Arkansas Online Gambling
Legal Arkansas online gambling options are a mixed bag. Some are expressly authorized, others exist in a legal gray area, and yet others are prohibited outright.
Residents can legally bet on sports online, play daily fantasy sports, and wager on horse racing from anywhere in the state. Online casinos and poker sites are explicitly illegal, but sweepstakes casinos have sneaked in as a legal workaround.
Arkansas’ gambling landscape is still evolving and contains more legal quirks than most. For example, online poker is technically legal, but state regulators are not currently accepting applications from operators.
In short, Arkansas is a confusing environment for players simply looking to understand their options. The following guide aims to clear up the confusion. Read on for a straightforward breakdown of what’s legal, what’s not, and the key laws you need to know.
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 Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under AR Code § 5-66-101 et seq. |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Operates under federal sweepstakes laws; not explicitly authorized or prohibited. |
| Online Poker (21+) | Legal (Not Yet Available) | Authorized under ARC Rule 5; No operators have received licenses |
| Online Sports Betting (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized by Amendment 100 |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Legal/Minimally Regulated | Legalized via HB 2250 (2017) |
| Fantasy Pick ’em Contests (18+) | Contested (Gray Area) | Regulators view pick ’em contests as illegal and have issued cease-and-desist letters to operators, who remain active |
| Online Lottery Sales (18+) | Legal (via couriers) | The AR Lottery does not sell tickets online, but courier apps are available |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Allowed with ARC approval; multiple reputable platforms available |
Arkansas Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in Arkansas.
State law establishes a general prohibition on gambling outside of specifically defined exemptions like brick-and-mortar casinos.
AR Code § 5-66-103, “Keeping a gambling house,” and § 5-66-104, which bans any “gaming table or gambling device…designed for the purpose of playing any game of chance,” effectively outlaw the operation of online casinos in Arkansas.
Arkansas law does not target players for participating in online gambling, but offshore casinos pose significant fairness and financial risks. Offshore gambling sites are unregulated and operate in jurisdictions where players have no recourse if something goes wrong.
Sweepstakes casinos (see below) offer the next-closest alternative because they operate under a unique business model designed to exempt them from Arkansas online gambling laws.
Will Arkansas Legalize Online Casinos?
There’s some demand for legalizing online casinos in Arkansas. Saracen Casino Resort’s Chief Marketing Officer, Carlton Saffa, has promoted legalizing online casinos via legislative interpretation rather than adopting new legislation to amend the Arkansas Constitution.
He and other supporters contend that the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) already has the authority to legalize online casino games by amending ARC Rule 5. This rule, which already authorizes “interactive gaming” in the form of online poker, could be expanded to include online slot and table games, bypassing the necessity of a constitutional amendment.
The approach culminated in lawmakers introducing HB 1861 during the 2025 legislative session. The bill sought to legalize online casino gambling for licensed casinos, make it a felony to offer unauthorized online gambling, and outlaw sweepstakes casinos.
However, the proposal met with significant resistance, exposing a divide within the legislature and the casino industry. Oaklawn Casino publicly opposed the bill, citing concerns that Arkansas online casinos would cannibalize revenue from land-based properties.
The Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) also expressed skepticism, stating that a simple rule change would be insufficient to authorize such a significant expansion of gaming. Faced with this opposition, the bill’s sponsor withdrew it from consideration.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Arkansas
Sweepstakes casinos operate in a legal gray area in Arkansas.
Although they closely resemble online gambling, sweepstakes casinos adhere to local and federal laws governing sweepstakes promotions. Specifically, they do not require a purchase to participate and award prizes based on chance.
Numerous states have cracked down on sweepstakes casinos due to their resemblance to illegal online gambling. That hasn’t yet happened in Arkansas, so sweepstakes casinos remain a widely accessible alternative to online casinos.
However, local authorities could change course, and sweepstakes casinos operate on uncertain legal ground. Notably, the 2025 bill that would have authorized online casinos in Arkansas also included provisions criminalizing sweepstakes casinos. The bill died, but its proposal signals potential future restrictions.
In the meantime, the most prominent sweepstakes casinos remain operational in Arkansas, including:
Each offers hundreds of casino-style games resembling online slots, real-money blackjack, and live dealer options. They also provide daily bonuses for free sweeps coins alongside numerous other mechanisms for players to earn chances to play with “no purchase necessary.”
Arkansas Online Poker
Online poker is legal but not yet available in Arkansas.
Regulations adopted by the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) in 2019 primarily dealt with implementing legal sports betting. However, they also included an often-overlooked section authorizing land-based casinos to offer “interactive gaming.”
The section specified that land-based casinos may apply for licenses to offer “interactive gaming” but states that operators cannot accept wagers on “any game other than poker and its derivatives as approved by the Commission.”
However, no operators have applied for licenses to offer online poker in Arkansas, and the ARC has not solicited applications from operators. In all likelihood, the ARC included the section in its 2019 regulations as a minor and forward-looking provision, not as a prelude for imminent legalization.
Currently, sweepstakes poker sites remain the second-closest alternative to full-fledged online poker in Arkansas. They operate on a similar “no purchase necessary” business model as sweepstakes casinos.
That means sweepstakes poker sites remain easily accessible in Arkansas but face the risk of future enforcement action, particularly if legislation to authorize online poker gains momentum.
Arkansas Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal and regulated in Arkansas.
The legal journey for sports betting in Arkansas began with Amendment 100, which voters approved in the November 2018 election. Amendment 100 authorized land-based casinos and “casino gaming,” including wagering on sports events.
Retail sports betting at casinos launched in 2019 and remained in-person only for several years. In early 2022, the Arkansas Racing Commission adopted new rules that authorized each land-based casino to partner with up to two online sportsbook brands, or “skins.”
Currently, fans can choose from three online sportsbooks in Arkansas:
- BetSaracen
- Betly Sportsbook
- Oaklawn Sports
Arkansas law requires online sportsbook brands to share at least 51% of sports betting revenue with their casino partners, which has limited the market to just a handful of operators.
Other key rules include:
- Minimum age of 21 to bet online
- Wagers on professional, collegiate, and Olympic sports permitted
- No wagers on virtual sports or elections
Arkansas Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports are legal in Arkansas.
The Arkansas Legislature legalized daily fantasy sports via HB 2250 (Act 1075) in 2017, which declared DFS contests to be games of skill and exempt from state gambling laws.
Unlike most states that have legalized daily fantasy sports, Arkansas did not establish a thorough regulatory framework. Instead, it focused primarily on legalization and taxation rather than extensive consumer protection mechanisms.
- Legal DFS Age: The Arkansas DFS law does not specify a minimum age to participate in real-money fantasy sports contests. However, all reputable operators licensed in other states universally require players to be at least 18 (and in some cases 21).
- Tax Rate: State law requires operators to pay an 8% privilege tax on revenue collected from Arkansas customers.
- Prohibited Contests: The law prohibits fantasy sports apps from offering contests based on college sports, high school sports, horse racing, and greyhound racing.
Due to the lack of consumer protection measures, fans should exercise caution in choosing where to play. Instead, players should stick with reputable operators such as:
- PrizePicks
- ParlayPlay
- Boom Fantasy
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
Fantasy Pick’em Apps in Arkansas
Fantasy pick’em apps are available in Arkansas but operate in a contested legal environment.
In fantasy pick’em contests, users choose whether two or more athletes will achieve “more than” or “less than” specific stat projections like passing yards and points scored. In some variants, players compete against the house for fixed payouts, and in others, users compete against other players for tournament-style payouts.
In early 2024, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) issued cease-and-desist letters to PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy. The DFA contends that fantasy pick’em contests are functionally identical to player proposition bets offered by licensed sportsbooks.
The DFA accused fantasy pick’em operators of offering unlicensed online sports betting in Arkansas, noting that they do not implement 21+ age requirements or pay sports betting taxes.
However, multiple fantasy pick’em apps have since relaunched peer-to-peer variants of their contests in Arkansas and remain easily accessible. It’s uncertain whether the DFA will attempt a second crackdown on fantasy pick’em contests.
Arkansas Online Lottery Sales
Online lottery sales are legal but unregulated in Arkansas.
The official Arkansas Scholarship Lottery does not sell tickets online directly to the public. However, it’s legal for Arkansas residents to buy lottery tickets online through third-party ticket courier apps.
Lottery couriers act as digital intermediaries: customers may place orders online from anywhere in Arkansas, couriers purchase official tickets from authorized retailers, and they notify users when they win.
The Arkansas Lottery does not officially endorse lottery couriers, but it occasionally mentions them by name in press releases about customers who have won large prizes. In short, the Arkansas Lottery implicitly endorses lottery couriers but stops short of issuing its official stamp of approval.
That said, Arkansas does not regulate lottery couriers, so it’s crucial to use reputable operators with verified track records. Fortunately, several national brands are available in Arkansas:
- Jackpocket
- Jackpot.com
- Lotto.com
Online Horse Racing Betting in Arkansas
Online horse racing betting (advance deposit wagering) is legal and regulated in Arkansas.
State law authorizes advance deposit wagering platforms (ADWs) to offer online betting on horse races held nationwide and around the world with Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) approval.
Fans can choose from one state-specific platform and several national horse racing betting apps licensed in multiple jurisdictions:
- National Brands: Several of the largest and most reputable ADWs in the US are licensed to offer online horse racing wagering in Arkansas. The two more notable are TwinSpires and FanDuel Racing.
- Oaklawn Anywhere: This is the official horse racing betting website of Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs. Oaklawn Anywhere is available exclusively to Arkansas residents and is directly integrated with each track’s operations.
The key rules governing online horse racing betting in Arkansas are straightforward:
- Legal Age: Individuals must be 18+ to open ADW accounts in Arkansas
- Account Requirements: Users must be residents of Arkansas and provide personal identification when signing up for accounts for identity and age verification.
- Wagering Types: All Arkansas online horse racing betting occurs on a pari-mutuel basis. Licensed ADWs contribute directly to each track’s wagering pools and may provide all the same types of wagers as each host track.
Arkansas Gambling Regulators
Arkansas regulates gambling through agencies under the Department of Finance and Administration.
- Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC): Regulates casino gambling, sports wagering, and horse racing. Issues and enforces casino licenses, adopts regulations, conducts investigations, and imposes penalties for violations.
- Office of the Arkansas Lottery (OAL): Runs the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. Sets game rules, retailer standards, and responsible‑play practices.
- Department of Finance and Administration (DFA): Parent agency for ARC and the Lottery. Collects taxes and fees from DFS operators, online sportsbooks, and casinos.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Arkansas
Arkansas has established several programs to promote responsible gambling, educate the public, and provide resources to individuals seeking help. Amendment 100 requires the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) to allocate a minimum of $200,000 annually toward problem gambling treatment and education.
Self-Exclusion Resources
Arkansas passed HB 1847 (Act 798) in 2025, which authorized the ARC to establish and maintain a statewide self-exclusion list.
Additionally, individual casinos, daily fantasy sport platforms, horse racing betting sites, and lottery couriers offer individual self-exclusion tools.
Responsible Gambling Organizations
- Arkansas Problem Gambling Council (APGC): Provides prevention, education, and referrals. Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER.
- National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): National support line at 1-800-522-4700 or text 800GAM; live chat available.
- Gamblers Anonymous: Local meetings in Little Rock and Fayetteville; schedules at gamblersanonymous.org.