February 26, 2026, was a game-changer for Arkansas sports betting, no question. That’s when the Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously gave the green light to FanDuel and DraftKings as official sportsbooks. For anyone following the legal betting scene, this wasn’t just another approval, it was a seismic shift for a state that’s been a tough nut to crack.
Why This Is a HUGE Deal for Arkansas Betting
For years, Arkansas online sports betting, which first went live in 2022, was pretty limited. We’re talking about a real bottleneck, mainly because of one wild rule: a 51% revenue split. Yeah, you read that right. Third-party operators like FanDuel and DraftKings were forced to hand over more than half their revenue to their in-state partners. That’s a huge chunk, and it kept the big national players on the sidelines for ages.
But now? DraftKings and FanDuel finally said YES. DraftKings linked up with Southland Casino Hotel, and FanDuel partnered with Oaklawn Casino. They’re officially taking over those Arkansas sports betting apps, and they just launched on March 20, 2026. This is a massive commitment from two industry giants, showing they see the long-term play in the Natural State, even with that hefty revenue sharing.
Arkansas Betting: A Quick Look Back Before the Big Names Arrived
Sports betting has actually been legal in Arkansas since 2019, but it’s been a journey to get here. Back in May 2018, the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, opening the door for states to legalize. Arkansas voters jumped on it, passing Issue 4 (Amendment 100) on November 6, 2018, which authorized casino gaming and sports betting. The very first legal bet, a $5 wager on the Dallas Cowboys, went down at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort on July 1, 2019.
The groundwork for online betting got laid with House Bill 1942 in April 2021, and by December 30, 2021, the Arkansas Racing Commission formally approved that now-infamous 51% revenue-sharing rule. That rule got finalized a couple of months later in February 2022. Early apps like Southland Casino’s Betly (March 2022), Saracen Casino’s BETSaracen (May 2022), and Oaklawn Sports mobile app (August 2022) were the OGs, holding things down. By September 24, 2024, Arkansas sportsbooks had already cleared an incredible $1 billion in total handle. Now, with DraftKings and FanDuel in the mix, expect those numbers to really climb.
So, what’s next? If you’re in Arkansas and ready to dive in, there are new user promos popping up. For example, the FanDuel Arkansas promo code gives new users $200 in bonus bets if they bet $5 for four days. This move by DraftKings and FanDuel is a massive vote of confidence in the market, even with the challenging revenue split. It’s an exciting time to be an Arkansas sports bettor.
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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