On July 1, Arkansas became the ninth state to offer legal sports betting—at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs—following approval from the Arkansas Racing Commission. Voters approved expanded gambling including sports betting last November. Oaklawn and Southland Gaming & Racing in West Memphis were allowed to expand their operations. In addition, casinos were approved for Jefferson and Pope Counties.
General Manager Wayne Smith placed the state’s first legal sports bet with a teller at the remodeled Race & Sports Book–$5 on the Dallas Cowboys to beat the New York Giants on September 8. Smith said work has begun on a $100 million expansion at Oaklawn, including an additional 28,000 square feet of gaming area. He added the property has hired SBTech to incorporate sports betting into its existing racebook on the casino floor. Smith said three video walls will be added soon along with self-service betting kiosks throughout the casino. The sportsbook will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, Smith said.
“We’re going to add a couple of more casino games the summer, live blackjack games. There’s been a lot of activity around table games now, with the live games being added. We’re excited to now be offering sports wagering. It’s a new level of entertainment for our guests,” Smith said.
Sports wagering still is not available at Southland Gaming & Racing. Glen White, spokesman for owners Delaware North, said, “At this time we don’t have an opening date for the sportsbook. We are working toward beginning construction this summer on the new gaming complex and hotel and will be adding surface parking this spring to offset the parking that will be lost from that construction.”
The state will tax sports betting and casino gaming revenue at 13 percent for the first $150 million in net casino receipts and 20 percent above that.
