Arkansas Legal Online Sports Betting Guide For 2024

Is online sports betting legal in Arkansas as of 2024?

The answer to this question is twofold. There are no online sportsbooks that are licensed, regulated or sanction by the state, so you will not find any state sponsored options for betting on sports in Arkansas. Arkansas state law does not address online gambling. The state in general is considered to be primarily anti-gambling.

The only types of legal gambling within the state are pari-mutuel betting and the state lottery. The state laws do not have to go into depth where sports betting is concerned due to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which is a federal law that was passed in 1992 that makes sports betting illegal in the United States with the exception of a few regions that were grandfathered in, such as Las Vegas.

In addition, the DOJ has taken the position that Federal Wire Act prohibits sports betting online or via phone, hence it is illegal to operate any Internet sports betting sites within the United States. You can also take a look at the current Arkansas state gambling laws at the Arkansas State Legislature website.

This does not exhaust all options for Arkansas sports bettors however. There are a number of licensed and legally regulated online sportsbooks that are based outside of the USA, and that welcome bettors from the state of Arkansas. There are no state or federal laws which prohibit residents or visitors of Arkansas from participating in this type of legally sanctioned sports wagering activity.

These sites are operated out of jurisdictions which have already taken steps to legalize online gambling in their respective territories with strict regulatory oversight, therefore allowing them to legally provide their services to gamblers around the world, including the US.

This guide provides access to the leading sportsbooks that are licensed, secure and high quality options for US bettors. We have placed each of these brands through a very intense review process to ensure their legitimacy and verify their value to the industry. We can assure you they are all safe and reliable options.

What types of sports and events can I bet on at legal Arkansas sports betting sites?

The sportsbooks that are included in this guide are known or having a substantial selection of betting lines and wagering options, covering all the major and minor US leagues, as well as European league and sports.

You will find betting lines on football, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, boxing, MMA, motor sports, horse racing, tennis, golf, cricket, rugby, and a host of additional events as well. Some of our recommended sportsbooks also include non-sports related events to bet on, such as celebrity gossip, politics, and reality competition TV shows.

How do I know if an Arkansas sports betting site is considered safe for players?

The best way to ensure that you only reach highly secure and legitimate AR online sportsbooks is to rely on the input of industry professionals, such as the individuals responsible for the development of this guide. We seek to empower bettors with helpful information that enables them to enter an online sports betting opportunity making informed decisions based on accurate and up to date information.

Some of the safety areas we evaluate in our process include the verification and authentication of a sportsbook's licensing, compliance certifications and fair gaming practices audit results. We also closely examine their security profile to ensure that they have the latest technology and protocols in place to adequately protect their customers' personal identification and sensitive financial information.

We don't consider those brands that simply meet minimum licensing requirements to demonstrate an acceptable commitment to providing a safe wagering environment. We require that a brand's security profile rival that of the most sophisticated financial institutions, including advanced data encryption technology, sophisticated firewall and fraud prevention systems, and a specially trained technical team to monitor these systems around the clock, for starters.

These are not elements easily evaluated by the general public, and our position as industry professionals does provide access to additional information. Limiting your sports betting activity to sportsbooks that have been vetted and approved by experts ensures you do not land at any of the predatory, questionable or simply low quality destinations that are out there recruiting.

Will I get in legal trouble if I bet on sports online in Arkansas?

If you attempt to place sports wagers at an illegal sports betting site, then yes, you may find yourself in trouble with the law. Because it is not legal to operate an Internet sports betting site in the United States at this time, you should not be attempting to access any type of online sportsbook that is based in AR or in the United States in general for that matter.

However, accessing and participating in legally licensed and regulated sportsbooks located outside of the US is not illegal, and does not present any legal risks to Arkansas gamblers.

Betting On Sports In Arkansas - Trends And Tips

Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas may be known for politicians like the Clintons and Mike Huckabee, but they're not really known for their sports. This is especially true for professional teams; the fact is that you won't find any in Arkansas. To the extent the state likes sports, they like their #1 college team, the Arkansas Razorbacks, and it's their football program that makes the most noise.

The Razorbacks put on a show last year outside of their conference, the SEC. The South Eastern Conference is the toughest in all of college football, currently with ten separate teams ranked in the top-25. This is far more than any other power-five conference, and sadly Arkansas is considered the lower rungs of the SEC West, behind Auburn, Alabama, LSU and A&M.

One national title in 1964, the Razorbacks are more of a homer favorite than a real threat to win much. However, they actually went 10-3 ATS (against the spread) last season, which made them one of the best teams on which to bet in all of college football. And although their record wasn't great, their ability to cover a spread and fight on the field gave the Razorbacks some great betting trends.

Here are just a few of their trends from last season.

They were 3-0 after a bye week
They went 6-0 as a home team
They were 4-0 as home favorites
They were a perfect 5-0 in non-conference games
They were the only SEC team to win their bowl game
They were 5-1 after a win, and after a loss
As underdogs they were even 4-2

As can plainly be seen, Arkansas isn't a team to be trifled with. They might have lost when playing superior teams in the SEC, their own conference, but they dominated teams from outside the SEC. This is a trend we can expect to see more of this year, as the Razorbacks play teams like UTEP, Toledo, Texas Tech, UT Martin and Missouri from the SEC East.

These are games you can expect Arkansas to win. In their own conference, they play A&M, Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn, Ole Miss, LSU and Miss. State. Look for the Razorbacks to win only one of these, perhaps against the Tennessee Volunteers. Overall, though, you're looking at better than 90% to win when the Razorbacks play non-division teams. And that's a great trend that will continue.

A Few Tips For Betting On Arkansas

Here are just a few fine points to keep in mind when you bet on the Razorbacks

You don't have to bet a straight win. Arkansas is great at covering a spread, even if they still lose. So while Alabama is definitely a favorite to win, they might not do it by the 3 touchdowns expected. So if you're in the mood for a riskier bet (still about 75% in your favor), betting on the Razorbacks to cover is smart.

Whether betting to cover or for a straight win, the best time to bet on Arkansas is when they play non-division teams. They're undefeated doing this; they're a superior team in a very strong division.

Pick your spots when teams playing Arkansas are favored by 14 or more. This is when the Razorbacks love making a game out of it and losing by only 6-10 points. This is where you can really make your bread and butter.