Arkansas Gambling
What types of gambling are legal in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a wide variety of legal gambling options including a state lottery, sports betting, and horse racing betting. There are casinos with no limits on games or betting. Daily fantasy sports apps and sweepstakes casino sites are also available to Arkansas residents.
This list shows the types of gambling found in Arkansas and where to find it:
- Sports betting (online sports betting and retail sportsbooks)
- Horse racing (off-track and online betting)
- Slots, video poker, live poker, and table games (race tracks, tribal casinos)
- Lottery (instant games and lotto at retailers)
- Bingo and raffles (charities)
Legal Arkansas Gambling Sites
21+ and present in AR. T&Cs Apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and want help Call 1-800-522-4700.
Arkansas Online Gambling
Arkansas online gambling is limited to three forms. Mobile horse and greyhound racing is allowed, as well as daily fantasy sports and sports betting.
Mobile racing is available through apps operated by companies like TVG.com and TwinSpires.com. All major daily fantasy sports companies accept players from Arkansas. This includes DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo. Mobile sports betting companies are licensed through the state’s gaming regulators and operators.
Arkansas Online Gambling Laws
The three forms of legalized online gambling in Arkansas were created through separate actions. Mobile horse racing was approved by the state racing commission in compliance with the federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978. Daily fantasy sports contests were legalized in 2017 through HB2250. Players for these forms of online gambling must be at least 18 years old.
Sports betting was approved by voters in 2018 through a constitutional amendment. Mobile was created through gaming regulations. Players must be at least 21 years old.
All other forms of online gambling are illegal in Arkansas. This includes online poker and casino games offered by offshore sites.
Arkansas Casinos
There are four casinos in Arkansas. All standard games are permitted. This includes slot machines, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, live poker and proprietary games.
Arkansas Casino Laws
The current form of land-based casinos was approved by voters through a 2018 constitutional amendment. This expanded gambling to live table games and sports books. Previously, Arkansas casinos were required to be at a racetrack and could only operate slots, video poker and electronic table games. Casino players must be at least 21 years old.
Arkansas Sports Betting
Sports betting is legal in two forms in Arkansas. Casinos may offer retail (in-person) sportsbooks and online sports betting apps are also legal if licensed by the state. Major forms of sports betting are legal, like straights, parlays, teasers, props and futures. Professional and amateur sports, including college, are permitted at Arkansas retail and online sportsbooks.
Arkansas Sports Betting Laws
Sports betting was permitted through the same constitutional referendum that expanded casinos in 2018. The licensing fee is $250,000. The tax rate is 13% of gross gaming revenue. Players must be at least 21 years old.
Arkansas Daily Fantasy Sports
Fantasy sports contests are legal in Arkansas. Almost all major daily fantasy sports sites and apps accept players from Arkansas, including:
- PrizePicks
- OwnersBox
- ParlayPlay
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
All types of DFS contests are available.
Arkansas Fantasy Sports Laws
Fantasy sports contests became legal in Arkansas through HB2250 in 2017. The tax rate is 8% of gross gaming revenues. Players must be at least 18 years old.
Arkansas Horse Racing Betting
Greyhound racing is held live at two race tracks in Arkansas. Each has an off-track betting parlor for simulcast betting. Online horse betting apps like TVG and TwinSpires are legal in Arkansas if licensed by the Arkansas Racing Commission.
The 2018 gambling expansion created the opportunity to phase out greyhound racing in Arkansas. It allowed casino-style gambling at resorts without the racing requirement attached. Greyhound racing in Arkansas ended in 2022.
Arkansas Horse Racing Laws
Legal Arkansas racing dates to 1935. The Interstate Horseracing Act permits online racing bets in Arkansas as approved by the Arkansas Racing Commission. Bettors must be at least 18 years old.
Arkansas Poker
Poker is legal at Arkansas casinos. There are no limits on games or betting. Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud and any other game that has rules on file may be dealt in Arkansas poker rooms.
Arkansas Poker Laws
Live poker was part of the 2018 constitutional amendment that expanded gambling in Arkansas. Before then, poker rooms in the state were electronic. Poker players must be at least 21 years old.
Home poker games are presumed to be illegal in Arkansas. The state does not have a social gaming exception to its gambling laws.
Arkansas Lottery
The Arkansas Lottery offers instant games and lotto drawings. Tickets are sold at retailers and online lottery sales in Arkansas are available using a courier service like the Jackpocket lottery app.
Instant games are sold in scratch-off and FastPlay form. FastPlay is a lottery terminal at a retailer that generates electronic tickets.
Intrastate Lotto Drawings
- Cash 3
- Cash 4
- Natural State Jackpot
Interstate Lotto Drawings
- Lucky for Life
- Mega Millions
- Powerball
Arkansas Lottery Laws
The Arkansas Lottery was approved and modified through a series of constitutional amendments. The regulations are codified under state law. Proceeds go towards college scholarships. Lottery players must be at least 18 years old.
Arkansas Esports Betting
eSports are not expressly permitted in the state sports betting regulations. Social gaming is not legal in the state. Based on this, it is presumed that eSports betting is illegal in Arkansas.
Arkansas Skill Games
Sites like Worldwinner and apps where skill games for money are played are not permitted in Arkansas.
Arkansas Charity Gambling Law
Arkansas charities are permitted to deal bingo games and raffles to raise funds. Charities must be in existence for at least five years to participate. This was created through a 2006 constitutional amendment.
Arkansas Gambling Regulators
- Arkansas Lottery
- Arkansas Racing Commission
- Arkansas Department of Finance (casinos, charities)