Arkansas Online Casino Gaming – Legal in 2024?

Shawn West
June 28, 2024

Arkansas residents looking to bet on sports have access to major sportsbooks that are licensed in the state. Those looking for casino gaming, though, are used to being restricted to land-based gambling in Arkansas.

You can drive to one of the state’s three in-person casinos, which have been in operation for five years. You can also have all the same casino gaming fun online at one of several Arkansas online betting sites located offshore. The sites are outside the jurisdiction of Arkansas state law and have paid real money jackpots to casino players in the state for years. Most of those offshore sites also have a full-service sportsbook and racebook, giving you all your gambling options in one place.

Best Sportsbooks in Arkansas for 2024

SPORTSBOOK	TRUST SCORE	ONLINE SINCE	Expert Review	BONUS	Bet Now
Bovada	9.9	2011	Read Review	$750 Cash Bonus	Bet Now
Heritage Sports	9.6	2001	Read Review	100% Free Play	Bet Now
Bookmaker	9.8	1996	Read Review	$500 Cash Bonus	Bet Now
BetAnySports	9.6	2002	Read Review	55% Cash Bonus	Bet Now
Everygame	9.5	1996	Read Review	$1,000 Cash Bonus	Bet Now
BetOnline	9.8	2001	Read Review	$250 Free Bet	Bet Now
MyBookie	9.3	2014	Read Review	50% Free Play	Bet Now

Resources:

Offshore Sportsbooks Betting Sites Guide

Top 10 Horse Racing Betting Sites in Arkansas Ranked

Here are the top ten sites for horse racing betting according to our experts:

BookMaker – The best all-around online casino site in Arkansas
Heritage Sports – Best casino for new and inexperienced players
Bovada – Arkansas’ best mobile casino
BetOnline – The largest menu of casino games
BetAnySports – Hundreds of casino games and variations
JustBet – Caters to all levels of casino players
BetUS – Pays the highest bonus of any online casino
WagerWeb – The top cashback rebate program
Everygame – Decades of dependable, trustworthy operation and prompt payments
SportsBetting.ag – One of Arkansas’ best live dealer areas

Each of these top-rated sportsbooks can provide players in Arkansas with an excellent online gambling experience.

Are online casinos legal in Arkansas?

One of the most common questions we get is “Is online casino gambling legal in Arkansas?” The answer is: It depends. The state has passed laws legalizing online horse race betting and sports betting, and it has licensed sites to provide that. There is no similar law for online casino games.

However, offshore sites, which are outside of the jurisdiction of Arkansas state law, have been serving customers in the state for years and paying out cash jackpots. And there is no state law prohibiting them from doing it. They offer games of skill and games of chance, with table games, online slots and live dealer areas for casino games and poker. They also have sportsbooks and racebooks giving customers all their gambling options in one convenient place.

The Best Online Casinos in Arkansas Compared

Our expert panel looked at a number of factors when determining their casino rankings. You may put more weight on certain factors than they did, or may not care about a certain category that they emphasized. Since it’s such a personal decision, our experts put together detailed looks at each offshore casino site, with pro and con lists, so you can choose the one that is the best match for you.

1. The Best All-Around Casino Site in Arkansas: BookMaker

BookMaker

Established 1996

Visit Bookmaker

9.8

Best For

Professional Bettor 9.0

Trust 9.8/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.2/10

Odds 9/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

$500 Cash Bonus

Claim Bonus

Key Features

Bookmaker.eu was our experts’ choice as the best all-around online casino site available to Arkansas players. They have a nice selection of titles including all the traditional favorite casino games. Their library includes multiple variations of blackjack, three-card poker, craps, roulette and Pai Gow. There’s also a lottery game section, which includes exciting bingo games, keno and other specialty games. They also have a section with live dealer games featuring many of the popular table games where players can enjoy real-time gaming with other players.

BookMaker is known for appealing to all gamblers, regardless of their experience or skill level, bankroll size or appetite for risk. They have high limits and low minimums, so every bettor will have a table they feel comfortable at. For newcomers, they offer a free casino, where players can try out the games in demo mode and learn the ropes before playing for money.

BookMaker offers competitive casino bonuses, including an initial deposit match bonus of up to $500. And, unlike many sites, you can spend the bonus money in the casino. Reload bonuses go up to $2,500 thanks to the platform’s elite rewards program.

2. Best Casino for New and Inexperienced Players: Heritage Sports

Heritage Sports

Established 2001

Visit Heritage Sports

9.6

Best For

Seasoned Gambler 8.6

Trust 9.6/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.2/10

Odds 9/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.7/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

100% Free Play

Claim Bonus

Key Features

Heritage Sports came in second in our rankings of offshore casino sites. It also earned special recognition for being the best site for new customers in Arkansas.

That’s partly because Heritage Sports treats all customers so well. It was originally an invite-only site for elite players and high rollers, and they still pamper everyone who comes through their doors. Heritage Sports also has a very user-friendly interface that makes the site easy to navigate.

Heritage Sports’ online casino specializes in slot machines. They offer a large menu of different slot variations, including classic games like three-reel online slots, all the way up to modern 5-reel, 9-line games and 3D slots.

Heritage Sports also has table games, including all the traditional favorite games, like blackjack, roulette and baccarat. There are also 27 versions of video poker. Unique promotions like free deposits and casino rebates make the experience even better.

3. Arkansas’ Best Mobile Casino: Bovada

Bovada

Established 2011

Visit Bovada

9.9

Best For

Mobile Bettor 9.0

Trust 9.9/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.8/10

Odds 8.9/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

$750 Cash Bonus

BTCSWB750 Claim Bonus

Key Features

With an army of dedicated customers, Bovada may be the most popular of all offshore casinos. It is the most diverse, with more ways to bet than any other site. It has a full-service sportsbook that is one of the best in the world. There’s also a separate horse racing betting area and the busiest poker room in the U.S., with the largest schedule of poker tournaments. That’s in addition to its casino gaming area, which is also top-notch.

Each of the separate areas also provides plenty of variety. There are more online sports betting options in the sportsbook, including a bigger menu of prop betting options than other online sportsbooks. The casino is on brand, with a huge menu of games. There are more than 100 different slot machine variations, including video slots, 3D games, progressive jackpot games and five-reel games. There are more than 200 table games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Andar Bahar, Roll the Dice and Teen Patti Rapid.

Their live dealer area is the largest in Arkansas, with 30 different live dealer games and table limits that go from $5 up to $2,500. And Bovada’s mobile site is every bit as good as the main site, making it the top mobile interface in Arkansas. It’s easy to sign up, enter Bovada promo codes and start playing your favorite games, on any device.

4. The Largest Menu of Casino Games: BetOnline

BetOnline

Established 2001

Visit BetOnline

9.8

Best For

Bonus Hunter 8.5

Trust 9.8/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.8/10

Odds 9.2/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

$250 Free Bet

FREE250 Claim Bonus

Key Features

The BetOnline casino took the fourth spot in our rankings and was singled out by our experts for having the largest selection of online casino game titles of all the online sites available in Arkansas.

There are more than 150 different variations of online slots, including progressive jackpots and RTP slots. There are even slot games that are exclusive to BetOnline. The site also features games from all seven of the top game manufacturers and provides generous bonuses to encourage players to get in on the action. The promo codes at BetOnline can also provide additional benefits, including more bonus funds.

There are also plenty of card games and other casino table games, with more than 50 different games available, including video poker, craps, baccarat, multi-hand casino war, 3-card rummy and 18 different blackjack table games. There are two live casino areas, the red and the black. The Red Casino has blackjack, roulette, baccarat and Super 6. The Black offers baccarat, roulette, blackjack and Hold’em.

5. Hundreds of Casino Games and Variations: BetAnySports

BetAnySports

Established 2002

Visit BetAnySports

9.6

Best For

Seasoned Gambler 8.9

Trust 9.6/10

Banking 9/10

Bonuses 8.7/10

Odds 9.6/10

Customer Service 8.5/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

55% Cash Bonus

BMR30 Claim Bonus

Key Features

Online casinos try to overwhelm gamblers with more game titles than any other competitor, but BetAnySports goes even further, offering the largest number of separate casinos. There are a half dozen casino areas at BetAnySports: the 3D Casino, Classic Casino, Diamond Casino, Fortune Casino, Horizon Casino and Star Casino. Each one has its own separate library of games and variations, resulting in hundreds of options for Arkansas players.

The live dealer casino takes the same approach, combining three in one. The three separate live dealer areas are Lucky Dealer Live, Euro Live and Vegas Live, giving users a selection of video feeds to live rooms around the world and ensuring that there’s always a game about to start somewhere that they can join.

BetAnySports also offers a full-casino experience with a top-shelf racebook, poker room and reduced juice sportsbook.

Our Rating Methodology

Our expert panel looked at a number of different factors when evaluating the offshore casinos available in Arkansas. They wanted to find the ones that offered the best online betting experience. That means a variety of games, variations, software companies and play styles. There should be video versions of the games as well as live dealer areas. The sites were also evaluated on their user interface quality, their customer service departments and banking options. Sites that paid generous bonuses and had a good selection of ongoing promotions were also highly rated. Our experts even looked at customer reviews of each site online.

Arkansas’ History of Gambling Laws

For most of the state’s history, Arkansas has had two groups battling for control of state law—the people opposed to all forms of gambling, and those who want to expand legal gambling in the state. The state’s gambling history reflects the back-and-forth struggle between the two. Its first state constitution, in 1874, banned all forms of betting. Within a few years, however, betting on horse racing was a fast-growing industry. The state opened its first casino in 1905, but soon after, Arkansas outlawed race betting across the state. A law was passed in the 1930s bringing back the racebook industry, but then the state began cracking down on casinos, driving the last one out of business in the 1960s.

Since the turn of the millennium, the pro-gambling faction seems to have taken control. The state allowed tracks to install gambling machines, turning them into “racinos” in 2005. They added a state lottery a few years later, and, in 2017, they legalized daily fantasy sports. The following year, a statewide referendum passed a constitutional amendment that allowed four casinos to be built—three have been built so far. State residents placed their first bets in person a short time later, and the amendment also allowed for each casino to serve as a sports betting location. In 2019, the state legalized online sports betting as well, and sports betting revenue now regularly hits the $30 million mark each month.

What government body regulates online gambling in Arkansas?

The Arkansas Racing Commission regulates most forms of gambling in the state, including in-person casinos and online betting on sports and racing. However, offshore casino sites are not under the jurisdiction of U.S. federal gambling law or Arkansas state law, since they are located in other countries. So the Racing Commission does not have the authority or oversight power over them. That’s why they were taking state residents as customers long before Arkansas began legalizing any form of online gambling.

Standout Features of the Best Online Casinos

The online casinos in our top 10 have different looks and feels as well as having very different game offerings. However, there are some things they all have in common. Our experts identified a set of factors that are requirements for any site to be included as one of the best offshore casinos available in Arkansas.

Gambling Odds

Odds should be fair and should be similar to the odds and probability of winning you’d get at an in-person version of the game at a land-based casino.

Betting Markets

A selection of different forms of gambling should be available. While the casino was the area being evaluated, the best offshore sites also offer sportsbooks, racebooks and poker rooms to give a full gambling experience to customers. Each area should have a diverse set of offerings. For casino gaming, that means live dealer and video sections, all the popular games and variations and a good range of manufacturers.

Banking Methods

There should be a variety of ways to conduct banking transactions, including traditional payment methods like major credit cards, debit cards and bank wire transfers. Newer transaction types like e-wallets and cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum should also be offered.

Sites should offer generous bonuses that can be used in the casino. There should be a match deposit bonus for your initial deposit to serve as a welcome bonus. The best sites offer a flexible set of bonuses, differing by match percentage and rollover requirement, each with its own bonus code. There should also be promo code offers for ongoing bonuses for loyal customers.

Live Dealers

To get a full casino experience, the best casinos offer live dealer games, where customers are connected to an actual dealer via video hookup. These games provide the same experience that players can get in brick-and-mortar casinos; it also brings the social aspect back to table games, where players can try to “read” the dealer or other players.

Quality User Interface

The online betting experience should be a positive one, and that means the user interface should be smooth, responsive and easy to navigate. Menus should be organized in a way that makes sense.

Mobile Site Navigability

The mobile site should be as functional and attractive as the full-blown site on a computer. Mobile betting pages should be easily readable on the smaller screen of a mobile device and the mobile sports betting experience should be smooth and easy. Pages should load quickly without technical problems. Many mobile sportsbooks offer casino apps and mobile sports betting apps to make it easier to play.

Customer Support Team

When there are issues or questions, the customer support team should be available and capable. Customer service should ideally be available 24/7 in multiple languages by email, phone or live chat.

App & Site Security Features

Sending money online to an offshore betting site can be risky. Sites should be trusted to protect your financial information and pay out in full, on time. Any site that had any question marks about their security and trust were immediately eliminated from consideration by our experts.

Land-Based Casino Gambling Locations in Arkansas

In 2018, Arkansas voters approved an amendment allowing land-based casino gambling in the state. Four casino properties were approved, and three of them have been built and are now in operation. Here’s a look at the commercial casinos that are available in the state.

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

Located in Hot Springs, Oaklawn opened in 1904 as a thoroughbred racing track. Games were added the next year for a run as a casino until the state cracked down on in-person gambling. There is a spa, hotel and casino, which underwent an expansion in 2021. It features 24/7 blackjack, craps and slots.

Southland Casino Racing

Located in West Memphis, Southland Casino opened as a dog racing track in 1956. It expanded to include casino games in 2019 and now features 1700 gaming machines. They also offer live greyhound racing and simulcast dog and horse race betting.

Saracen Casino Resort

Located in Pine Bluff, Saracen opened its first section in 2019, with 300 slot machines. A second section was built across the street and opened in 2020 with 2,100 slot machines, 30 gaming tables, a sportsbook and a poker room.

Popular Casino Gambling Options

Casinos offer a wide variety of different gaming options, and casinos at online gambling sites have a similar diversity in games. Players can win money in a range of different gambling options. Here are some of the more popular casino games you’ll come across.

Slots

Slots are the first thing most visitors to a casino notice, and they are also a headliner at online casinos. Wheels with symbols on them are spun, and players need to get symbols on different wheels to match. Classic slot games have three wheels, but newer games have added wheels and made other twists to the game. Online slots have hundreds of different variations and slot titles, including 3D games, progressive jackpots and more.

Poker

Poker is the card game played most often across the globe, and there are a large number of different variations. The point is to compete against other players to have the best hand. The number of cards in a player’s hand can vary, as can the number of cards visible to other players and whether cards can be replaced in an effort to improve your hand. Online poker comes in two forms: Video poker uses simulated cards and random number generators to “deal” out each hand. There are also live dealer games that match up online poker players around the world by video feed and have human dealers at poker tables. Online poker tournaments are going on at all times, with real cash prizes.

Blackjack

Another popular casino game is blackjack. Players compete against the dealer to see whose hand comes closer to a point total without going over. It can be offered online in video form or with live dealer games.

Roulette

Roulette is another wheel-based game where players bet on which numbered slot a ball will land in when the wheel stops spinning. They can bet on specific numbers or the color of the slot the ball will stop at, or they can bet on ranges of numbers.

Live Dealers

Live dealer table games are a popular way to play because it gives a realistic casino experience. Players and dealers are connected by video feed, so players can read each other’s expressions for tells and bluffs.

Niche Casino Options

There are plenty of other games that don’t fall into one of the above categories. Baccarat is a card game where players bet on the outcome of a player vs. dealer matchup. Craps is a dice game that can be found at many casinos. Lottery games like keno and bingo are also popular, as are electronic games that simulate horse races.

How to Create an Account at an Online Casino Site

Creating an account at offshore sites is fast and simple. Simply choose from the payment methods available and head to the page of the casino online. The entire process takes only a couple of minutes.

Step 1. Sign-Up

Choose one of the online casino sites listed in our top 10 recommendations and go to the page. Click on the button to open a new account.

Step 2. Verify Your Details

Fill out the registration form and reply with a code sent to your phone to verify your identity.

Step 3. Deposit Funds

Choose a deposit method from the list on the cashier page, enter your information, and don’t forget to include the promo code for the welcome bonus you want.

Step 4. Enjoy Casino Gambling

That’s it. You’ve got yourself an account. Pick a game and start playing. Good luck and have fun!

FAQs – Arkansas Online Casinos

Can I play at online casinos in Arkansas?

You can play online table games and online slots in Arkansas and win real money. However, you will need to use an offshore gambling site like the ones in our guide. The state has not licensed any sites for wagering on casino games, so offshore sites are the only option.

Can you play slots online for real money in Arkansas?

It is possible to win real money online at slots in Arkansas. The state does not have any sanctioned, licensed online casino sites, so your only option is an offshore site. They are not subject to state law and have been serving Arkansas customers and paying out real money for years.

How can I bet online in Arkansas?

The state has approved a handful of sites to provide online sportsbooks and racebooks. If you also want to play online casino games and slots for real money, you will need to use an offshore gambling site like the ones in our guide.

What is the best online casino for real money?

Our experts ranked the 10 best online casinos for real money. BookMaker and Heritage Sports were the top two choices, followed by Bovada, although we are confident that any of the sites our experts recommended would provide an excellent casino experience.

Can I use Bovada in Arkansas?

You can use Bovada in Arkansas. It is an offshore gambling site, which means that it is subject to the laws in Costa Rica, where it is located. It does not need to be licensed or sanctioned by Arkansas and has taken state residents as customers for years.