A final puzzle piece of the Arkansas sports betting puzzle came into form Monday, when Hot Springs’ Oaklawn Racing Casino inked a partnership for its future online sportsbook operation.
The facility announced it’ll partner with Kambi Group on its future Arkansas mobile sportsbook, becoming the last of the Natural State’s three casinos to make such a deal.
Kambi Group will continue to operate Oaklawn’s retail sportsbook, via its partnership with Churchill Downs Incorporated.
The Oaklawn-Kambi Group partnership joins others in the Arkansas sports betting community, such as Saracen Resort Casino’s BetSaracen app, which was founded in partnership with Amelco-UK, and Southland Casino’s Betly Arkansas Sportsbook, which was developed by its parent corporation, Delaware North.
Betly Arkansas went live in March, while the BetSaracen Sportsbook mobile launch occurred in May.
Monday’s release didn’t indicate a launch date for Oaklawn’s online sportsbook.
What the Oaklawn-Kambi Group Partnership Means for Arkansas Online Sports Betting
For Wayne Smith, who serves as the general manager at Oaklawn, the ability to ink a mobile sports betting partnership with a company like Kambi Group was a no-brainer.
Smith cited the Maltese company’s longstanding commitment to sports betting, along with Oaklawn’s decades of dedication to the state of Arkansas, as proof the partnership is built for long-term success.
"Oaklawn has been one of the most trusted brands in Arkansas for more than 100 years, and we are excited to now offer our loyal customers yet another great amenity with our much-anticipated mobile wagering platform,” Smith said in a press release. “We look forward to delivering the best online sports wagering experience in Arkansas."
The Malta-based operator is live in 17 states and the Canadian province of Ontario, with Arkansas joining a laundry list of states, including Arizona, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington.
"We're very excited to strengthen our relationship with Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort and imminently extend our partnership into the mobile space,” Kambi Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Kristian Nylénsaid in the press release. “The combination of Kambi's advanced technology and Oaklawn's reputation as one of the premier Thoroughbred tracks and casinos in the US makes this an enticing sports betting proposition.”
What Arkansas Mobile Betting Apps Are Available?
The impending Oaklawn launch means Arkansas’ mobile sports betting market will reach parity in the coming months.
The three casinos in Arkansas are allowed two betting partners each but are expected to continue only offering their local mobile apps for the time being. Because of the revenue split required in the state between local casinos and mobile betting operators, there is no BetMGM Sportsbook Arkansas — or sportsbooks sponsored by any other national brands.
Arkansas’ July sports betting revenue report saw handle drop 26.5% from June to $9.29 million, although revenue increased dramatically to $479,000.
The market should pick up in August, as college football betting begins. BetSaracen lists Arkansas as a 7-point favorite in its season-opener against Cincinnati on Sept. 3. By comparison, Caesars Sportsbook Arkansas has the Razorbacks as a 6-5-point favorite.
When and if the national brands launch in the state, BetArkansas will be your go-to source for the best Arkansas sportsbook promos.
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