Mobile sports betting in Arkansas is on track to make more than $500 million this year. Here’s a closer look at the cause behind the huge growth.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Sports betting in Arkansas is on track to make more than half a billion dollars this year.
This represents an increase of US$404 million compared to what it was in 2023.
“Arkansans earn on average about $1.55 million a day from sports,” said Scott Hardin, spokesman for the Racing Commission.
This average is obtained across our state’s three casino apps.
Hardin explained how mobile betting has been the reason behind the increase from 400 million to at least 500 million in sports betting.
In 2023, Arkansas collected about $5 million in taxes, and Hardin said that benefits the state in several ways.
“The state gets a good portion of that. The city and county that are home to these casinos get a significant portion of that. And lastly, there’s a horse racing fund on the live exchange. So the exchanges in Oaklawn have actually increased as a result of state revenue”, he explained.
While we have seen success in mobile betting, Hardin emphasized that it is an extremely regulated industry.
“We want to make sure Arkansans understand that the only way to place a legal sports bet in Arkansas is at one of the state’s casinos or through their apps. Any other option is not legal,” he described.
Carlton Saffa of Saracen Casino echoed the same message and said this is part of the reason why Saracen wants to launch an “I-gaming” app and bring casino games directly to your phone, the legal way.
“We believe that allowing licensed and regulated casinos to engage in the same business will not really change anything, there will still be online gaming, but the state will generate revenue,” explained Saffa.
Sports betting is the second most important part of Saracen’s business and Saffa said it hopes to add casino games to phones at some point in the future.
“All we would ask is that the other properties we offer slots and other forms of table games be considered as an alternative to the illegal offshore sports betting and casino operators that are unfortunately plaguing our state,” he said.
The decision to allow “I-gaming” ultimately rests with the racing commission, and at this point, Saffa said Saracen is waiting patiently for when the commission is ready to have that conversation.
