Online sports betting debuted in Arkansas on Saturday when Southland Casino Racing launched its Betly online sportsbook. The sportsbook is available on PC and Mac browsers, but isn’t yet accessible through mobile phones — although that’s expected to happen in the near future.
Hey #Arkansas, we are live! Sign up and start betting NOW at https://t.co/lOiZeUUOxL! pic.twitter.com/Czyo8iypmQ
— Betly Sportsbook (@betlysportsbook) March 5, 2022
“The Betly online sportsbook will make it even easier for our patrons, all Arkansas residents, and visitors to the state to wager on their favorite teams,” David Wolf, president and general manager of Southland Casino, said in a statement. “Many patrons are already using our Betly sportsbook kiosks at Southland, so the online sportsbook will be a familiar and convenient extension of our sports betting experience.”
Users who sign up to use the Betly Arkansas sportsbook can receive a “risk-free” first bet of up to $250. The sportsbook offers wagering on a variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, and football.
BetSaracen expected to launch soon
Saracen Casino Resort plans to launch its BetSaracen sportsbook app in the near future. The casino seemed poised to be first to enter the Arkansas online betting market, but it’s now apparent that BetSaracen will be available to Arkansas users a few days after Betly entered the market. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, a third casino in Arkansas expected to offer mobile sports betting, is likely a few months away from launching its product.
Carlton Saffa, Saracen Casino’s chief marketing officer, recently shared a sneak peek of BetSaracen’s interface. While it looks fine, the odds concerned some customers.
Please tell me those lines aren’t a regular things for this app. That would be an absolute travesty if so. Extra 12-17% juice compared to other books.
— Brandon Ballard (@BranBallard35) March 4, 2022
At Betly on Monday night, users can wager on the men’s college basketball game between Furman and Chattanooga. The winner earns the Southern Conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, making it one of the most important and intriguing Monday college matchups.
College basketball bettors using Betly can take Chattanooga -2.5 at -110, which mirrors a line you’d typically see at a national sportsbook. When Saffa showed NBA odds over the weekend, several spreads had odds of -116, -122, and -127. If those are the typical odds BetSaracen offers, it would likely steer Arkansans toward Betly for more competitive and fair odds.
