Oaklawn opened in 1904 and has been running thoroughbred racing at Hot Springs ever since, which makes it one of the most storied tracks in American racing. It rates 4.2 from more than 11,000 Google reviewers — the best-rated casino in Arkansas.
Google now lists the property as "Oaklawn Hot Springs", which is how it markets itself, though the full name remains Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.
The racing
This is the reason Oaklawn exists and still the best reason to visit. The live meet runs from early December to early May, culminating in the Racing Festival of the South — a four-day series that finishes with the Arkansas Derby, one of the more significant Kentucky Derby prep races on the calendar.
If you are going to see racing anywhere in the region, go during the meet. Outside those months the hotel and casino stay open year-round, but the property is a quieter place.
What's on the floor
More than 1,400 slot machines and 30 table games, including blackjack and roulette, plus video poker.
Arkansas legalised full casino gaming by constitutional amendment in 2018, which is why all three of the state's casinos have modernised so recently. Oaklawn's floor is the product of that expansion layered onto a track that had been running for more than a century.
That is a smaller floor than Southland's and a smaller table count than Saracen's — Oaklawn's gaming is a strong complement to the racing rather than the main event. There is no dedicated poker room here; Arkansas's only poker is at Saracen Casino Resort.
Hotel and spa
The hotel runs 198 rooms with a lobby bar, and the rooms are genuinely well positioned — one side overlooks the racetrack, the other the Ouachita mountains. During the meet, a trackside room is one of the better hotel propositions in American racing.
The spa is Arkansas's only Forbes Four-Star spa, which fits the town: Hot Springs has been a bathing destination since long before the track opened.
Tips before you go
You must be 21 to gamble, the minimum age at every Arkansas casino.
The casino is open 24 hours, seven days a week, year-round. The racing is not — check the meet calendar before booking, because the property in February and the property in August are very different experiences.
Rooms during the Racing Festival of the South sell out well ahead. If the Arkansas Derby is the plan, book months out.
Nearby alternatives
South-east, Saracen Casino Resort at Pine Bluff has the state's only poker room and a larger table pit. North-east on the Mississippi, Southland Casino Hotel at West Memphis is Arkansas's biggest floor.
For the full picture, see all Arkansas in-person casinos.
FAQ
What are Oaklawn's hours?
The casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. Live racing runs a seasonal meet, so check the race calendar separately.
When does Oaklawn's racing season run?
The live thoroughbred meet runs from early December to early May, ending with the Racing Festival of the South and the Arkansas Derby.
How old do you have to be to gamble at Oaklawn?
You must be 21, the minimum age at every Arkansas casino.
What games are available at Oaklawn?
More than 1,400 slot machines and 30 table games including blackjack and roulette, plus video poker. There is no dedicated poker room.
Does Oaklawn have a hotel?
Yes — 198 rooms, with views over either the racetrack or the mountains, plus Arkansas's only Forbes Four-Star spa.
How old is Oaklawn?
The track opened in 1904 and has been running thoroughbred racing at Hot Springs ever since.
Rather play from your couch tonight? See our Arkansas sweepstakes rankings.
Updated August 2026 · Details verified against Arkansas Racing Commission records and the venue's official site. Hours and offerings change — confirm before you go.
