The Arkansas Joint Budget Committee has approved the state’s sports betting laws as of Tuesday. Casinos that operate in the state believe their mobile sports betting apps and platforms may be available by March 4th.
Arkansas Sports Betting Will Be Available Before March Madness
The push and process for sports betting began on February 22nd as they gave the final approval to an Arkansas Racing Commission rule that would permit mobile sports betting across the state. The elected secretary of the state cannot stop or delay the rule.
Carlton Saffa, who is the chief market officer at Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, stated that the BetSaracen app cannot launch until after the 10-day filing period. With that being said, March 4th is set to the earliest launch date if everything goes as planned.
Saffa stated that the casino’s mobile sports betting app are ready for launch. He ensured that the payment processing and other features in regards to the platform being in compliance.
Launch Will Most Likely Happen no Later than March Madness
The hope is to launch mobile sports betting before March Madness which is heavily wagered every year. If the market launches sooner, then these apps will be available to its residents by the SEC Tournament. The event will last from March 9th to the 13th in Tampa.
The Arkansas Razorbacks are ranked 18th on the AP Top 25 Poll with a 22-6 record. There is no doubt
that the state’s hometown team will attract a lot of bettors across the state. The Hogs will have widespread support statewide for this event.
If everything does not go as planned, with delays being a strong possibility, March Madness will begin on March 15th in neutral sites across the nation. The Final Four will begin on April 2nd, and the national title game will take place on the fourth. The location for both events will be the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
It’s estimated that 47 million Americans bet on March Madness last year, which was the most wagered sporting event, according to the American Gaming Association.
Two Other Casinos are Looking to Launch
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs and Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis are two other casinos in Arkansas. Natalie Carlson, who is Southland’s marketing manager, stated that the gaming facility will be offering the Betly Sportsbook app at some point in the next few weeks.
On the other hand, Oaklawn is currently operating the Oaklawn Anywhere horse-racing app. However, there is no word when its mobile sports betting platform will be available to the public.
Oaklawn is also a historic horse track as the Arkansas Derby is held every year. The event is a prelude to the Triple Crown races, which takes place in the first week of May with the Kentucky Derby.
Arkansas is looking to have a mobile sports betting market up and running as soon as March 4th. The rules also state that the state will allow up to eight sportsbooks.
