1. Oaklawn Racetrack And Casino
2. Oaklawn Casino Jobs
3. Oaklawn Park And Casino Hotel
4. Oaklawn Casino And Resort
5. Parks Casino Online
6. Oaklawn Casino Hotel

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort,^[1] formerly Oaklawn Park Race Track, is an Americanthoroughbred racetrack and casino in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home to The Racing Festival of the South.^[2]

The largest casino in Arkansas is Southland Park Gaming & Racing in West Memphis with over 2,000 gaming machines and over 40 table games. The second-largest casino, and only other casino in Arkansas is Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs. Get My Free Report Revealing A third casino, expected to be the largest in the state, is pending. HOT SPRINGS - It's a new era at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, as the $100 million expansion announced in November 2018 is now well underway. The expansion, which will include 28,000 square feet. It looks like a casino, it has the same machines as a casino, but its not. Officially known as a 'gaming room', Oaklawn is one of those gaming venues that you visit if you have an hour or two to waste. The payouts are a little better than the state run casinos further North and East, but not by much. Service is Non existent. The staff is clueless.

In 2017, Oaklawn was ranked #5 of all thoroughbred racetracks in North America by the Horseplayers Association of North America.^[3]

In 2015, a pair of victories at Oaklawn put American Pharoah on the path to becoming American Horse of the Year and the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.

History[edit]

Oaklawn Park opened on February 24, 1905. A holiday had been declared in the city to mark the occasion, and more than 3,000 people attended the first day of racing. In its early years, the track only ran six races a day, similar to British cards.

In 1907, political problems in the state forced the closure of Oaklawn. The closed track was sold to Louis Cella, the original business partners having both died. The track reopened in 1916 under the auspices of the Business Men's League of Hot Springs.

In 1918, Louis Cella died and the ownership of the track was transferred to his brother, Charles. For the next few years, the track was opened and closed periodically because of vagaries in the state's political climate.

In the 1929 Arkansas legislative session, a bill to allow horse racing and parimutuel betting came to a tie vote in the state House of Representatives. The only Republican member of the state House at the time, Osro Cobb of Montgomery County, had been out of the chamber when his name was called. Upon his return, Cobb cast the tie-breaking vote to allow racing and betting at the track.^[4]

In the 1930s, the track and 'Spa' combined attracted many horse racing fans. In 1935, Oaklawn increased purses to become competitive with the best tracks across the country. The first Arkansas Derby was run in 1936 for a purse of $5,000. By this time, the track ran a thirty-day race meeting. On October 29, 1940, Charles G. Cella died and the presidency of Oaklawn transferred to his son, John G. Cella (1909-1968). In 1941, purses again set Oaklawn records. By 1943, the Arkansas Derby had a purse of $10,000. Oaklawn stayed open in 1944, after World War II had closed most American tracks, but it did cancel the spring season in 1945.

At the end of WWII, a 30-day late autumn and winter season was held at Oaklawn, touching off an unprecedented period of prosperity. This financed a major clubhouse renovation and a resurfacing of the track.

Throughout the 1950s the track continued to climb in handle, attendance, and purses. In 1956, J. Sweeney Grant became manager of Oaklawn. In 1961, the track extended the season to 43 days. In 1962, the track notched the fifth-highest profit of North American tracks. By 1965, the Arkansas Derby was a $50,000 stakes that could attract top Kentucky Derby prospects. In 1968, Oaklawn president John G. Cella died suddenly and his son Charles J. Cella took over. In 1971, Grant, under whom Oaklawn had enjoyed 16 years of remarkable growth, died.

W. T. Bishop replaced him and the track continued to thrive. In 1972, the Arkansas Derby became a $100,000 stakes; the following year saw the first run of the Fantasy Stakes, a prep race to the Kentucky Oaks. The Racing Festival of the South was created in 1974. The weeklong festival has one stakes race each day, leading up to the Arkansas Derby.

In 1975, Oaklawn completed a renovation that added a five-level glass enclosure to the north end of the grandstand, near the top of the stretch. The addition included a general admission area, a 400 box and 2,500 reserved seats, a kitchen, a dining room and a private club.

In 1983, the all-time record handle was established. The track reached a goal of averaging $3 million in wagering every day. For the 56-day season, the handle amounted to $168,740,923, for an average of $3,013,230 a day. Attendance for the season was 1,303,223, representing a 23,272 daily average. That same year, the purse for the Arkansas Derby was increased to $250,000. In 1984, the purse was again lifted to $500,000.

By 1985, three decades of prosperity began to reverse. Betting declined 8.1% and attendance declined by 3.7% compared to 1984. Increased competition from neighboring states, a lack of Sunday racing, and a lack of race days were blamed.

By 1990, the track was opened for races on Sundays, the grandstand had been enlarged, and attendance began to recover.

Oaklawn Racetrack And Casino

Two years later, races began timing in hundredths of seconds, rather than fifths, as with other race tracks around the world.

In 2004, to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Oaklawn Park offered a $5 million bonus to any horse that could sweep its three-year-old graded stakes, the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby, and then take the Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones collected the bonus.^[5]

In 2015, eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah began his Eclipse award-winning season with victories at Oaklawn in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby.^[6][7]

Just before the 2018 season opened, Oaklawn unveiled a life-sized bronze sculpture of American Pharoah and jockey Victor Espinoza at the grandstand's redesigned entrance.^[8] The work, by Philadelphia sculptor James Peniston, had been commissioned two years earlier by then-Oaklawn president Charles Cella to memorialize the horse's victories at the Hot Springs track.^[9]

Later 2018, Oaklawn announced that it would start its 2019 racing season a few weeks later than usual, running from late January until early May, lasting the customary 57 days and ending on the day of the Kentucky Derby.^[10] Among the reasons given for the change were spring weather conditions and January racing cancellations over the previous decade.^[10]

Physical attributes[edit]

Oaklawn's dirt track is one mile in circumference, with a chute in the backstretch permitting sprint races at 6 furlongs.^[11] Oaklawn, like a few other US racetracks, employs two finish lines. Since the distance from the main finish line to the start of the first turn is very short, races at one mile start and end at the 1/16th pole. This reduces the length of the stretch from the usual 1,155 feet^[11] to 825 feet.

The original clubhouse was designed by Chicago architect Zachary Taylor Davis in 1904, who would later design Chicago's Old Comiskey Park and Wrigley Field. The track buildings have undergone many renovations and updated barns provide stabling for the horses.

In 2008, Oaklawn began a $3 million addition to accommodate casino-style slot machines, poker tables, and an Instant Racing complex. The casino addition made Oaklawn the largest gambling facility in the state of Arkansas.

Casino[edit]

The state of Arkansas does not allow traditional slot machines, so the casino has 'electronic games of skill', defined by section 10.17 of the Final Rules of the Arkansas Racing Commission Regulations for Franchise Holders Operating Electronic Games of skill as 'game(s) played through any electronic device or machine that affords an opportunity for the exercise of skill or judgment where the outcome is not completely controlled by chance alone.' ^[12]

After Arkansas voters passed a bill to allow live gambling, Oaklawn added live tables.

Racing[edit]

Stakes races run at Oaklawn Park during the Racing Festival of the South and the Oaklawn Park meet include:

Grade I

Grade II

Grade III

Non-graded stakes:

The track also runs numerous overnight handicaps and minor stakes during the Winter and Spring Meets.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Welcome to Oaklawn'. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort - Oaklawn.com.
2. ^'Oaklawn's Racing Festival of the South'. Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism - Arkansas.com.
3. ^HANA January 2014 Ranking
4. ^Osro Cobb, Osro Cobb of Arkansas: Memoirs of Historical Significance, Carol Griffee, ed. (Little Rock, Arkansas: Rose Publishing Company, 1989), p. 24
5. ^'ESPN.com - Triple Crown 2004 - Oaklawn owner insured bonus two days before Derby'. espn.go.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
6. ^Novak, Claire (March 14, 2015). 'American Pharoah Romps in Rebel'. The Blood-Horse. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
7. ^Novak, Claire (April 11, 2015). 'American Pharoah Impressive in Arkansas Derby'. The Blood-Horse. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
8. ^'Oaklawn Park Unveils American Pharoah Statue'. BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
9. ^'Oaklawn Park unveiling sculpture of 2015 Triple Crown winner'. USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
10. ^ ^abCarroll, Scott (11 April 2018). 'Oaklawn shifts racing season for 2019'. katv.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
11. ^ ^ab'Horsemen's Guide'. www.oaklawn.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
12. ^Final Rules of the Arkansas Racing Commission Regulations for Franchise Holders Operating Electronic Games of skill

External links[edit]

• Official website

Introduction to Arkansas Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019

Arkansas slot machine casino gambling consists of two casinos with Class II skill-based slot machines. These racinos also offer pari-mutuel wagering of dog or horse races.

These competition-style slot machines have a legal minimum payout return limit.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Arkansas*

The minimum legal gambling age in Arkansas depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: 21
• Bingo: 18
• Lottery: 18
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

State law allows skill-based gaming machines, but only if approved locally by their municipalities.

The state legislation which permitted skill-based gaming machines via Act 1511 is known as the Local Option Horse Racing and Greyhound Racing Electronic Games of Skill Act of 2005.

Further, Arkansas’ Governor legalized the state’s tribes through negotiated tribal-state compacts to offer slot machines on their reservations in 1993. All tribal casinos in Arkansas offer competition-style slot machines, video poker, and video keno.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Arkansas

All slot machines are legal to own privately.

Gaming Control Board in Arkansas

The Arkansas state gaming commission is the Electronic Games of Skill Section within the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). The Section is responsible for gaming regulation and compliance of all skill-based games in Arkansas.

Casinos in Arkansas

There are two casinos with competition-based gaming machines and pari-mutuel racing in Arkansas.

The largest casino in Arkansas is Southland Park Gaming & Racing in West Memphis with over 2,000 gaming machines and over 40 table games.

The second-largest casino, and only other casino in Arkansas is Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs.

A third casino, expected to be the largest in the state, is pending. Owned and operated by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, the River Valley Casino Resort will be in Pope County in northwest Arkansas. Some legal obstacles remain before construction can begin.

Commercial Casinos in Arkansas

The two casinos in Arkansas are:

1. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort located in Hot Springs, 57 miles southwest of Little Rock.
2. Southland Park Gaming & Racing located in West Memphis, 132 miles east and north of Little Rock on the eastern state border near the Mississippi River.

Both of Arkansas’ pari-mutuel wagering facilities with skill-based slot machines have a rich history going back over 100 years.

Tribal Casinos in Arkansas

There is one pending tribal casino in Arkansas:

1. River Valley Casino Resort located in Russellville, 78 miles northwest of Little Rock – PENDING.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Arkansas slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Arkansas is:

• North: Missouri Slots
• East: Mississippi Slots and Tennessee Slots
• South: Louisiana Slots
• Southwest: Texas Slots
• West: Oklahoma Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my state-specific blog for that neighboring state to Arkansas.

Our Arkansas Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Arkansas? If so, join our new Arkansas slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in or near Arkansas. Join us!

Payout Returns in Arkansas

The state legislature has required all electronic games of skill must have a minimum payout return of 83% during the expected lifetime of the game. There is no maximum payout return limit.

The Electronic Games of Skills Miscellaneous Tax Section of the DFA provides the gaming machine revenues for both racinos. These amounts subject to state taxes do not include the value returned to casino patrons.

Otherwise, only the American Casino Guide (ACG) Arkansas entry provides public information on payout return statistics for Arkansas casinos. From mid-2017 thru mid-2018, the ACG reports payout return statistics of 93.04% for Oaklawn Park and 92.86% for Southland Park.

Summary of Arkansas Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019

Arkansas slot machine casino gambling consists of two pari-mutuel wagering facilities with skill-based slot machines. The competition-style slot machines must have some element of skill included with the device. This decision-making feature is not necessarily the primary game theme, but often a non-used feature.

Theoretical payout returns for slot machines in Arkansas are a minimum of 83% over the expected lifetime of the game. The ACG publicly reports return statistics for both casinos to have an annual average relatively close to 93%.

Annual Progress in Arkansas Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Oaklawn Casino Jobs

In the last year, approvals have progressed for a tribal casino in Pope County as discussed in last year’s review. The Arkansas Times has updated reports on its pending status.

Oaklawn Park And Casino Hotel

Previously, only electronic versions of popular table games were available at Arkansas casinos. On April 1, 2019, live table games arrived. The casinos now offer live versions of craps, blackjack, and other table games.

Archive: Arkansas Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018

Oaklawn Casino And Resort

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Oaklawn Casino Hotel

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