Gambling in Arkansas

Gambling has had a tumultuous history in Arkansas, with periods of legalization and prohibition over the years. Today, the state has a limited gambling industry that includes casinos, horse and dog racing, and a state lottery. In this article, we’ll discuss the history of gambling in Arkansas, current legislation, and the future of the industry.

Early forms of betting in Arkansas

Gambling has a long and storied history in Arkansas, with the earliest known forms of betting dating back to the state’s frontier days. Gambling was popular in saloons and on riverboats, with games like poker, faro, and roulette being common forms of entertainment. In the early 1900s, horse racing also became a popular betting activity, with tracks opening up across the state.

In the 1960s and 70s, however, the state began to crack down on gambling, and by 1976, all forms of gambling were illegal. It wasn’t until 2005 that the state lottery was introduced, followed by casino gambling in 2018.

Current gambling legislation:

Today, the Arkansas State Racing Commission regulates horse racing in the state, with two tracks currently operating: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs and Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis. Both of these facilities offer electronic gaming machines, as well as live racing.

In 2005, Arkansas voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing for a state lottery, and since then, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has been in operation, offering games like scratch-off tickets, draw games, and multi-state lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions.

In 2018, a constitutional amendment was passed allowing for four casino licenses to be issued to operate in the state. Two of these licenses were awarded to the two existing racetracks, which were allowed to expand their operations to include full-scale casino gambling. The other two licenses were awarded to new casinos, which have not yet been built.

Future of Casino and Online Casino Gambling:

The future of casino and online casino gambling in Arkansas is uncertain. While casino gambling has been legal in the state since 2018, there are no plans currently in the works to expand the industry further.

However, with the rise of online gambling in other states, there has been some speculation about the possibility of online casino gambling becoming legal in Arkansas. There have been no bills introduced in the state legislature to address this issue, but it’s possible that it could be on the horizon.

Another issue that has been raised is the possibility of allowing commercial casinos to operate in the state. Currently, only the four casino licenses that were awarded in 2018 are allowed to operate in Arkansas, and these licenses are limited to specific geographic areas of the state.

However, there have been calls to allow commercial casinos to operate in the state as a way to increase tourism and revenue. Proponents of this idea argue that it would create jobs and generate additional tax revenue for the state, while opponents argue that it could lead to an increase in problem gambling and social ills.

Overall, the future of casino and online casino gambling in Arkansas is uncertain. While casino gambling has been legalized in the state, there are no plans to expand the industry further at this time. The possibility of online casino gambling and commercial casinos remains a topic of debate, and it’s unclear whether or not these proposals will gain traction in the coming years. However, the industry will continue to evolve and adapt to changing technologies and regulations, and it’s likely that we will see further changes to the state’s gambling landscape in the future. In the meantime there are plenty of offshore online casinos available for players based in Arkansas.