Online sports betting is legal in Arkansas if you are at least 21 years old and physically inside the state when you place the bet. Voters approved Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution in 2018, and the Arkansas Racing Commission opened the door to mobile wagering in early 2022 through Casino Gaming Rule 20. Three licensed casinos run sportsbook apps today, and in February 2026 the Racing Commission cleared DraftKings and FanDuel to enter the market as well.
Who Can Legally Place a Bet
You must be 21 or older. Amendment 100 flatly prohibits anyone under 21 from engaging in casino gaming, and sports wagering falls under that umbrella.1FindLaw. Arkansas Constitution of 1874 Amendment 100 – Section 3
When you sign up, the sportsbook will verify your identity. Expect to hand over your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and a government-issued ID. This is standard across every legal U.S. sportsbook and covers age verification, fraud prevention, and anti-money-laundering compliance.
You also have to be inside Arkansas every time you place a wager. The apps check your GPS coordinates before accepting a bet. Residency is not required — a visitor driving through can bet as long as the phone is on Arkansas soil when the wager is submitted.2Legal Information Institute. 006.06.21 Ark. Code R. 013 – Casino Gaming Rule 20 Cross into Missouri, Tennessee, or any other state and the app will lock you out, even with an active account. That restriction tracks federal law: the Wire Act makes it a federal crime to transmit sports wagers across state lines, so each bet has to originate and settle inside a single state.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1084 – Transmission of Wagering Information; Penalties
Which Apps Are Legal in Arkansas
Every online sportsbook in Arkansas has to be tethered to one of the three licensed casinos. For several years that meant just three apps:
- Betly, partnered with Southland Casino Racing
- BetSaracen, partnered with Saracen Casino Resort
- Oaklawn Sports, partnered with Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
In February 2026, the Racing Commission approved licenses for DraftKings and FanDuel to partner with Arkansas casinos. Each casino is permitted up to two branded platforms, which left room for the national operators alongside the existing apps.2Legal Information Institute. 006.06.21 Ark. Code R. 013 – Casino Gaming Rule 20 If you have used DraftKings or FanDuel in another state, the interface will feel familiar, but your Arkansas account is a separate account from any you hold elsewhere.
What You Can and Cannot Bet On
Betting markets in Arkansas are broad. You can wager on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, major international sports, and other events approved by the Racing Commission. Bet types include point spreads, moneylines, totals, parlays, prop bets, and live in-game wagering. Odds and potential payouts have to be clearly displayed before you confirm a wager.
College sports betting is more permissive here than in many states. There are no special restrictions on betting the Arkansas Razorbacks or any other college team, and individual college player props are available. If you’ve bet in a state that bans in-state college action or college player props, that’s a real difference.
The state’s prohibited-wagers rule draws a few hard lines:4Code of Arkansas Rules. 23 CAR 358-2017 – Prohibited Wagers
- No betting on amateur athletic events other than college sports and IOC-sanctioned Olympic events.
- No betting on the outcome of any public election.
- No bets placed by or on behalf of a coach or participant in a college event they’re involved in, and sportsbooks have to take reasonable steps to prevent it.
- Non-sporting events like entertainment awards or reality TV outcomes require specific written approval from the Racing Commission.
Funding Your Account
Arkansas sportsbook apps take debit cards, online bank transfers, and e-wallets like PayPal or Venmo. Minimum deposits generally run $5 to $20 depending on the platform and payment method.
Credit card deposits have grown scarce. DraftKings and FanDuel stopped accepting credit cards nationwide in 2025 and early 2026, citing consumer protection concerns and card issuer fees on gambling transactions. Where credit cards are still accepted, your bank may code the deposit as a cash advance, which triggers higher interest rates and immediate interest accrual with no grace period. A debit card or bank transfer sidesteps that.
Withdrawals typically route back through the same method you used to deposit. E-wallets can land in a few hours; bank transfers take several business days. Each casino partner is responsible for prompt payouts.
Taxes on Your Winnings
Every dollar you win is taxable income, whether the sportsbook sends you a form or not. The forms kick in at specific thresholds; the tax liability does not.
Federal
For 2026, the sportsbook files IRS Form W-2G when your winnings reach at least $2,000 and are at least 300 times your wager. If your net winnings exceed $5,000 and meet that 300-to-1 ratio, the operator must withhold 24% for federal taxes before paying you out.5Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 (01/2026) Smaller wins are still reportable; you just won’t get an automatic form.
Arkansas
The state withholding rate on gambling winnings is 5.9%, matching the highest individual income tax rate under current law.6FindLaw. Arkansas Code Title 26 Taxation 26-51-920 Stacked with the 24% federal withholding, nearly 30% of a large payout can be held back before the money reaches you. You can deduct gambling losses against winnings on your federal return, but only if you itemize, and losses cannot exceed the winnings you report.
Setting Limits and Self-Exclusion
Every licensed app has to offer tools to help you manage your activity. At a minimum, you can set daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits and time-based session limits. Once you hit a limit, the app locks you out until the period resets, and you generally cannot loosen a limit until the current period expires.
If you need a longer break, Arkansas operators are required to maintain a self-exclusion program. Self-excluding closes your account and stops promotional contact. The minimum self-exclusion period is 30 days, and the operator cannot let you back in before that period ends.7Code of Arkansas Rules. 23 CAR 358-514 – Self-Exclusion The National Council on Problem Gambling runs a confidential helpline at 1-800-522-4700.