After an initial deal with Gulfside Casino Partnership fell through, this final license was awarded to the Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation Businesses, which is partnering with Legends Hospitality to build a new casino in Pope County near Russellville.
While there are currently only three casinos in Arkansas, the 2018 ballot initiative that legalized sports betting in the state approved casino/sportsbooks in four locations.
The Saracen Casino Resort is working on their own online sportsbook platform, Bet Saracen, but it has not yet been released. As of this writing, Southland’s Betly is the only online sportsbook that operates in the state.Each of the state’s casinos is now allowed to open up to two of their own online sportsbooks. Arkansas also legalized online sports betting in 2022.In Arkansas, on-site sports betting has been available at the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (in Hot Springs), the Saracen Casino Resort (Pine Bluff), and Southland Casino Racing (West Memphis) since 2019.