Reviews Of Local Casinos In Arkansas

Passed domestic casino legislation in 2018 authorizing four casino licenses.
Three brick-and-mortar casinos that are 21 and up are currently operating in the state.
18+ online casinos are legally available from legit offshore operators.

Arkansas is better known for its saxophone-playing ex-president rather than its casinos, but that will change with time. With three Arkansas casinos currently in operation and a fourth that could be on the way, the “bear state” is poised for expansion and some more sexy sax licks, hopefully.

Two of the three local casinos currently accepting bets in Arkansas are located at previously established racetracks and amended into the new casino gambling law passed by voters in 2018; the other is a stand-alone location owned by the Quapaw Nation. A fourth license could be issued in 2024 but has met resistance in the local court system. None of these destinations offer casino gambling to players under the age of 21, which is where our recommended online casinos come into play.

Below, we will look at the local casino landscape and discuss 18+ Arkansas casino options for players in 2024.

Does Arkansas Have 18+ Casinos?

Minimum Legal Gambling Age Icon With 18+ License 18-year-old players can legally bet on horse racing and dog races at state-licensed racetracks and racinos. However, in Arkansas, the legal casino gambling age is 21, and anyone under 21 is not permitted to enter the game room floor.

Lottery, sports betting, and poker gambling also carry the 21+ age requirement in Arkansas. However, there are 18 and up casino gambling options in all 50 states, including Arkansas, since there are no federal gambling laws that restrict online gambling sources.

The Minimum Gambling Age In Arkansas

As mentioned above, Arkansas has different gambling ages for different gambling activities. Below is a quick look at the age requirement for the gambling activities authorized by the state.

Casino Age Requirement – 21
Sports Betting Age Requirement – 21
Poker Gambling Age Requirement – 21
Lottery Age Requirement – 18
Horse/Dog Race Betting Age Requirement – 18
Bingo Age Requirement – 18

Arkansas players also have access to online sites, making it one of the 18 and-up gambling states where players can wager online without breaking any state or federal laws.

Are There Indian Casinos In Arkansas?

Yes, the Quapaw Nation owns Saracen Casino Resort, one of the three casinos currently operating in Arkansas. The other two casinos operate from pre-existing horse racing facilities and are not Arkansas Indian casinos.

The fourth casino license accepts applications but is reserved for Pope County. The Cherokee Nation is favored to receive that license, but details still have to be worked out.

Every brick-and-mortar casino in Arkansas

Oaklawn Racing Casino – Casino, Sportsbook, On-site Horse Racing (21+)
Southland Casino Hotel – 1700+ gaming machines, On-site Greyhound Racing (21+)
Saracen Casino Resort – Large casino, Sportsbook, Poker Room (21+)

Arkansas Casino Resorts

Arkansas has three state-licensed casino locations: two nestled into preexisting racetracks and a new stand-alone location that opened in 2019. Each casino offers different amenities, so we broke them down for our readers.

Below are some quick details about each location accepting bets in 2024.

Saracen Casino Resort

Slot Machines: 2,300
Gaming Tables: 40
On-Site Poker: Yes
Sportsbook: Yes
Online Gambling: Sportsbook Only
Hotel Accommodations: None
Entertainment: Occasionally
On-Site Restaurants: 4
Smoking Allowed: Yes, but there is a “smoke-free” bar

Owned and Operated by the Quapaw Nation, the Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff is the newest casino in the state. Easily accessible from Little Rock, the Saracen has tons of slot titles and popular table games such as Baccarat, Craps, Roulette, Blackjack, and various Poker style games.

Address: 1 Saracen Resort Dr, Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Phone: (870) 686-9001

Oaklawn Racing Casino

Slot Machines: 1,500
Gaming Tables: 30
On-Site Poker: Yes
Sportsbook: Yes
Online Gambling: Sportsbook & Racebook Only
Hotel Accommodations: Rooms, Pool, Spa
Hotel Rooms: 90
Hotel Price: $150 range
Entertainment: Yes, Weekends and Big Events
On-Site Restaurants: 10
Smoking Allowed: No
Casino Gambling Age: 21

Oaklawn started taking bets on table games in 2019, shortly after voters passed Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution. Oaklawn is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and hosts on-site horse races and numerous table games such as Blackjack, Crazy 4 Poker, Mini-Baccarat, Live Roulette, and more. You can also find an excellent selection of slot titles, including Bank Buster, Tarzan City of Gold, and much more.

Address: 2705 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901
Phone: 800-625-5296

Southland Casino Hotel

Slot Machines: 2,300
Gaming Tables: Dozens
On-Site Poker: Yes
Sportsbook: Yes
Online Gambling: Sportsbook & Racebook Only
Hotel Accommodations: Rooms – (Adults Only)
Hotel Rooms: 300
Hotel Price: $100 range
Entertainment: Yes, Weekends and Daily Events
On-Site Restaurants: 8
Smoking Allowed: Yes, but it also offers a no-smoking section
Casino Gambling Age: 21

Conveniently located as the closest casino to Memphis, Tennessee, the Southland Casino in Arkansas offers simulcast racehorse and greyhound betting from other tracks around the US. Popular table-style games include 3 Card Louisiana Stud, Jackpot Hold’em, Blackjack Match Progressive, Dai Baccarat, and Crapless Craps.

Address: 1550 North Ingram Blvd., West Memphis, AR 72301
Phone: 800-467-6182

Do Local Casinos Offer Online Gambling?

No, the Arkansas Racing Commission has not issued any online casino licenses for state-regulated casinos; however, some reports indicate they are open to the discussion. The Saracen Casino Resorts has requested permission to launch an online casino app but has yet to receive the go-ahead.

We expect to see many states pass online casino legislation in the future as they seek to capitalize on gaming revenue, and Arkansas could be one of the first to accept the challenge.

18+ Online Casinos For Arkansas Players

Since brick-and-mortar casinos are limited to players over the age of 21, younger players in the state only have one option: online casinos. Arkansas online casinos are packed with goodies, including crypto integration, welcome and reload bonus options, reward programs, and seasonal promotions. For many players, the perks are the swaying force that leads them to the online tables.

The fastest-paying casinos online all accept digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more. We suggest using crypto since many gambling sites will waive transfer fees, and processing could take as little as 5 minutes, depending on which digital asset you choose. While Bitcoin is still the most widely accepted digital currency, other options offer slightly faster processing.

Another important factor to note is that online casinos offer more games, including baccarat betting, roulette, blackjack, video poker, live dealer games, specialty games, and hundreds of online slots and variations.

Most Trusted Online Casinos In Arkansas For 2024 Players

We want to encourage Arkansas players to adhere to the state’s minimum casino gambling age requirement of 21. Nevertheless, there are several options for AR players over the age of 18 to gamble at the most trusted online casinos for 2024.

Below are our top picks for online casino sites in Arkansas that accept players over the age of 18. Our team has vetted each site for online safety, game selection, player trust, bonuses, and banking options, as found in our online casino reviews guide.

	Bonus	Age	Visit Site
1	100% Max $3,000	18+	Play Now Full Review
2	200% Max $3,000	18+	Play Now Full Review
3	350% Max $2,500	18+	Play Now Full Review
4	150% Max $3,000	18+	Play Now Full Review