With mobile applications an option, fall sports betting expected to be record-setting
Summer may have only a few weeks left, but another season is about to heat back up – sports betting season.For many of us, the kickoff of Razorback football is the best time of the year, and state officials say they expect another record-breaking season of gambling.“Arkansas is a football state and that’s reflected in sports wagering totals and we see that,” said Scott Harden with the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration. It’s no surprise that things slow down in the summer months, and sports betting in Arkansas is one of them. New data from the Department of Finance and Administration shows gambling activity at the state’s three sportsbooks fell in July compared to June from over $22 million to $17.5 million. But now that football season is back, all of that is expected to change based on what they saw last year.“In June of 2022, across the states’ casinos and through the mobile apps, we saw about $12 million wagered on sports, that’s fairly normal. If you fast forward a couple of months to October when it’s the heart of football season, that number goes from $12 million in June to $27 million in October of 2022,” Hardin said. He adds they expect even more record-breaking numbers this fall because Hog fans now have the option to place those bets through mobile apps at state casinos, something not available last fall. “All of them are fully up and running for the entire season, people are aware of it, so this really is the first full season we’re going to see those apps utilized, consistently throughout the entire season, and that’s why bets are already going to be taking off and now you add the mobile option and you’re probably going to see record numbers,” Hardin said. And something else new this fall is your sports betting options, as residents will now be able to place bets on 17 new sports, including bowling, ping pong water polo and cornhole.
Summer may have only a few weeks left, but another season is about to heat back up – sports betting season.
For many of us, the kickoff of Razorback football is the best time of the year, and state officials say they expect another record-breaking season of gambling.
“Arkansas is a football state and that’s reflected in sports wagering totals and we see that,” said Scott Harden with the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration.
It’s no surprise that things slow down in the summer months, and sports betting in Arkansas is one of them.
New data from the Department of Finance and Administration shows gambling activity at the state’s three sportsbooks fell in July compared to June from over $22 million to $17.5 million.
But now that football season is back, all of that is expected to change based on what they saw last year.
“In June of 2022, across the states’ casinos and through the mobile apps, we saw about $12 million wagered on sports, that’s fairly normal. If you fast forward a couple of months to October when it’s the heart of football season, that number goes from $12 million in June to $27 million in October of 2022,” Hardin said.
He adds they expect even more record-breaking numbers this fall because Hog fans now have the option to place those bets through mobile apps at state casinos, something not available last fall.
“All of them are fully up and running for the entire season, people are aware of it, so this really is the first full season we’re going to see those apps utilized, consistently throughout the entire season, and that’s why bets are already going to be taking off and now you add the mobile option and you’re probably going to see record numbers,” Hardin said.
And something else new this fall is your sports betting options, as residents will now be able to place bets on 17 new sports, including bowling, ping pong water polo and cornhole.
