Poker in Arkansas

Poker in Arkansas

Arkansas, known as “The Land of Opportunity,” is a southern state that allows land-based gambling. Since it is a relatively new industry, only four casinos with state licenses serving a population of more than 3 million allow poker in Arkansas.

Considering that lottery prohibition was written into the state constitution in 1874, even this limited offering is a victory. It appears that the goal was to prohibit all forms of gambling; however, thanks to careful wording, some forms of games of chance are still legal. Horse race betting, in particular, has rapidly gained in popularity. In the 1890s, Sportsman’s Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, was the most well-known venue for horse racing.

They did more at these tracks than just bet on races involving animals. There were also multiple cards and dice games happening at once.

In 2006, a change to the state constitution removed a prohibition on lotteries. When it comes to casinos, the state finally legalized them in 2018.

Unfortunately, they have not yet developed into a poker player’s paradise. As far as Pokeratlas.com can tell, there is only one poker room in the whole of Arkansas. The town of Pine Bluff, Arkansas is home to the Saracen Casino Resort. Fortunately, nearby Oklahoma has a plethora of excellent card rooms where you can engage in extensive poker action.

Quick Summary

• 3,000,000 and 18 thousand people
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Money in U.S. dollars ($)
• Location: UTC+6
• AR is short for “Arkansas,” the state abbreviation.

Where You Can Play Poker in Arkansas Casinos:

• Saracen Casino Resort

Renowned Arkansas Poker Players

Daniel Lowery of Peter Pender, Arkansas, has 2.043 million in live cashes, making him the all-time money leader in Arkansas on Hendon.

The number of WSOP Circuit rings he has won is 9. He needs only five more championships to tie Maurice Hawkins for the all-time record. When it comes to live tournament earnings, Lowery’s WSOP Circuit championship is where he’s done the best. He won the WSOPC Choctaw Main Event for $1,675 in NLHE in November of 2017. The tournament was held in Durant, Oklahoma. He made at least $258,784 from the deal.

Michael Lech of Alma, Arkansas, is the state’s second-wealthiest individual. His total winnings from live tournaments amount to $1,416,000. While attending the World Series of Poker in July of 2016, he placed second in the $888 No Limit Hold’em Crazy Eights 8-Handed event, winning a total of $401,888. That is the most money he has ever won in a single live tournament.

However, Amarillo Slim wasn’t born in Amarillo. He was born in Johnson, Arkansas. Though he now lives in New York, his pseudonym originates from Amarillo, Texas, so he is widely known as a Texan. In the World Series of Poker, he has won four gold bracelets. In 1972, he was the champion of the World Series of Poker Main Event. Amarillo Slim presided over the second-most-prestigious poker tournament series, Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker, from 1979 until 1991.

How to Participate in Live Poker in Arkansas

Live Poker Laws in Arkansas

The majority of Arkansans (54%) supported Issue 4 in the 2018 midterm elections. The initiative allowed for the legalization of four casinos in the state. That paved the way for the state’s first legal casinos to open.

In Arkansas, illegal gambling is addressed in Title 5, Chapter 66. In its most recent online iteration from 2018, poker is still technically illegal. Playing for stakes in poker (or any other card game, like brag or 21) carries a fine of $10 to $25. However, it’s likely that the law has been changed to make gambling legal in casinos that have been granted appropriate licenses.

The Casino Gaming Section of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration is responsible for licensing and regulation of the casino industry in the state.

Locations in Arkansas Where You Can Play Live Poker

The first casino to open its doors in the United States following the 2018 legalization was the Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In their poker room, you can participate in a variety of cash games. Bets start at $1/$3, $2/$5, and $5/$10 for No Limit Hold’em, $5/$10 for Pot Limit Omaha, and $10/$20 for 5-Card Pot Limit Omaha (the “Big O”).

Monthly promotions include two no-limit hold’em (NLHE) freeroll tournaments with $600 in prize money. Only the first 27 registrants will be allowed to participate in the freeroll tournament.

Despite being the largest casino in the state, traditional poker games like Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha are not offered at the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Games like Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Three Card Poker, in which you compete against the house, are unavailable. The Sportsman’s Park, a famous racetrack from the 19th century, is now occupied by a casino.

Places to Play Casino Games and Poker in Arkansas

Poker For Real Money In Arkansas

Regarding legalizing online gambling, Arkansas is in a comparable position to the majority of other states. Internet gambling is prohibited because it is not explicitly addressed in their penal code.

This is because of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 and the Wire Act of 1961. Without these laws, there would have been no 2011 Black Friday disasters in the United States.

Those in the state of Arkansas interested in trying their hand at online poker can do so at regulated domestic sites and can join private clubs in ClubGG and PokerStars or at unregulated offshore sites like Betfair Poker and Natural8 Poker.