Oaklawn Racing Casino Hotel

What Oaklawn Racing Casino Hotel does

Oaklawn Racing Casino Hotel is a privately held, integrated gaming and hospitality destination operated by Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc. in Hot Springs, Arkansas, founded in 1904 and controlled by the Cella family across three generations. The property operates a seasonal live thoroughbred racing meet (December through May) featuring 2,000+ thoroughbreds annually and more than 40 stakes races including the $1M Arkansas Derby and $1.25M Rebel Stakes, alongside a year-round, 24/7 smoke-free casino floor with 1,400+ slot machines and 30 table games (blackjack, roulette, craps, three-card poker, mini-baccarat, ultimate Texas holdem, video poker) plus high-limits VIP areas and on-property sports betting.

The resort component includes luxury trackside hotel accommodations, the Astral Spa, seven dining and bar venues (The Oak Room Bar, The Bugler, Big Als Diner, Mainline Sports Bar, Silks Bar and Grill, Track Kitchen, lobby/pool bars), three retail shops (Sundry, Casino Gift Shop, Racing Gift Shop), and a newly completed 1,500-seat Oaklawn Event Center for concerts, comedy, weddings, and corporate meetings. Technology infrastructure includes the Oaklawn Anywhere online and mobile wagering platform for Arkansas residents 18+ with a tiered sign-up bonus structure, sports betting systems, internal point-of-sale systems across all operating segments, and integration with Equibase for official racing data (entries, results, workouts, standings, stakes nominations).

The business model is multi-stream and primarily transaction-based: revenue is generated through the house edge on casino gaming, wagering commissions on live and simulcast racing and remote deposit wagering, dynamic per-stay hotel rates, pay-as-you-go dining, retail, and entertainment ticketing, and group event packages ($250-$650 for sports bar parties; $1,000-$3,500 entry fees for horseplayer championship contests). Customer segments are diversified across horse racing enthusiasts, casino gaming patrons, resort guests, entertainment attendees, and corporate groups, with no single enterprise anchor. Distribution operates through on-property direct sales, the oaklawn.com booking and ticketing platform, Oaklawn Anywhere self-serve wagering, and an active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. Marketing is event-driven, anchored by the Racing Festival of the South and supported by the Oaklawn Rewards tiered loyalty program.

Name

Oaklawn Racing Casino Hotel

Legal name

Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc.

Website

https://oaklawn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Oaklawn Racing Casino Hotel is a privately held, family-owned integrated gaming and hospitality destination in Hot Springs, Arkansas, operating a 120+ year-old thoroughbred racetrack alongside a year-round casino, hotel, spa, dining, and 1,500-seat entertainment venue serving leisure and gaming patrons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casino and Resort Gaming

NAICS

Racetracks (711212), Casino Hotels (72112), Other Gambling Industries (713290), Gambling Industries (7132)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Racetrack & Race Meeting Operations (MPAEADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Horse Racing Betting (Advance Deposit Wagering/ADW) (MPAEADAD)

Keywords

• Thoroughbred horse racing
• Casino gaming resort
• Luxury hotel spa
• Sports betting wagering
• Event entertainment venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Hot Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Casino Gaming: Year-round casino operation featuring 1,400+ slot machines, 30 table games (blackjack, roulette, craps, three-card poker, mini-baccarat, ultimate Texas holdem), video poker, and high-limits areas with VIP amenities. Revenue is generated through house edge on wagers. Smoke-free facility operating 24/7.
2. Live Racing Wagering: Thoroughbred racing with a season running from December through May, attracting 2,000+ thoroughbreds annually. Wagering includes live race betting, simulcasting, and remote deposit wagering via Oaklawn Anywhere. Over 40 stakes races offered including the $1 million Arkansas Derby.
3. Sports Betting: On-casino sports betting covering major professional and collegiate sporting events, operating alongside the traditional casino gaming.
4. Hotel Accommodations: Luxury resort hotel with spacious trackside suites and standard rooms, offering reservations online and by phone. Spa services (Astral Spa), room service, and pool amenities included in the resort experience.
5. Food & Beverage: Multiple dining venues including The Oak Room Bar (fine dining), The Bugler restaurant, Big Als Diner, Mainline Sports Bar, Silks Bar and Grill, Track Kitchen, and lobby/pool bars. Revenue from food and beverage sales across all outlets.
6. Entertainment & Events: The 1,500-seat Oaklawn Event Center hosts concerts, comedy shows, and private events. Revenue from ticket sales, venue rentals for meetings and weddings, and associated concessions.
7. Retail Merchandise: Three retail locations: Sundry (hotel lobby), Casino Gift Shop, and Racing Gift Shop. Merchandise includes apparel, jewelry, gifts, and branded items from brands like Brackish, Clique, Susan Shaw, and Lisi Lerch.
8. Group Events & Weddings: Meetings and weddings services for corporate groups and social events, including venue rental, catering coordination, and accommodation packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Oaklawn Racing Casino Hotel operates a year-round thoroughbred racetrack and casino resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Its core offerings include live thoroughbred racing with 40+ stakes races per season (including the $1 million Arkansas Derby), a 24/7 smoke-free casino with 1,400+ slot machines and 30 table games, in-casino sports betting, luxury hotel accommodations and Astral Spa, a 1,500-seat Event Center, multiple dining venues, retail shops, and group event hosting. The Oaklawn Anywhere platform extends racing wagering to Arkansas residents online and via mobile.

Product overview

Oaklawn is a year-round casino resort and thoroughbred racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas, operating since 1904. The company operates a multi-segment hospitality and gaming platform consisting of: Racing operations (thoroughbred racing with live meets, stakes races including Arkansas Derby, and the Oaklawn Anywhere online wagering platform); Casino gaming (1,400+ slot machines, 30 table games, sports betting, high-limits areas); Hotel and spa accommodations (luxury suites and Astral Spa); Entertainment venues (1,500-seat Event Center for concerts and comedy); Dining (multiple restaurants and bars including Mainline Sports Bar, The Oak Room Bar, The Bugler); Retail operations (three gift shops); Event hosting (meetings and weddings); and the Oaklawn Rewards loyalty program. The property is located 2.3 miles from Hot Springs National Park.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Sundry: Retail store located inside the Oaklawn hotel lobby, carrying handmade jewelry, chic Oaklawn apparel, festive bags and more.
• Casino Gift Shop
• Racing Gift Shop
• Astral Spa
• Oaklawn Anywhere

Products and services

• Racing Thoroughbred horse racing operations featuring a live racing season with 40+ stakes races per year, including the $1 million Arkansas Derby and the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes, with more than 2,000 unique thoroughbreds competing annually. Targets racing enthusiasts and Kentucky Derby trail followers.
• Casino 24/7 smoke-free casino offering 1,400+ slot machines, 30 table games (blackjack, roulette, craps, three-card poker, mini-baccarat, ultimate Texas holdem), video poker, and high-limits areas with VIP amenities for casino gaming patrons.
• Hotel & Spa (Astral Spa) Luxury resort hotel with spacious trackside suites and standard rooms plus the Astral Spa offering spa services and treatments for resort guests and walk-in visitors.
• Oaklawn Anywhere Online and mobile wagering platform allowing Arkansas residents aged 18+ to sign up and wager on races remotely, with a $200 sign-up bonus distributed in $50 increments per $200 wagered within the first 30 days.
• Oaklawn Rewards Multi-tier player rewards loyalty program offering tier levels, drawings, earn-and-get promotions, and exclusive benefits across casino, hotel, dining, and racing segments for enrolled members.
• Sports Betting On-casino sports betting book covering major professional and collegiate sporting events, integrated with the casino gaming floor and operating alongside slots and table games.
• Entertainment (Event Center) 1,500-seat arena hosting concerts, comedy shows, and special events with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, creating a Vegas-style show experience in Hot Springs.
• Dining & Bars Multiple on-property dining venues including The Oak Room Bar (fine dining), The Bugler, Big Als Diner, Mainline Sports Bar, Silks Bar and Grill, Track Kitchen, and lobby/pool bars, serving resort guests and walk-in visitors.
• Meetings & Weddings Event hosting services for corporate meetings, weddings, and group events, including venue rental, catering coordination, and accommodation packages managed through a dedicated group sales team.
• Retail Shops & Gift Shops Three retail locations: Sundry (hotel lobby), Casino Gift Shop, and Racing Gift Shop, offering apparel, jewelry, and souvenirs from brands including Brackish, Clique, Susan Shaw, and Lisi Lerch.
• Horseplayers Championship Horseplayer handicapping contest competitions including the Southwest Showdown ($1,000 per entry) and Oaklawn Horseplayer Championship ($3,500 per entry), targeting serious horseplayers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 thoroughbreds compete annually at Oaklawn
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOaklawn Foundation collaborated with UAMS to construct the Center on Aging, addressing senior healthcare needs in Garland County. The project was partially funded through the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
• EquibasecoreTechnology or IntegrationEquibase provides official racing data including entries, results, scratches, workouts, standings, and stakes nominations. Oaklawn uses Equibase systems for official racing information and handicapping data.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sam Houston Race Park: Texas quarterhorse and thoroughbred racetrack with simulcast wagering and on-site gaming operations. Comparable as a Southern U.S. regional racetrack offering live racing, simulcast, and on-property wagering in a similar seasonal live-racing business model.
• Churchill Downs Incorporated: Owner of Churchill Downs Racetrack and multiple regional racing/casino assets including Derby City Gaming and Turfway Park. Most directly comparable U.S. operator combining Kentucky Derby heritage, regional casino gaming, sports betting (through Exacta), and racing media — same integrated racetrack + casino + sports betting model as Oaklawn.
• Saratoga Race Course (NYRA): Legendary New York thoroughbred racetrack operated by the New York Racing Association, known for prestige racing, large on-track crowds, and simulcast wagering. Comparable as an iconic summer-season racing destination with national brand recognition in the same sport.
• Del Mar Racetrack (DMTC): Iconic Southern California thoroughbred racetrack offering a short summer meet with major stakes races, premium hospitality, and on-site wagering. Directly comparable as a heritage single-season racetrack with premium hospitality positioning and Kentucky Derby prep race hosting.
• Canterbury Park: Minnesota thoroughbred racetrack operating a Card Casino (cardroom gaming), simulcast, and events. Comparable as a smaller-scale regional racetrack with adjacent gaming, events, and group sales offering the same mix of racing + alternative gaming + hospitality.
• Keeneland Association: Iconic Kentucky thoroughbred racetrack and sales company, host of major graded stakes races and a leading simulcast venue. Directly comparable as a heritage thoroughbred racing venue with national prestige and similar Kentucky Derby prep calendar.
• Gulfstream Park (1/ST/Gaming): Florida thoroughbred racetrack with on-site casino (slots and poker), hotel, dining, and simulcast operations. Most direct single-property analog to Oaklawn's racetrack + casino + resort model in a comparable regional market.

Broad incumbents

• Red Rock Resorts (Station Casinos): Las Vegas-based regional casino operator known for locals-oriented integrated resort properties (casino + hotel + F&B + entertainment). Comparable as a single-market private-equity-controlled regional gaming operator with multi-revenue resort model.
• Boyd Gaming: Operator of 28+ regional casino properties including Louisiana Downs (a comparable racetrack asset). Strong peer as a publicly-traded regional gaming incumbent operating in overlapping geographies (Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas-adjacent markets) with similar revenue mix of slots, table games, F&B, and hotel.
• Penn Entertainment: Owner of numerous regional racetracks and casinos including Hollywood Casino and theScore. Operates an integrated regional gaming, racing, and digital sports betting platform at much larger scale, making it a broad incumbent in the same racetrack + regional casino + sportsbook category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OaklawnRacing
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@OaklawnHotSprings
• Facebookfacebook.com/OaklawnHotSprings
• Instagraminstagram.com/oaklawnhotsprings
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oaklawnhotsprings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oaklawn Racing Casino Hotel