February 26, 2026, was a massive day for sports betting in Arkansas, because that’s when the Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously gave the green light to both FanDuel and DraftKings as official sportsbooks. For years, the major players were conspicuously absent, but now two of the biggest names in the game are officially operating, and it’s a total game-changer for bettors in the state.
The History, The Holdout, and That Head-Scratching Rule
Arkansas has had legal sports betting since 2019, with online betting even launching in 2022. But if you’re a bettor there, you know the scene felt incomplete. The biggest names, the ones everyone talks about, just weren’t in the mix. Why? It all came down to a pretty wild 51% revenue-sharing rule. This rule, which the ARC approved on December 30, 2021, and the Arkansas Legislative Council finalized on February 22, 2022, meant that third-party operators like FanDuel and DraftKings had to give more than half their revenue to their in-state partners. Most big operators weren’t too keen on that deal. It left the field to early local apps like Betly from Southland Casino and BETSaracen from Saracen Casino, which both launched in the spring of 2022, followed by Oaklawn Sports in August 2022.
The Giants Finally Jump In: What It Took
After all that apprehension, the major breakthrough came on February 26, 2026, when DraftKings and FanDuel were finally granted sports wagering vendor licenses. They accepted the 51% split, which is a huge deal, showing they see enough potential to make it worth it. DraftKings teamed up with Southland Casino Hotel, and FanDuel partnered with Oaklawn Casino to take over their existing Arkansas sports betting apps. Then, just a few weeks later, on March 20, 2026, both FanDuel and DraftKings officially launched their sports betting operations in the state. Talk about a quick turnaround once the deal was struck.
This is a massive shift. With FanDuel and DraftKings now live since March 20, 2026, Arkansas bettors finally have the full spectrum of options that the state’s been missing. We already saw Arkansas sportsbooks clear a staggering $1 billion in total handle by September 24, 2024, *before* these giants even jumped in. Imagine what those numbers are going to look like now that the heavy hitters are fully in the game. It’s going to be wild to watch!
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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