Arkansas Online Casinos: Legal Retail Casinos & Online Gambling in AR

Latest Updates on Arkansas Online Gambling

While real-money online casinos are illegal in most of the US, including Arkansas, you can find alternate forms of online casinos in Arkansas - called social and sweepstakes casinos - that are perfectly legal and allow you to play online casinos games for free. 

The latest update on Arkansas gambling online is that Carlton Saffa, the chief market officer at Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff, is seeking to legalize online casinos in AR through a change to state gambling law. That would include online slot games, table games and live dealer gambling, as seen in other legal online casino states. 

The plans for would go through the Arkansas Racing Commission, which regulates gambling in the state. If those plans are unsuccessful, Saffa said he could seek approval at the next legislative session. 

Online poker has already been legal in Arkansas, though it hasn't been available to all customers. The legalization of online gambling in Arkansas would expand the reach of online poker, as well as additional online casino games, to all gamblers in the state. 

Although online casinos in Arkansas are not yet legal, there's a chance that they could be legal soon. Make sure to bookmark this page as we stay on top of all updates on online casinos in AR.

Can I Gamble Online in Arkansas?

Yes, there are certain forms of online gambling in Arkansas that you can enjoy right now. Arkansas gamblers can enjoy online betting, online poker, online horse racing betting, DFS and online sweepstakes and social casinos. 

Eventually, you could enjoy online casinos depending on the outcome of recent pushes to expand legal online gambling in Arkansas. 

Are Online Casinos Legal in Arkansas?

No, online casinos are not legal in Arkansas. However, there are free-to-play sweepstakes and social casino sites that are completely legal, but these platforms don't reward real-money gambling winnings like you would at an online casino platform. 

Instead, you can win certain prizes and gift cards at a social casino in Arkansas. And you can win those prizes by playing online casino games such as online slot machines, table games, poker and more. 

Who Would Offer Arkansas Online Casinos?

There are plenty of companies that are expected to offer online casinos in Arkansas, if and when legal. 

The immediate options would be online gaming operated by Arkansas casinos - BetSaracen (Saracen Casino Resort), Oaklawn Sports (Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort) and Betly (Southland Casino Racing). These three operators currently offer sportsbooks in the state, but could expand their platforms to also offer online casinos, pending legislation. 

In addition to these brands, you could also expect to see online casinos offered by FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars and BetMGM, which can all be found in other online casino states.

What Online Casino Games Would be Available in Arkansas?

The typical online casino games are expected to be available to Arkansas gamblers:

• Slot Games
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Craps
• Baccarat
• Video Poker
• Live Dealer Games
• Online Poker*

*Online poker is already available in Arkansas, but will be available via additional online casino sites if and when legislation permits. 

Arkansas Online Casinos Legalization Timeline

• 📆 June 2024: Cherokee Nation Entertainment is licensed by the Arkansas Racing Commission to develop the Legends Resort Casino. The casino is expected to open in 2026. 
• 📆 March 2024: Saracen Casino asks the Arkansas Racing Commission for a change to state gambling law allowing for online casino gambling. 
• 📆 April 2022: Online sports wagering launches following approval by the state Racing Commission several months prior. The legalization of online and mobile betting could herald the eventual legalization of online casinos in Arkansas. 
• 📆 August 2020: The campaign for "Arkansas Wins 2020" ends following petitions that the initiative was noncompliant with state requirements. 
• 📆 July 2020: The "Arkansas Wins 2020" ballot initiative to allow up to 16 additional land-based casinos in AR reaches the required 97,000 signatures from residents. The initiative now heads to the November 2020 ballot. 
• 📆 October 2019: The Quapaw Nation of Oklahoma opens the third casino in Arkansas - Saracen Casino Resort. 
• 📆 April 2019: The first two Arkansas casinos open: Oaklawn Racing Casino and Southland Casino Racing. 
• 📆 November 2019: Voters approve sports wagering at casinos in AR. This would later expand to online sports betting. 
• 📆 November 2018: Arkansas voters approve a constitutional amendment to allow casinos in AR, giving the state Racing Commission the authority to license and regulate casino gambling in four locations.

Arkansas Online Casino Laws

• It is not legal to play any real money online casino in Arkansas. The only exception is at social casino sites or sweepstakes casinos. 
• There is a push to legalize AR online casinos by Saracen Casino by amending Rule 5, which already authorizes online poker, to include table games and slots. 
• Proposed online casino plans would allow each Arkansas casino to offer online casino gambling.
• Momentum toward the legalization of online casinos in AR began in April 2022 when online sports betting was legalized by the Arkansas Racing Commission.

Expected Arkansas Online Casinos To Launch

If and when Arkansas gambling online is legalized, there are several brands that are expected to be prominent among the first to offer casino games to Arkansas gamblers. You'll likely recognize these leading operators from other online casino states given their top-notch offering and popularity of their slots and table games. 

Some of these operators are typically at the forefront when it comes to launching in new markets, and the launch of online casinos in AR will be no different. With only a handful of licenses available, there will be some competition to launch online gambling in AR. 

Here's the Arkansas online gambling apps that are expected to launch:

BetMGM Online Casino Arkansas

BetMGM is one of the premier online casino operators in the US due to the experience of Entain, MGM Resorts' joint venture partner for BetMGM. You'll find a plethora of online slot machines, table games, poker and more at BetMGM online casino Arkansas, all with one of the more friendly user interfaces. 

This online casino platform is frequently offered alongside online casino in states where available, so if you're a fan of BetMGM Arkansas sportsbook, you could soon play casino games online in the same place. 

Caesars Online Casino Arkansas

Caesars Online Casino can be found alongside the Caesars Sportsbook Arkansas on the same platform. 

To boot, Caesars is one of the most popular online casino apps with a widely recognized brand across betting, casinos, entertainment and so much more - and if given the opportunity, it's perfectly reasonable to expect Caesars online casino to be available to Arkansas gamblers as well. 

DraftKings Online Casino Arkansas

DraftKings Casino is another top-of-the-line casino expected to expand to Arkansas, and it should be available alongside the DraftKings Arkansas sportsbook. 

This brand has typically been at the forefront of mobile gambling expansion and innovation, which makes us confident that DraftKings will be among the first online casinos in Arkansas to launch. 

FanDuel Online Casino Arkansas

In addition to being a legacy daily fantasy sports brand and one of the most popular betting brands, it's expected that FanDuel will also offer on online casino in Arkansas. 

Like others, the FanDuel online casino will likely be found alongside the FanDuel sportsbook. And the online casino is one of the highest-rated apps in all of the industry, so you can expect one of the best gambling experiences here. 

Free-to-Play Online Casinos in Arkansas

While you wait for AR online casinos to become legal, you can check out some of the perfectly legal, free-to-play online casinos in AR. These will allow you to play casino games online for free, and give you a preview of what to expect for when online gambling is legalized in the state. 

These free-to-play online casinos are known as social casinos and sweepstakes casino sites, which are available today!

Are Free Online Casino Games Available in Arkansas?

Yes, free online casino games are available in Arkansas. These are known as social and sweepstakes casinos. You won't have to bet any real money to play at a social casino or sweepstakes casino, but you also won't win any real money gambling winnings either. 

Free-to-Play Casino Games in Arkansas

You'll find plenty of free-to-play casino games at social and sweepstakes gambling sites in Arkansas. In fact, you can play slots, tables and more online at these sites. And most of these games come from top suppliers like NetEnt, High 5 Games and more!

Social Casinos vs Sweepstakes Casinos

While social casinos and sweepstakes casino sites are grouped together as the only legal forms of online casino in Arkansas, it's important to know the difference between the two. 

A social casino will allow you to play legal online casinos games for free, and these are the same games that can be found at real-money online casinos. You won't win cash at a social casino but you'll earn virtual credits, which will differ in terms of name and likeness at each social casino. 

A sweepstakes casino includes the element of virtual coins or tokens which can then be redeemed for real prizes, cash or gift cards. The online casino games found at sweepstakes casinos are the same as those found on social casinos as well. 

Are There Casinos in Arkansas?

Yes, there are casinos in Arkansas. You can find three full-service land-based casinos in the state offering slots, table games, poker, sports wagering, racing and more. 

Arkansas casinos were made legal through Issue 4, which allowed the legalization of up to four casinos, in 2018. 

*There will be a fourth casino in 2026 when Legends Casino Resort opens near Russellville

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

Oaklawn, formerly known as Oaklawn Park Race Track, was one of the first casinos in AR to open in 2019 and is the largest in the state. 

Owned by the Cella Family, this racetrack and casino is located near Hot Springs National Park and is home to the Racing Festival of the South - a four-day series of races that ends with the Arkansas Derby. Oaklawn offers over 1,400 slot games and 31 table games, poker tables, instant racing and a sportsbook. 

Saracen Casino Resort

Saracen Casino is the newest casino in Arkansas, having opened in September 2019 by the Quapaw Nation. This casino, located in Pine Bluff, offers more than 1,600 slots, 39 table games, poker room and sportsbook. 

A 300-room hotel is under construction, and should be open in 2025. 

Southland Casino Racing

Southland Casino Racing was formerly known as Southland Greyhound Park and then Southland Park Gaming and Racing, having opened as a casino with Oaklawn Park in 2019. The Delaware Park-owned facility has expanded over the years after initially operating as a greyhound track since 1956. 

Now, Southland Casino Racing, located in West Memphis, is a full-fledged casino offering more than 2,200 slot games, 54 table games, poker and a sportsbook. 

Legends Casino Resort

The newest Arkansas casino will be Legends Casino Resort when it opens in 2026. This $225 million casino resort owned by the Cherokee Nation will offer 1,200 slots, 32 table games, a sportsbook and 200-room hotel in addition to plenty other amenities. 

Casinos Near Little Rock

While there aren't any casinos in the Arkansas capital, you'll find that there are two casinos within an hour's drive from Little Rock. Saracen Casino is technically the closest casino to Little Rock at 51 miles. 

However, Oaklawn Racing is nearly the same distance, 56 miles to the west. 

Hot Springs Casinos

Hot Springs is known for its naturally occurring hot springs, but did you know that you can also find an Arkansas casino in the city as well? Oaklawn Racing is actually located in Hot Springs, just a mile and a half from downtown. 

Outside of that, the next closest casino will be Legends Casino Resort 70 miles to the north when it opens in 2026. 

What Legal Gambling Options in Arkansas Are Available Now?

While you wait for Arkansas gambling online to become legal, there are several forms of legal gambling options in Arkansas right now that allow you to play slots, tables, bet on sports and more. 

Here are the legal forms of gambling authorized and regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission:

• Casinos Casinos are legal in Arkansas, with three currently available across the state. Another is on the way in the form of Legends Casino, set to open in 2026. You'll be able to play casino games at these facilities, including slots, table games, poker, sportsbooks and more.
• Sports Betting Sportsbooks have been legal in Arkansas since July 2019, being available at the state's three land-based casinos. That later expanded to online sports betting. So far, there are three land-based sportsbooks and three online sportsbooks, though there are additional licenses available.
• Horse Racing You can bet on horse racing in Arkansas, either at several online betting apps or at one of the several simulcasting facilities in the state. Additionally, Arkansas is home to one live horse racing track at Oaklawn. So if you're a fan of watching horse races in person, head to Oaklawn for a day at the races.
• Lottery The Arkansas Lottery has been in operation since 2009, offering multi-state games such as Powerball and Mega Millions. You can play lottery games in AR as long as you're older than 18.
• Daily Fantasy Sports DFS in Arkansas has been operating legally since 2017, with operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, Betr Picks and ParlayPlay.
• Social Casino Social casino sites in Arkansas will allow you to legally play slots and tables online. These AR online casinos are free to play but also don't reward real-money prizes. Moreso, they allow you to get a taste of playing legal online casino games until actual online casinos become legal in Arkansas.
• Sweepstakes Casino There are several online sweepstakes gambling sites in Arkansas where you can legally play games for free. And with these games, you can actually win real money prizes like cash and gift cards.

Outlook for Online Gambling in Arkansas

The outlook for online gambling in Arkansas is an exciting one, with online casinos potentially on the horizon. You can already play poker, bet on sports and horses and play DFS online, and if all goes well, that could soon include online gambling games. 

The biggest step toward the legalization of online casinos in AR has been taken - the legalization of online sports betting. And it sounds like Arkansas casinos also want to go online as well. So stick around as we continue to monitor the latest updates in the process of online gaming going live in the state. 

Author

Joss Wood

@xPeru

Joss Wood is a Senior Writer for BetArkansas.com. Joss is globally considered one of the leading voices in the gambling industry, especially North American sports betting. With decades of experience under his belt, you will find Joss' thoughts published across several of the top websites in the world of sports betting.