Arkansas is a dual-market state with a deep racing heritage. Online horse race betting in Arkansas is legal for anyone 18 or older through a licensed advance-deposit (ADW) racebook, in a state with one of the country’s great racing traditions. Every major US racing site operates here — AmWager, TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, DRF Bets, NYRA Bets and 1/ST BET — each covering Oaklawn Park alongside national and international simulcast from one account.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs has run pari-mutuel racing since the early 1900s and hosts the Arkansas Derby, a key Kentucky Derby prep. Sports betting arrived later — retail at the casinos in 2019, mobile in 2022, all 21 and over — with FanDuel and DraftKings finally launching in March 2026 alongside local apps.

Arkansas (AR) Horse Race Facts: Online horse race betting in Arkansas is legal for bettors 18+ through licensed ADW racebooks, with a deep racing heritage at Oaklawn Park (Hot Springs) — home of the Arkansas Derby, a Kentucky Derby prep. Sports betting 21+ (retail 2019, mobile 2022; FanDuel & DraftKings live). Top Arkansas horse racing betting sites & apps (ADWs): AmWager (best), TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, DRF Bets, NYRA Bets, 1/ST BET — each with welcome offers and promo codes.

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Arkansas (2026)

All major US Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) apps operate in Arkansas. Each lets you bet every Arkansas track plus US, UK and international racing from one account. Minimum age 18.

1. 1
   ★ TOP PICK

   AmWager

   ★ 4.8 / 5

   Arkansas racing means Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs — home of the Arkansas Derby and one of the country’s great winter meets — and AmWager carries its full card plus 250+ tracks worldwide. The draw is the rebate: 6–8% back on every wager, win or lose, on top of true track odds, with HD streaming and a fast cashier.

   $50 DEPOSIT MATCH 6-8% REBATES LIVE STREAMING 250+ TRACKS
   Sign up at AmWager → Bonus: 100% deposit match up to $50
   18+. New AmWager customers only. Limit one signup bonus per person. Match applies to first deposit only, up to $50. To unlock the full bonus, deposit $50 and place qualifying wagers totaling $50 within 30 days. Cancelled or refunded bets don't count. Bonus credited in single deposit within 7 business days of meeting requirements. Bonus credits are non-withdrawable; winnings are cash and withdrawable. Unused bonus expires after 30 days. · Full AmWager review
2. 2

   TwinSpires

   ★ 4.5 / 5

   Best for: Triple Crown. Churchill Downs Inc.’s TwinSpires covers Oaklawn Park and the Triple Crown trail it owns as the Kentucky Derby’s official partner — fitting in a state whose marquee race, the Arkansas Derby, is a key Derby prep. Deep stakes coverage and rewards on every bet.

   Bonus: $200 bonus after $500 in wagers · Min age 18
3. 3

   FanDuel Racing

   ★ 4.6 / 5

   Best for: Live streaming. FanDuel Racing — the TVG platform owned by Flutter — carries Oaklawn Park’s Arkansas Derby trail alongside the national simulcast menu, and now pairs with the FanDuel sportsbook that launched in the state in 2026. Expect expert daily picks and a first-bet refund up to $500.

   Bonus: Up to $500 back on first wager if it loses · Min age 18
4. 4

   DRF Bets

   ★ 4.3 / 5

   Best for: Handicapping data. DRF Bets gives Arkansas handicappers unlimited DRF Classic past performances and Beyer Speed Figures with a funded account — ideal for Oaklawn’s deep, competitive winter fields — plus the national cards.

   Bonus: 100% deposit match up to $200 · Min age 18
5. 5 NYRA Bets
   $200 in cash rewards after $400 in wagers
6. 6 1/ST BET
   Choice of three options up to $500

Best Arkansas Horse Race Betting Apps: Coverage, Rebates & Bonuses

The best horse racing betting site in Arkansas balances Oaklawn coverage, rebates and streaming. The top online horse race betting apps — AmWager, TwinSpires and FanDuel Racing — carry Oaklawn’s full card plus 250+ tracks worldwide in HD, pay cashback on every wager (AmWager runs 6–8% rebates, win or lose), and bundle DRF past performances and Beyer Speed Figures.

Every Arkansas-legal racebook offers a new-customer welcome offer and promo code, from AmWager’s 100% deposit match up to $50 to FanDuel Racing’s first-bet refund up to $500. All are ADW operators, so you bet from your phone anywhere in the state, Oaklawn meet or not.

Best Sportsbook Apps in Arkansas (2026)

Licensed online sportsbooks operating in Arkansas, regulated by the state gaming authority. Minimum age 21.

1. 1
   ★ EDITOR'S PICK

   FanDuel Sportsbook

   ★ 5.0 / 5

   FanDuel is one of the first national sportsbooks in Arkansas, live since March 2026 through a ‘powered by’ deal with Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs — home of the Arkansas Derby. Under the state’s 51% casino revenue-share rule it arrived later than most markets, but brings the cleanest app and the current $350-guaranteed welcome offer.

   BET $5 GET $350 SAME-GAME PARLAY LIVE STREAMING
   Sign up at FanDuel → Bet $5 for 7 days, Get $350 in Bonus Bets — Guaranteed
   21+. New customers only, 21+ (18+ in DC, KY and WY) and present in eligible states. First online real-money wager only; place a $5+ wager on each of 7 consecutive days to receive $50 in Bonus Bets per day ($350 total, guaranteed). $5 first deposit required. Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable and expire 7 days after receipt. See full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. · Full FanDuel Sportsbook review
2. 2

   DraftKings

   ★ 4.8 / 5

   Best for: Daily fantasy + sportsbook. DraftKings went live in Arkansas in March 2026, taking over Southland Casino’s Betly app in West Memphis under the state’s 51% revenue-share rule. It brings the deepest prop and same-game-parlay menus to one of the newest national-operator markets in the country.

   Bonus: Bet $5, Get $200 · Min age 21

Arkansas’s two racetracks — addresses & live cards

Signature stakes races at Arkansas’s tracks

Beyond the everyday cards, each Arkansas track hosts at least one feature stakes race that draws statewide attention — most are bettable through every ADW listed above.

How Arkansas compares to neighboring states

Who regulates horse racing & sports betting in Arkansas

Arkansas uses two separate regulators for horse racing and sports wagering — each licenses operators independently.

Arkansas horse betting — frequently asked questions

Is online horse racing betting legal in Arkansas?

Yes. Licensed ADW apps let you bet on horses from anywhere inside Arkansas, and the minimum age for pari-mutuel wagering is 18.

What's the best horse racing app in Arkansas?

Our editors rate AmWager the top pick for Arkansas — 250+ tracks, 6–8% rebates and a 100% deposit match up to $50. Sign up at AmWager. TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, DRF Bets, NYRA Bets and 1/ST BET also serve Arkansas.

Which racetracks are in Arkansas?

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs (opened 1904) is the only live track, running thoroughbreds from December to May and hosting the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. Southland in West Memphis ran its last greyhound card in 2022 and is now a casino with simulcast wagering.

Is sports betting legal in Arkansas?

Yes — retail since July 2019 and mobile since March 2022, regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission. FanDuel and DraftKings launched in March 2026, joining local apps Betly, BetSaracen and Oaklawn Sports. Betting on in-state college teams is allowed. Minimum age 21.

What's the minimum age to bet in Arkansas?

21 for sports betting and casino gaming; 18 for pari-mutuel horse racing (though most casino racetracks require 21 on the gaming floor).

Can I bet the Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby?

Yes. Oaklawn cards the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby — a major Kentucky Derby prep — every April, and every Arkansas-legal ADW carries it along with the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup.

New to horse betting in Arkansas? Explore our guides for clear answers to the most common questions — explained by veteran horse racing commentator Mike Brunker of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.