- Horse racing (1929), Greyhound Racing (1957), Racinos (2005), Lottery (2009)
- About $90 million per year
- $427 million including lottery, racing and casino games
- 18 for lottery and racing, 21 for casinos
- Arkansas’ smoking ban does not apply to gaming establishments
- Pari-mutuel racing is legal over the Internet in Arkansas
- Hot Springs Arkansas Gambling History News
- Hot Springs Gangster History
- Gambling History In Hot Springs Arkansas
- Hot Springs Ar History
- Hot Springs Arkansas Gambling History Association
- Hot Springs Arkansas History Gangsters
- Hot Springs Arkansas Gambling History Center
Hotels close to a casino in Hot Springs offer the convenience of easy access to your favorite games of chance, so you’ll feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. Check out a great variety of Hot Springs hotels by a casino and discover the one that will make your dreams come true. Arkansas; Casinos in Hot Springs; Plan your trip. Headed to Hot Springs for some gaming? As luck would have it, you’ll find some casino hotels here, as well as plenty more to see and do. Tourists speak highly of the relaxing spas, historic landmarks, and hot springs. You might want to visit top attractions like Bathhouse Row and Hot.
The Garland County Historical Society announces the publication of Orval Allbritton’s much-anticipated book The Mob at the Spa: This 270-page soft cover book tells about mobsters who came to Hot Springs from approximately 1920 to 1965.
Arkansas gambling has a long history in this state. Most of it revolved around Hot Springs. Arkansas casinos sprang up in the city during the Great Depression. Nearly a dozen gaming establishments operated in Hot Springs at one time. It rivaled Las Vegas in terms of casino gaming in the 1930’s.
The post-war era was not kind to Arkansas’ gambling industry, which operated in a gray area. A conservative movement put an end to the casino industry that operated somewhere near an underground level in its final days.
Arkansas casino gambling was revived in the 2000’s. A state lottery was also created during this era. Greyhound racing was established in 1957, although horse racing in Arkansas dates back to 1929. The legality of pari-mutuel betting varied in the years between. The two tracks that operate dog tracks are home to the only two casinos in Arkansas.
November 2018 Update
During this year’s midterm elections, voters approved casino legalization in four counties – Garland, Crittenden, Jefferson, and Pope. Over 54% of voters approved the measure. This will see the Oaklawn horse track located in Hot Springs and the Southland dog track in the West Memphis area allowed to offer casino gaming.
The state will now be able to offer casino games, keeping revenues from leaving Arkansas as players visit neighboring areas to gamble.
Arkansas Casinos Map & Guide
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Types of Arkansas Online Gambling Allowed
The only form of online gambling specifically legal in Arkansas is pari-mutuel betting. Internet bets are permitted on greyhound and horse races at sites like TVG and TwinSpires. Daily fantasy sports sites assert that their business is legal in Arkansas. Some legal experts refute this opinion. Arkansas has not issued an opinion on the daily fantasy sports industry so companies that include DraftKings, FanDuel, CBS Sports and Yahoo continue to accept action from the state.
Hot Springs Arkansas Gambling History News
Types of Arkansas Live Gambling
- Slots: Yes
- Blackjack: Yes
- Poker: Yes
- Craps/Roulette: Yes
- Horses: Yes
- Lottery: Yes
Greyhound racing is the oldest form of legalized gambling in Arkansas. The state’s two tracks were permitted to offer slots, video poker, and table games that require skill in 2005. Games of chance were legalized in 2012. This includes craps, roulette, and keno. Video versions of these games were already available on the racino floors of Oaklawn and Southland.
Poker rooms at the state’s two racinos offer electronic tables distributed by PokerTek. These are known as PokerPro machines. This means there is no dealer. The cards are dealt by a machine. This gives players more hands per hour and saves on tips. There are two casinos in Arkansas, Oaklawn and Southland offer simulcast betting on horses and greyhounds. They also offer regular casino games like blackjack, roulette, and many different slot machines.
The Arkansas Lottery was created in 2008. Interstate lotto tickets are sold, as well as standard scratch-offs that are similar to pull-tabs.
Arkansas Gambling Laws
There are four forms of legalized gambling in Arkansas. Greyhound racing originated in 1957. Pari-mutuel wagering has been legal since that year. The racetracks were granted permission to add casino games in 2005. This was approved because Arkansas tracks lost business to casinos in Tunica County, Mississippi. Memphis is an equal distance from the Arkansas casinos and Tunica.
Slots, video poker, video table games, electronic poker tables and table games that require skill were the first games added to the state’s list of legalized gambling. Craps and roulette were added as approved games in 2012.
Voters approved a state lottery in 2008. The first tickets were sold the following year. Scratch-off and lotto sales are permitted.
Hot Springs Gangster History
Charities may offer small-scale gambling to fund operations. This includes raffles and bingo.
The minimum gambling age in Arkansas for playing the lottery and greyhounds is 18 years. The Arkansas casinos and tracks at Oaklawn Park and Southland Park require players to be at least 21 years old.
List of Arkansas Casinos
Despite these Arkansas casinos being racinos, they still offer most of the games you would find at regular casinos. These games include blackjack, roulette, craps, slots, and even live poker. Below you can find the casino locations and websites, but if you want a more detailed route, you can use our Arkansas casinos map as a guide.
| Casino | Size | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oaklawn Racing & Gaming | 1,000 Slot Machines | 2705 Central Avenue | www.oaklawn.com |
| Southland Park Gaming & Racing | 630 Slot Machines | 1550 Ingram Boulevard | www.southlandpark.com |
Arkansas Gambling History
Arkansas was originally a state that looked the other way when it came to gambling. Arkansas casinos appeared in Hot Springs during the Prohibition era. Full-scale gaming operations that resembled establishments in Nevada were commonplace. The Baby Boom years put an end to this type of gambling in Arkansas. The last Arkansas casino in Hot Springs closed its doors in 1967.
The only form of legal Arkansas gambling after Hot Springs was shut down was greyhound racing until racinos were approved in 2005. Slots, video poker, and table games that require skill were first approved. This was expanded to games of luck in 2012. A state lottery was created through a statewide constitutional referendum in 2008.
Gambling History In Hot Springs Arkansas
Arkansas Casinos & Gambling FAQ
Is online gambling legal in Arkansas?
Off-track betting on greyhounds and horses is the only form of legal online betting.
Are daily fantasy sports contests legal in Arkansas?
Hot Springs Ar History
Daily fantasy sports sites claim to fall under Arkansas’ skill gaming exemption. This point is debated among legal experts.
Hot Springs Arkansas Gambling History Association
Arkansas is one of just 11 states where live greyhound racing is still legal. Two of the last 21 greyhound tracks in the country are located in Arkansas.
Yes, but the rooms at Oaklawn Park and Southland Park use electronic tables.
Hot Springs Arkansas History Gangsters
Yes. Voters approved it in 2008. The first tickets were sold in September 2009.
Full-scale casinos operate in Arkansas.
Hot Springs Arkansas Gambling History Center
Oaklawn Park and Southland Park are the state’s two casinos.
Poker, slots, video poker, craps, roulette, blackjack, keno, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, baccarat and Ultimate Texas Hold’em are among the legal games in Arkansas.
The minimum gambling age for Arkansas casinos is 21 years, and for lottery and racing is 18 years.