Arkansas casinos began 2025 on a high note, with January revenue showing a 3% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth points to a promising future for the state’s gambling sector.
Key Takeaways:
- Arkansas casino revenue reached $70.83 million in January 2025.
- Southland Casino Racing led the way with $30.34 million in revenue.
- Sports betting contributed $2.89 million to the total win.
January Performance: A Strong Start for Arkansas
The Arkansas Racing Commission’s latest report shows that the state’s three casinos collectively earned $70.83 million in January 2025. This marks a 3% increase compared to January 2024, signaling a positive trend for the local gambling industry.
Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis emerged as the top performer, bringing in $30.34 million. While this represents a slight decline of 1.8% compared to the previous year, it still accounts for a significant share of the state’s overall casino revenue. Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff posted $16.62 million, reflecting an impressive year-over-year increase of 11.3%. Meanwhile, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs reported $23.87 million, up 4.6% from January 2024.
Revenue Breakdown: What’s Driving the Growth?
The revenue breakdown offers valuable insights into player preferences. Slot machines continue to dominate, generating $58.28 million in total. Table games contributed $9.66 million, while sports betting brought in $2.89 million.
Sports betting, which is still relatively new to Arkansas, showed strong early performance. Southland led this segment with $1.53 million in revenue. Saracen followed with $926,604, while Oaklawn brought in $433,175. These figures demonstrate the growing interest in sports wagering across the state.
Tax Revenue and Economic Impact
Arkansas’s tax revenue also benefited from the casino industry’s success. In January, the state collected $12.12 million in gambling taxes. Of this, $8.49 million was allocated to the state’s general revenue fund, while the rest was distributed to local cities and counties, as well as the Arkansas Racing Commission to support racing purses.
Looking Ahead: A Strong Year for Arkansas Gambling
This positive performance comes after a record-breaking 2024, in which Arkansas casinos reported a total of $844.7 million in revenue. The January numbers suggest that 2025 could be another successful year for the state’s gambling industry.
Several factors are contributing to this growth. Improved economic conditions, expanded casino offerings, and the continued rise of sports betting are all playing a role. Additionally, casinos have been successful in attracting both local patrons and visitors from neighboring states.
As the Arkansas casino market matures, operators are likely to focus on expanding their game offerings. This could involve introducing new slot machines, enhancing table games, and refining sports betting options to meet the growing demand.
The Path Forward: Monitoring Growth
With these strong January results, Arkansas’s gambling industry looks set for continued growth throughout 2025. Stakeholders will be keeping a close eye on future months to see if this upward trend holds and what it means for the long-term outlook of the state’s gaming market.