Online sports betting is legally allowed to begin in Arkansas, but the casinos that will offer mobile wagering in the southern state are not quite ready to do so.
Arkansas Department of Finance spokesperson Scott Hardin told Covers this week that the rule changes permitting mobile sports betting are effective Friday.
The rules now allow the state’s three casinos to have up to two individually-branded online sportsbooks, which can also be run on their behalf by third-party operators.
However, Hardin said they were unsure if a casino would actually launch a wagering app on Friday.
Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff told the department they will go live with online sports betting before the start of the March Madness basketball tournament later this month, but exactly when their digital book will open up shop is unclear. The casino's Bet Saracen app has apparently been waiting on approvals from payment processors and mobile app stores.
“That launch could be as early as [March 4] or later next week,” Hardin said in an email.
The two other casinos that are currently operating in Arkansas and could now launch legal online sports betting are Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs and Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis.
Oaklawn general manager Wayne Smith said in a statement that they are aiming to have their mobile platform up and running “within the next quarter or so.”
“We took a more conservative approach and waited for the racing commission and the legislature to give their approval before we started working with our vendor GAN in getting our mobile platform ready,” Smith said. “Our mobile platform will mirror the same wagering menu Oaklawn offers its guests on property which rivals any national brands menu out today.”
A spokesperson for Southland did not respond to questions from Covers before publication. A fourth casino has also been approved and will eventually be built in Arkansas' Pope County.
(Update: Southland launched its Betly online sportsbook on Saturday, March 5.)
We're still waiting on payment processors and App Store compliance.
— BetSaracen (@BetSaracen) March 2, 2022
Trust us, we'll let you know ???????????? https://t.co/RE1iApqMJk
Nevertheless, the changes now in effect in Arkansas will eventually enable online wagering from anywhere in the state, in addition to the in-person betting that’s already going on at casinos.
Arkansas voters approved casino gambling in November 2018, and sports betting was among the types of games facilities were allowed to offer. The rule changes authorizing mobile wagering were approved last month.
“We anticipate citizens of neighboring states may make a day or a weekend of visiting Arkansas to legally wager on a favorite team,” the Department of Finance’s Hardin said. “The only neighboring states that offer the mobile option are Tennessee and Louisiana. Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Mississippi don't offer statewide mobile sports wagers.”
Wager words
Yet it was the language approved by voters in 2018 that led to some disagreement during the rules-setting process for online sports betting. The mobile rules require the casinos to receive the majority of net wagering revenue, which is intended to ensure that casino gambling (sports betting included) is being offered by casinos.
Sportsbook operators that could partner with the casinos protested against the arrangement and argued it could be unconstitutional because it may protect in-state interests while discriminating against out-of-state businesses. Ultimately, though, the rules were approved, with the office of the state’s attorney general telling lawmakers they believe they can be defended in court.
The launch of mobile wagering also comes as the dollar amount of sports betting going on at Arkansas casinos was already on the rise.
Hardin said $68 million was bet on sports at the state’s three casinos in 2021, which was more than double the $33 million wagered in 2020. Since the start of legal sports betting in the state in July 2019, the casinos’ sportsbooks have handled more than $120 million in bets.
“While the state has not issued a formal projection related to revenue from mobile betting, a conservative estimate would assume current amounts wagered double with mobile launched,” Hardin added. “However, it is more likely the amount wagered increases three to four times with the mobile option in place.”
