Arkansas set to inaugurate first two casinos in the state

Arkansas has seen its share of racinos, gambling on certain types of animal races, but it never could see clear to authorize casinos. Despite multiple attempts over the years, all casino bills failed at one point or another, but that is now changing. As of this Monday, Arkansas will officially be home to two casinos.

The Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) authorized last week full casino licenses to two venues in the state. The first is Southland Park Gaming and Racing in South Memphis and the second is Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs. The former offers dog races, while the latter offers horse races.

Arkansas voters approved a measure last November that authorized the casinos. Issue 4 on the November ballot sought to amend the state’s constitution to allow expanded gambling, and it passed with only a little resistance.

As of April 1, the two racinos can offer a variety of gambling options – blackjack, Mississippi stud, craps, roulette and more. Both venues have stated that they hope to have everything up and running by the end of the summer, and that they will offer poker and sportsbooks, which were also authorized through Issue 4.