party partnerships. The new rules also limit the revenue third-party operators can obtain—no greater than 50% of the net gaming revenue generated from online sports betting.
All in all, is sports betting legal in Arkansas? Yes, it is, and third-party platforms that seek to offer operational sports betting services for a casino need to obtain a Service Industry License from the Arkansas Racing Commission. Anyone who lives in Arkansas and is over the age of 21 can legally bet on sports online.
Gambling Taxes in Arkansas
Gambling winnings are treated as taxable income in Arkansas, but the rate is determined by a person’s income. This varies between 2.0% and 4.7%. Moreover, winnings are also taxed by the federal government, so if they are at least 300x the wager, you must report them as income and the tax rate for those is 24%.
Bonuses and Promotions
Access to some Arkansas sports betting promos will allow you to increase your bankroll, prolong your gameplay, and possibly even secure bigger wins than usual. Each operator has a unique structure and strategy regarding bonuses, but generally, they fall into one of the following categories.
Welcome Offers
Most AR sports betting sites will greet you straight after registration with a welcome bonus. This promotion usually matches your first deposit up to a certain amount or offers free bets. Welcome bonuses have user-friendly terms and conditions and are valid longer than standard promotions. Remember that you can claim this offer only once to bet on sports in Arkansas.
Second-Chance Bets
Second-chance bets are very sought-after at AR sportsbooks as they allow punters to refund losing bets with site credit. A common type of second chance bet would be an invitation for players to register and place a wager. If it is a losing one, the operator will refund it. Then, you can use the refund to place another bet. Sometimes, these promotions are referred to as risk-free bets or bet credits.
Deposit Match Bonuses
Arguably the most customary promotion in Arkansas sports betting sites, these offers will increase your bankroll by matching your deposit to a certain percentage. They are similar to deposit welcome bonuses, but the associated terms and conditions are slightly more restrictive. For example, you will have less time to complete the wagering requirements.
No Deposit Bonuses
As the name implies, no deposit bonuses allow you to place bets without touching your natural money balance. A no deposit bonus can be a free bet or a cashback incentive, letting you recoup some of the losses you incurred in the past period.
Loyalty Rewards and VIP Programs
Once you register and place bets on Arkansas betting sites, you will probably be enrolled in a VIP program that will reward you for your loyalty. By returning to the site, you will climb loyalty levels and can expect better perks with each new level. Some associated benefits include better cashback deals, faster withdrawals, and even free bets.
Popular Sports to Bet on
You will see numerous sports to bet on at AR sportsbooks, but some are naturally more popular than others. Here is a sneak peek at some of the most popular sports and tournaments you can wager on.
Football
Arkansas has no NFL teams, but that doesn’t mean you should miss out on all the betting fun and excitement. Arguably, the most popular types of bets in the NFL include futures bets, where you can predict who will win the Super Bowl, Conference, and more.
Betting lines are also ubiquitous, including point spreads, winner odds, and game totals, thus guaranteeing a very versatile experience.
Avid Arkansas bettors can also try their luck with prop bets that fall under several categories. Player props allow you to wager on a specific player’s performance, such as who will win the NFL MVP award.
Team props are also available, allowing you to bet on win totals, mascots, name changes, etc. Super Bowl props are trendy and, depending on the bookmaker, you can expect hundreds of bet types—from which coach will be shown first on-screen to singing the national anthem.
Basketball
No NBA team in history has ever originated from Arkansas, but some of the top-performing players in the league were born there. Examples include Scottie Pippen, Sidney Moncrief, and Corliss Williamson, just to name a few.
Moneyline bets, as are point spreads, are always available for all NBA and other basketball events, which will see you bet on the margin of victory.
On the other hand, if you can correctly predict who will be the future NBA champion or the MVP of the tournament, you can select from a wide range of futures and prop bets, which always have handsome odds.
Baseball
MLB sports betting in Arkansas is among the most popular pastime activities for punters, even though no MLB teams originate from the state. With moneyline bets, you can always try your luck and predict the match winner, but your options go a lot deeper than just that.
Run line bets in baseball are similar to point spreads in other sports, and series bets also allow you to predict which team will win the series. You can bet on 3-game, 5-game, or 7-game series, so there is plenty to choose from.
Finally, a unique bet type in baseball is called the Grand Slam. It represents an over/under bet on total runs across all games throughout the day, so the odds are naturally very appealing.
Hockey
Hockey is one of the most common sports for betting in the USA, which just prompts online sportsbooks in Arkansas to create competitive odds and various betting lines for most leagues—especially the NHL.
Game lines are available for each game during the regular season and playoffs. Puck lines allow you to bet on the number of points a team in the NHL can lose or win by. Moneyline bets are the standard wagers that see you back a team to win. On the other hand, over/under bets allow you to bet on whether the points scored by teams will be over or under a predefined line set by the sportsbook.
Let’s not forget prop bets, which can be player- or team-related. Examples of single-game performance prop bets can include the number of points a player scores, whether a fight will occur in the first period, etc.
College Sports
The Arkansas Racing Commission allows sports betting sites and apps to offer all the same types of wagers on college games as with professional sports. As such, you will still get to place legal sports bets on moneyline bets, point spreads, totals, and much more.
Moreover, while Arkansas doesn’t have professional sports teams, there are numerous college teams that you can wager on:
Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas State Red Wolves
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions
Central Arkansas Bears
Little Rock Trojans
Tennis
Every year, four grand slams attract the Arkansas sports betting community. Of course, emphasis is always placed on the US Open, which starts in August every year.
If you follow tennis and want to spice up your experience, you can always place numerous bets on any of our suggested AR online sports betting sites. The most common ones include:
Match lines: Individual match lines can include spreads, straight game winners, and totals.
Futures: You can bet on future events in a tennis tournament; a good example of this type of bet is trying to predict who will win the US Open.
Set spreads: Similar to match lines, here, the favorite player will have to win a set by a certain margin for you to have a winning bet slip.
Local Sports Partnerships
As no professional sports teams exist in Arkansas, no notable partnerships are being formed between teams and AR betting sites. College teams mainly partner with marketing agencies to promote their brands.
Daily Fantasy Sports in Arkansas
Daily fantasy sports are legal in Arkansas under Act 1075 of the 2017 Regular Session, so sports bettors can freely participate in all contests. These contests mirror season-long fantasy sports but are compressed into a shorter format.
That way, you can expect heart-pumping contests that range from a day to a week, depending on the sport. Arkansas doesn’t have any active teams in the major leagues. Still, some operators in the state offer college daily fantasy sports, so you can integrate your athletes from teams like the Arkansas Razorbacks and earn points based on their in-game performance.
Here is a rough overview of how daily fantasy sports work:
Pick a contest: Browse the lobby of the operator to select from a wide array of contests across different sports. Your lineup will compete against other players for prizes.
Draft your lineup: Once you decide on your contest, you must draft a lineup of players competing in your selected games. There is also a salary cap for your team, and each player in the pool must be assigned a salary.
Enjoy the action: Watch players accumulate points based on real-life performance. Track the action live on your computer or mobile sports betting app.
Check the results: When the last game is over, you can check the standings, and if you have won, you will get a payout per the contest’s structure.
Each online sports betting site in Arkansas crafts its contest types, with the most being tournaments (private or public) and head-to-head, where you will face off against a single opponent.
Arkansas Sports Betting Apps
Mobile gambling continues to expand rapidly, and the best sports betting sites in Arkansas keep track of all trends in the industry. Nowadays, many punters prefer instant access to their favorite betting markets, and mobile sportsbooks are the way they can get just that.
Convenience is the number one advantage of Arkansas sports betting apps, so you won’t be tied to your computer. All the best operators optimize their apps to run smoothly on Android and iOS devices.
If you want to start your mobile betting journey now, just type in the sportsbook’s name in the App Store or Google Play’s search bar and start the download process.
How to Start Betting at AR Sportsbooks
Now that you are armed with all this knowledge about Arkansas sports betting sites, it is time to learn how to place a sports bet. Fortunately, all you have to do is follow a few very simple steps:
Choose a betting site: Don’t hesitate to take full advantage of our ready-made list of AR sports betting sites and apps. Compare them and choose one that you think suits your style the most.
Register an account: Registering at any reputable Arkansas sportsbook won’t take more than a few minutes. Fill out the registration form with the necessary details, verify your betting account via email, and you are all set.
Make a deposit: A wide array of payment methods will be available for your first deposit, regardless of your chosen operator. Note the limits and make your first deposit; the funds will arrive in your account quickly.
Claim your welcome bonus: Don’t forget to check the welcome bonus and see how to use it to increase your bankroll. Check the T&Cs and claim the offer to use on your favorite events.
Place a sports wager: You can now start your online betting adventure. See the available sports and choose your bet type—there will be no shortage of options for both pre-match and live bets.
Secure & Legal Online Sports Betting in Arkansas
Overall, it is clear that the Arkansas sports betting industry is growing at a slow but steady pace. The number of AR sportsbooks is quite limited, but we can fully expect the “big names” in the US to launch in the fully legalized Arkansas betting scene.
Still, the current offer is more than enough for bettors, so plenty of options exist to satisfy your appetite. Feel free to check out our top list of the best bookmakers operating in Arkansas.
Arkansas Sports Betting FAQs
Yes, land-based sports betting was legalized in 2018, with Arkansas being one of the first US states to legalize it. Online sports betting followed suit four years later when the Arkansas Racing Commission voted to change the existing laws and legalize online betting, too.
You have nothing to worry about as long as you choose reputable operators with a valid license. With that in mind, we only list operators that meet the criteria, so you can choose one and enjoy a 100% secure online betting experience.
Yes, you can. Our recommended sportsbooks in Arkansas feature mobile-friendly websites and apps you can use for your mobile betting. Mobile platforms allow you to place bets, claim bonuses, and make seamless transactions.
You need to be at least 21 years old to participate in online gambling activities in Arkansas. Arkansas betting sites will ask you to complete a KYC process to verify your age.
Yes, your online betting winnings are subject to taxes in Arkansas, but the exact tax rate will depend on your income. In addition, gambling winnings are subject to a federal tax regime.
Bonuses are a crucial feature of Arkansas sportsbooks, so you can expect many promotional offers. Your journey with bonuses can start with the welcome offer, and it continues with various free bets, second chance bets, reload bonuses, and no deposit offers.
College sports betting is entirely legal in Arkansas, so you can freely place any bet you wish, depending on the sportsbook’s coverage. Arkansas is home to various college teams, such as the Razorbacks, State Red Wolves, and Central Arkansas Bears, just to name a few, so you can back up your domestic teams to do well.
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