FanDuel and DraftKings are officially live in Arkansas, folks, and this isn’t some small deal. On March 20, 2026, the two biggest names in sports betting flipped the switch, after the Arkansas Racing Commission gave them the unanimous green light back on February 26, 2026. This is huge for the state, especially after years where sportsbooks were pretty limited, mostly because of one wild rule.
The 51% Split No One Wanted, But Everyone Accepted
For a long time, the big players shied away from Arkansas, and you know why? It was all about the revenue split. The Arkansas Racing Commission threw down a rule back on December 30, 2021, that 51% of all revenue from third-party operators like FanDuel and DraftKings had to go straight to the in-state partner. That’s more than half! It was finalized on February 22, 2022, and it kept a lot of big names out. But get this: DraftKings partnered up with Southland Casino Hotel and FanDuel teamed up with Oaklawn Casino, effectively taking over their Arkansas sports betting apps. They finally agreed to that 51% cut. That’s how much they see the potential in this market, which is wild to think about.
From a $5 Bet to a Billion Dollar Boom
Arkansas has been in the sports betting game for a minute now. After the Supreme Court said states could legalize betting in May 2018, Arkansas voters jumped on Issue 4 (Amendment 100) in November 2018. The first legal bet? A humble $5 on the Dallas Cowboys at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort on July 1, 2019. Online sports betting got its framework in April 2021 with House Bill 1942, and then things really started moving. Southland Casino launched Betly in March 2022, Saracen Casino’s BETSaracen app went live in May 2022, and Oaklawn Sports mobile app followed in August 2022. Fast forward to September 24, 2024, and Arkansas sportsbooks had already cleared a staggering **$1 billion** in total handle. Now, with DraftKings and FanDuel in the mix, imagine what that number is going to look like next year.
This is just the beginning for Arkansas. If you’re a new user jumping in, FanDuel Arkansas is offering a sweet deal right now: bet $5 for seven days and you can score $350 in bonus bets. This isn’t just about placing wagers; it’s about a state embracing a massive industry, and it’s only going to get bigger from here.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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