- DraftKings and FanDuel applied to offer mobile sports betting in Arkansas, with a decision potentially coming next week.
- Arkansas requires third-party sportsbooks to give 51% of revenue to their casino partner, keeping major operators out for years.
- Approval would mark the first time nationally recognized operators have entered the Arkansas market.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas hasn’t had a household name in its sports wagering scene since mobile betting launched back in 2022, but that could be changing fast. DraftKings and FanDuel have both thrown their hats in the ring, filing separately with state regulators to get their mobile products up and running in the Natural State.
Scott Hardin, speaking on behalf of the Arkansas Racing and Gaming Commission, confirmed both sets of documents had come in, and said either company could realistically be taking bets not long after regulators give the nod.
Although there isn’t a formal meeting planned, Hardin proposed that the commission meet to discuss the applications within the next week. The commission’s decision would have a direct impact on Arkansas sportsbooks‘ prospects for the spring.
Upon the introduction of mobile betting in March 2022, Arkansas developed a tethered approach that tied all active sportsbooks to a physical casino license. Three establishments are in possession of those licenses: Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, and Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis.
According to trade reports, FanDuel would enter through Oaklawn, and DraftKings through Southland. However, Hardin made it clear that neither deal has any formal weight at this time. Both operators would be able to negotiate with any of the three casinos if permissions are granted.
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The 51% Rule
Arkansas’s distinct revenue-sharing rule is one of the main reasons DraftKings and FanDuel have avoided the state for so long. 51% of sports betting profits must stay with the in-state casino partner in any third-party agreement, according to Arkansas law.
Sportsbook companies retain between 85% and 95% of their earnings in the majority of other states. Due to this disparity, Arkansas was a challenging market to access, particularly considering its lower population.
Through 2025, Arkansas generated over $655 million in legal sports betting revenue, of which the state collected more than $116 million in taxes. Although those numbers have been rising year, Arkansas still lags far behind states with similar populations. That same year, Iowa collected almost $2.9 billion on wagers—a disparity that is self-evident.
DraftKings and FanDuel’s entry would be the first time nationally renowned operators have joined the Arkansas market. Only mobile sports betting would be covered by any approval; prediction market products that both businesses provide elsewhere would not be covered.
