That 51% Revenue Split Kept DraftKings OUT of Arkansas for Years, and Now It's FINALLY Happening!
Alright, you guys, gather 'round! You know the feeling, right? That long wait for the big moment, the clutch play you didn't think would ever come? Well, buckle up, because something HUGE just broke in the sports betting world, and it’s got fans everywhere buzzing. After years of dancing around a tricky revenue split, DraftKings and FanDuel, the absolute titans of the game, have officially launched their sports betting apps in Arkansas! Yeah, you heard that right, as of March 20, 2026, the game has changed down there, and it’s a wild ride for anyone looking to get in on the action.
The Long Road to Getting in the Game
Let's rewind a bit, because this wasn't some overnight success story. Arkansas has actually had legal sports betting since 2019, with online betting kicking off in 2022. But for a long time, the options for residents were super limited. You had Betly, launched by Southland Casino back on March 5, 2022. Then Saracen Casino rolled out their BETSaracen app on May 10, 2022, and Oaklawn Sports went live in August of 2022. That's cool, but let’s be real, we were all wondering when the big dogs would show up. Back in September 2024, Arkansas sportsbooks even cleared a cool $1 billion in total handle, proving the demand was absolutely there. The groundwork was laid thanks to voters passing Issue 4 back in November 2018, which made casino gaming and legal sports betting possible after the Supreme Court opened the door in May 2018. It’s been a journey!
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The 51% Rule That Almost Killed the Party
So, why the delay for FanDuel and DraftKings? It all came down to a sticky point: the Arkansas Racing Commission's 51% revenue-sharing rule. Picture this: third-party operators, like our friends at DraftKings and FanDuel, had to give more than half, a full 51% of their revenue, to their in-state partners. That's a massive chunk, and it kept the big players hesitant for years. The ARC finalized this rule on February 22, 2022, and it was a major hurdle. But, and this is the massive news, DraftKings and FanDuel finally accepted that split! On February 26, 2026, the Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously approved them, granting those crucial sports wagering vendor licenses. DraftKings partnered up with Southland Casino Hotel, and FanDuel teamed up with Oaklawn Casino to take over their Arkansas sports betting apps. And get this: new FanDuel users in Arkansas can snag $350 in bonus bets if they bet $5 for seven days. That's a serious welcome bonus right there!
What a ride, right? It just shows you how much action is out there for sports fans, no matter where you are. Now that these major players are in the mix, sports betting in Arkansas is set to explode even further, giving fans more ways to engage with the games they love, including the World Cup in June 2026. Get ready for some serious action, folks, because the game has truly leveled up!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.