Sports betting kicks off in Arkansas

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs launched its sports betting operation, Arkansas’ first after the segment was legalised in the state.

US.- Arkansas became the eighth state to operate sports betting since the segment was liberalised by the Supreme Court. The Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs launched its own operation and became the first to do so in the state.

Casino General manager Wayne Smith placed Arkansas’ first legal sports bet at the casino’s sportsbook on Monday morning. He wagered US$5 on a Dallas Cowboys win over the New York Giants on September 8.

“We’re excited to now be offering sports wagering,” Smith said on Monday. “It’s a new level of entertainment for our guests.”

The casino

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs and Southland Casino and Racing in West Memphis opened their doors to the public in April with an expanded offering in their services. The facilities officially debuted casino gambling in the state, with games such as blackjack, poker, roulette and slots.

As part of the new offerings, Southland Gaming and Racing changed its name to Southland Casino Racing, which better reflects the facility’s services. Southland officially debuted its casino operations on Monday at 4 am and it offers 2,000 traditional slot machines and 40 live table games.

On the other hand, Oaklawn has added eight live games to its 1,300 electronic games. The facility announced in November a US$100 million expansion that is set to start its construction process in May. It includes a 200-room hotel, an entertainment venue, restaurants and 28,000 square feet of additional floor space for gambling.