★ Top Pick
#1
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
Hot Springs, Arkansas
SlotsBlackjackVideo Poker
1,530 slots · 32 tables · 24/7
Hotel · Dining · Pool
Reviewed by StatesCasinos Editorial Team ·
Updated
★ Arkansas Casinos · 2026 Guide
Arkansas Casinos
Complete Land-Based Gaming Guide · 2026
Arkansas entered full-service casino gaming in 2018 — three licensed facilities in Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, and West Memphis, each built on or beside an established horse or greyhound racing operation.
Arkansas offers 3 land-based casino venues across 3 cities — from federally regulated tribal properties to commercial card rooms, racinos, and casino cruises. StatesCasinos tracks every legal gaming venue in the state with verified addresses, available games, and on-site amenities.
This guide covers the full scope of land-based gambling in Arkansas: the legal framework, every tribal and commercial venue, available game categories, regulatory authorities, minimum gambling age, and the closest full-service casinos across state lines for residents seeking a broader gaming experience.
⚖️ Legal & Age: Land-based gambling in Arkansas operates under a mix of federal tribal gaming compacts, state racing commission licensing, and (in some states) commercial casino regulation. Minimum gambling age and venue rules vary — verify on-site before play. Gamble responsibly. 18+ at most tribal venues, 21+ at full-service casino properties.
Arkansas Land-Based Gaming at a Glance
3
Total Venues
3
Cities with Gaming
2
Open 24/7
—
With Poker Room
#2
Southland Casino Racing
West Memphis, Arkansas
SlotsBlackjackVideo Poker
2,000 slots · 40 tables · 24/7
24/7 · Dining
#3
Saracen Casino Resort
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Slots
2,300 slots · 50 tables · 24/7
24/7 · Dining
| Amenity / Game | Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort | Southland Casino Racing | Saracen Casino Resort |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎰 Slots | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🃏 Table Games | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| ♠️ Poker Room | — | — | — |
| 🎱 Bingo | — | — | — |
| 🖥️ Video Poker | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| 🏨 Hotel / Resort | ✓ | — | — |
| 🍽️ Restaurant | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🏊 Pool | ✓ | — | — |
| 🕐 Open 24/7 | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🅿️ Free Parking | — | ✓ | ✓ |
Arkansas entered full-service casino gaming through Amendment 100, passed by voters in November 2018. The amendment converted two long-established racing operations — Oaklawn Park’s thoroughbred meet in Hot Springs and Southland’s greyhound facility in West Memphis — into full casino resorts, while also authorizing new licenses for Jefferson County and Pope County.
Three properties are now operating. Each traces its roots to a racing facility that predates the casino era, giving Arkansas’s gaming landscape a character shaped by live and simulcast racing alongside the newer table game floors and slot machines.
There are no tribal casinos in Arkansas. All three licensed facilities are commercial operations regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission.
Three Licensed Casinos, Three Locations
Arkansas's three licensed casino resorts
Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff opened in 2021 and is the newest of the three. Unlike Oaklawn and Southland, which converted existing racing facilities, Saracen was developed as a purpose-built resort casino. The property includes a hotel, multiple dining outlets, and a gaming floor with live table games and slots. Its location in Pine Bluff — about 45 miles southeast of Little Rock — makes it the most accessible Arkansas casino for Little Rock-area visitors.
Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis is the third property, located directly across the Mississippi River from Memphis, Tennessee. Southland’s greyhound racing history predates the casino era by decades, and the facility converted to full casino gaming under Amendment 100. Its position at the Arkansas-Tennessee border gives it a substantial cross-river draw from Memphis; it is the most accessible Arkansas casino for visitors from Tennessee and Mississippi.
Games at Arkansas Casinos
What's Available · Land-Based
Game categories you'll find in this state
Category 01 · 3 venues
🎰 Slot Machines
Electronic gaming machines including traditional reels, video slots, and video poker. The most widely available form of land-based gaming.
All three Arkansas casinos operate live table game floors alongside slot machines and video poker. The table game selection at Oaklawn and Saracen includes blackjack, craps, roulette, and three-card poker, with additional proprietary games on both floors. Southland’s table game selection is available alongside an extensive slot floor. Sports betting windows operate at each of the three properties. Poker tables are part of the gaming floor at Oaklawn and Saracen.
Arkansas Gambling Law and Regulation
| Sector | Regulator | Min. Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial casinos (all three) | Arkansas Racing Commission | 21+ | Legal (Amendment 100, Nov 2018) |
| Thoroughbred racing (Oaklawn) | Arkansas Racing Commission | 21+ | Legal (operational since 1904) |
| Greyhound racing (Southland) | Arkansas Racing Commission | 21+ | Legal (historical) |
| Sports betting (retail; limited mobile) | Arkansas Racing Commission | 21+ | Legal (Amendment 100) |
| State lottery | Arkansas Scholarship Lottery | 18+ | Legal (2008) |
| Tribal casinos | n/a | n/a | Not applicable — no tribal gaming in Arkansas |
| Online casino gambling | n/a | n/a | Not authorized as of 2026 |
Amendment 100 is the 2018 constitutional amendment that codified casino gaming in Arkansas. It authorized casino gaming at Oaklawn (Garland County) and Southland (Crittenden County) by expanding their existing licenses, and created new casino license opportunities for Jefferson County (Pine Bluff) and Pope County. The Arkansas Racing Commission oversees licensing, regulation, and enforcement for all three operating casinos.
Quick Visitor Reference
- From Little Rock: Saracen is 45 miles southeast (~45 min); Oaklawn is 55 miles southwest (~1 hour)
- From Memphis, TN: Southland Casino Racing is across the Mississippi River — under 10 minutes from downtown Memphis
- Best resort experience: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs, racing + hotel + full casino)
- Newest facility: Saracen Casino Resort (Pine Bluff, opened 2021)
- Sports betting: Legal at all three — retail at each property; limited mobile available
- Minimum age: 21 at all three casinos
- No tribal gaming: Arkansas has no tribal casinos or gaming compacts
🇺🇸 Arkansas · 3 cities