February 26, 2026, marked a seismic shift in Arkansas sports betting: the Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously approved FanDuel and DraftKings. Yeah, the big boys are officially in, and after all the drama, this move is a game-changer for anyone in Arkansas wanting to get in on the action.
The Long Road to the Big Players
This wasn’t some overnight decision. Sports betting in Arkansas has been legal since 2019, and online betting even kicked off in 2022. But for a long time, the options for residents were super limited. Why? Because Arkansas threw a major curveball at third-party operators: a 51% revenue split. That’s right, more than half their cash had to go to their in-state partners. Most big names were like, “Nah, we’re good.” But DraftKings, linking up with Southland Casino Hotel, and FanDuel, partnering with Oaklawn Casino, finally said, “Alright, let’s do it.” They took over the existing Arkansas sports betting apps, and on March 20, 2026, they officially launched their operations. This is a massive shift, showing these giants are serious about reaching every market, even with a tough deal on the table.
Building to a Billion-Dollar Market
The path to this moment has been years in the making. Back in May 2018, the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, opening the doors for states to legalize. Arkansas voters wasted no time, passing Issue 4 in November 2018 to authorize casino gaming and sports betting. The very first legal bet, a $5 wager on the Dallas Cowboys, hit the books at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort on July 1, 2019. Online betting got its framework in April 2021 with House Bill 1942, and by December 2021, the Arkansas Racing Commission cemented that 51% revenue-sharing rule. After that, Betly by Southland Casino launched in March 2022, then BETSaracen in May 2022, and the Oaklawn Sports mobile app went live in August 2022. And check this out: by September 24, 2024, Arkansas sportsbooks had already cleared an incredible $1 billion in total handle. That’s a serious market, even before the big dogs arrived.
What This Means Next
So, what’s next for Arkansas sports betting? With DraftKings and FanDuel now firmly in the mix, the game just got more competitive, which means more options for the fans. In fact, if you’re new to FanDuel Arkansas, there’s already a sweet promo going down: bet $5 for seven days and snag $350 in bonus bets. That’s a killer welcome package. Arkansas just went from a limited market to having two of the biggest names in the game, and you know they are going to push the envelope. It’s an exciting time to be an Arkansas sports bettor, that’s for sure.
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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