DraftKings, FanDuel Apply for Arkansas Entry

DraftKings and FanDuel have submitted applications to enter Arkansas’ mobile sports betting market, a notable development after national brands had effectively been sidelined by the state’s 51% revenue-sharing requirement.

If approved, both operators would be permitted to launch immediately. Scott Hardin of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration told KNWA/FOX24 that DraftKings and FanDuel could partner with any of the three licensed casino sportsbooks in the state. While no formal meeting has yet been scheduled, approval could come as early as next week.

Arkansas’ three licensed casino operators are Oaklawn Casino in Hot Springs, Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff and Southland Casino in West Memphis. Reports indicate DraftKings is expected to align with Southland, while FanDuel would partner with Oaklawn.

The state legalised retail sports betting in 2018 and expanded to mobile wagering in 2022. Regulations allow for up to six mobile skins, with each casino eligible to host two online operators. At present, the market includes BetSaracen at Saracen Casino Resort, Betly Sportsbook at Southland Casino and Oaklawn Sports at Oaklawn Casino.

Despite having mobile betting in place, Arkansas has trailed comparable states in wagering volume. Players wagered approximately $655 million in 2025. By contrast, Iowa with a similar population reported nearly $2.9 billion in bets during the same period. Missouri, which has almost double Arkansas’ population, generated $543 million in wagers in its first month after launching in December 2025.

A key factor limiting participation has been Arkansas’ rule requiring third-party operators to allocate 51% of sports betting revenue to their in-state casino partner. In most other jurisdictions, revenue-sharing arrangements are negotiated privately, often allowing operators to retain a larger portion of proceeds. Combined with a population of around 3.1 million, the structure has historically raised concerns about profitability for major brands.

The recent applications may signal that commercial conditions have shifted or that competitive pressures and slowing state-by-state legalisation have made Arkansas more attractive despite the revenue constraints.

Notably, both companies currently operate prediction market platforms in various states but do not offer sports event contracts in Arkansas. DraftKings Predict in the state focuses on financial markets, while FanDuel’s platform features contracts tied to finance, economics and commodities rather than sports. In Arkansas, the companies are pursuing entry through the regulated sportsbook framework rather than expanding prediction-style offerings.