Arkansas To Add Third Sports Betting App
Author: Dustin Williams
Last Updated: August 24, 2022
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort is set to become the third operator to launch a sports betting app in Arkansas.
Technology provider Kambi Group have announced that they have reached an agreement with the resort, which is based in Hot Springs National Pareto provide betting services to both their retail and online sports betting sectors.
The two other Arkansas sportsbooks, Southland Casino and Saracen Casino, both launched earlier this year in March and May respectively. In June, Arkansas then enjoyed its largest sports betting handle of $12.6 million. They have contributed to a total handle of $176.6 mullion and generated a total revenue of $18.6 million, which resulted in $2.7 million worth of taxes.
Under the terms of the agreement, Kambi will provide digital betting solutions for Oaklawn’s launch of its online sportsbook. They will provide their Bet Builder service as part of the deal, which allows users to place same-game parlay bets, which has become a popular tool within NBA betting and NFL betting.
“Oaklawn has been one of the most trusted brands in Arkansas for more than 100 years and we are excited to now offer our loyal customers yet another great amenity with our much-anticipated mobile wagering platform,” said Wayne Smith, general manager of Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, in a statement. “We look forward to delivering the best online sports wagering experience in Arkansas.”
Oaklawn was the first casino to begin taking bets at its facility in July 2019 after sports wagering was legalized after the 2018 election. The casino began with a monthly handle of $416,160 that had risen to $2.3 million by the end of September.
Mobile sports betting was a slow burner in comparison, having not been approved by the Arkansas Racing Commission until December 2021. By that stage, Saracen had been accepting wagers in person since October 2019, while Southland became the third retail operator in January 2020. The first full month featuring all three operators resulted in a handle of $4.3 million.
