Arkansas (AR) Sportsbooks: Best Sports Betting Sites & Apps – December 2024

Yes, sports betting is legal in Arkansas. It was one of the first states to approve legal sports betting after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018.

Retail sports betting launched in the state in July 2019 after passing on a state-wide ballot in November 2018. Online sports betting followed in March 2022, and there are now three online sportsbooks in the state.

Whether wagering online or in person, you must be 21 or older and physically located in the state to legally bet on sports in Arkansas.

Here’s what to look for when deciding whether to sign up for an online sportsbook in Arkansas.

• App functionality: The app should work smoothly with fast load times, quick odds updates and an intuitive interface.
• Betting market variety: Having a variety of sports and betting markets to wager on is key, especially if you’re interested in niche markets or international sports.
• Betting odds: Odds should be competitive compared to other sportsbooks, otherwise you’ll miss out on potential profit.
• Customer service: Having reliable support options is important in case you have any questions or run into issues with your account.
• Live betting: The ability to quickly wager on events that are already in progress is key, as odds are constantly shifting.
• Payment methods: Having several different convenient payment options available like credit/debit cards, online banking and digital wallets to fund your account.
• Promotions: Includes a strong welcome offer for new users along with promotions for existing customers like referral bonuses and odds boosts.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the online sportsbooks in Arkansas that meet our recommended criteria for your sports betting experience. All of the following sportsbooks rate highly for the aforementioned criteria, so you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Betly was the first online sportsbook to go live in Arkansas, launching in March 2022 in partnership with Southland Casino Racing.

While not as popular or widely available as bigger brands like DraftKings and FanDuel, Betly is regarded as the best betting app in Arkansas. It covers the basics and satisfies most sports bettors’ needs, boasting a user-friendly app with a solid welcome offer and market coverage.

However, it lacks some of the bells and whistles available at other sportsbooks like live streaming and early cash-out.

Betly is available in a few other states as well, so it’s not exclusive to Arkansas if you leave the state.

BetSaracen was the state’s second online sportsbook, launching in May 2022 after months of delays.

Partnered with Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, BetSaracen has quickly become the state’s leading sportsbook in terms of market share. BetSaracen has an easy-to-use app, competitive odds and a wide array of betting markets, making it a good option for bettors who want to place their wagers quickly.

Arkansas’ third sports betting app was Oaklawn Sports, which launched in early September 2022 in partnership with Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs. As the last online sportsbook to launch in the state, Oaklawn also ranks last in market share.

Compared to the state’s other two sportsbooks, Oaklawn is somewhat lacking. It has a welcome offer and the app is functional, but the final product falls short of Betly and BetSaracen.

We’ve taken the time to sample and research numerous sportsbooks, narrowing down a list of the best in the industry. These rankings can help you decide which ones to try first.

Our rankings are based on scores in the following categories:

• App reviews
• Availability across states
• Size of welcome offer
• Ease of claiming welcome offer
• Rewards program
• In-app streaming capabilities
• Existing user promos
• Customer service options

Below, we’ll break down each category and why it’s important to your sports betting experience.

App Reviews

A quick and easy way to get a sense of a sportsbook’s quality is by comparing user reviews on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android). Since ratings are out of five stars, you’ll generally want a sportsbook that’s well-regarded with an average score of at least four stars.

You can also dive into specific user comments to get a sense of what people are saying about the app and if there are any recurring complaints or issues. This can be helpful for features that are hard to gauge until you actually use the app, like lagginess or customer service.

Many commenters are there to complain, so don’t put too much stock in specific reviews.

That said, if you notice common themes throughout the comments, consider it a warning for issues you may encounter with the app.

State Availability

Each state handles sports betting differently. Some states allow both in-person and mobile sports betting, while others might only allow in-person sports betting or have a hard cap on the number of mobile sportsbooks permitted.

Accordingly, sportsbooks vary by state, as each state has to approve a sportsbook before it can launch there. No sportsbook is available in every state with legal online sports betting, but a few have launched in the majority of them.

Generally speaking, the more states a sportsbook is available in, the better. That means it’s more likely to be available in your state, a bordering state or a state you’re likely to travel to, making it easier and more convenient to use. That way, you’ll be able to take your sportsbook with you rather than needing to sign up for a new one every time you leave your state.

While smaller “local” sportsbooks usually offer profit boosts and other bonuses based on hometown teams, they’re usually only available in a handful of states at most, offering limited availability.

Size of Welcome Offer

This is an important one. How much free money will a sportsbook give you for signing up?

Most sportsbooks have welcome offers to entice new customers, but it’s important to know how these offers work. Just because an offer has a higher dollar amount attached to it doesn’t necessarily make it better.

Some sportsbooks have “bet and get” promotions where you receive bonus bets (site credit) just for wagering a small amount of money. For example, you might get $200 in bonus bets just for placing a $5 wager. You’re essentially getting free money to bet with.

Other sportsbooks have “no-sweat” offers that give a bonus bet only if your first bet loses.

For example, if you place a $20 bet after signing up and it loses, you’ll receive a $20 bonus bet, similar to a refund.

These offers tend to wow bettors with larger amounts than “bet and get” promos, often going up to $1,000 or $1,500. However, you’ll only receive a bonus bet if your first wager loses, in which case you’ll need to use the bonus bet to try to win your money back. If your wager wins, you’ll receive your cash winnings like a normal wager but won’t receive any bonus.

Accordingly, “no sweat” offers generally aren’t as good as “bet and get” promos.

When comparing sportsbooks, it’s better to focus on welcome offers with guaranteed bonuses that give you site credit no matter what.

Ease of Claiming Welcome Offer

The size of the bonus offer won’t matter if it’s difficult to claim.

The best sportsbook bonus offers are as easy to claim as they are generous, being simple and straightforward without requiring you to jump through hoops.

The best bonuses are guaranteed and hit your account instantly as soon as you place your first bet. They’ll also be easy to follow and won’t require you to check a bunch of boxes to get your bonus.

Some sportsbook bonus offers require you to make multiple wagers or wait days or weeks to unlock your full bonus. This can be inconvenient, especially if you’re trying to get your full bonus ahead of a major sporting event like the Super Bowl or March Madness.

More complex offers can be a pain, so we prefer simplified offers with fewer requirements.

Rewards Program

If you bet often and are planning to use a sportsbook frequently, a strong rewards program is essential.

Loyalty programs differ by sportsbook. Some give you rewards points for each bet, which can then be converted into bonus bets or other rewards. Others offer big rewards like free trips, hotel stays, tickets to sporting events and more.

On the other hand, some sportsbooks don’t have any rewards. That might not be a big deal for casual bettors, but it can make a difference for frequent sports bettors.

It’s like paying for something with cash versus a credit card. If you place a bet at a site without a loyalty program, you’re missing out on points elsewhere.

In-App Streaming Capabilities

While bigger sports like football or basketball are usually only available to watch via traditional cable or streaming services, some sportsbooks offer the ability to stream smaller sports in the app, which is a benefit for bettors.

For example, FanDuel‘s app often streams tennis matches, which makes it easier to follow the action and place live wagers.

Beyond just offering live streaming, we also considered how laggy the stream was, how much battery it used and the amount of events available to stream in the app.

Existing User Promos

Most sportsbooks have some type of welcome offer to get new customers in the door, but where they really differ is with their promotions for existing customers.

Some sportsbooks offer a slew of daily promotions like odds boosts, no-sweat bets, bonus bets and more to keep customers coming back every day. Others only offer these sparingly, however, if at all.

One key existing user promo to consider is the referral bonus. Many sportsbooks have some type of referral bonus for getting someone else to sign up, but the amount can differ ($50 per person, $100, $200, etc.). If you’re planning to bet with friends or family, this can be a great way to score bonus bets for you and them.

Similar to a rewards program, you’ll want a sportsbook with frequent offers for existing customers if you plan to bet frequently.

Customer Service Options

Strong customer service options are a must for any sportsbook considering most disputes or calls involve someone’s money.

High marks were given to any sportsbook that offered 24/7 customer service (sporting events often end at night, after all), while points were deducted if a sportsbook relied on a FAQ page as a key part of its customer service profile. The more options for contacting customer service (email, chat, phone, etc.), the better.

Customer support is essential to guaranteeing a smooth sports betting experience. If a problem arises, it’s important to have it handled quickly and effectively.