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DraftKings and FanDuel have applied to offer mobile sports betting in Arkansas, a state where local casino-branded apps have dominated since online wagering began.
A spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Scott Hardin, told KNWA/FOX24 the companies could begin operating immediately if regulators approve the applications. Hardin said officials have not set a meeting date yet, but they could hold one as soon as next week.
The casino partners they could team up with — and the pairings being reported
Arkansas requires mobile betting to run through partnerships with its three licensed casino sportsbooks: Oaklawn Casino in Hot Springs, Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff, and Southland Casino in West Memphis.
Hardin said DraftKings and FanDuel could partner with any of the three. Industry reports have linked DraftKings with Southland and FanDuel with Oaklawn, although the state has not confirmed those pairings.
A state built for more apps than it currently has
The market itself is not new. Arkansas voters approved sports betting in 2018, and the state’s casinos rolled out mobile options in 2022. The rules also allow each casino to run up to two online skins, which leaves room for more apps than the three currently available.
The 51% rule that kept the biggest brands out
For years, national operators stayed away. One key reason has been a revenue-sharing rule that requires casinos to keep the larger share in any deal with a third-party platform. In practice, that has made Arkansas a tougher business case than many other states, especially given its smaller population.
The result has been a slower-growing market. Arkansas took about $639m in sports betting handle in 2025, far below larger, more competitive states. Iowa, with a similar population, reported about $2.92bn that year. Missouri, which launched in late 2025, reported more than $543m wagered in its first month.
Now, the two biggest names in US online sports betting are trying to get in. If regulators sign off, Arkansas bettors could see new national apps arrive quickly, and the state could finally test whether bigger brands can lift its mobile betting numbers.
Source: Gambling Insider
