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Arkansas sports betting expanded significantly when the Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously approved FanDuel and DraftKings as legal sportsbooks in the state. While sports betting has been legal in Arkansas since 2019 and online betting launched in 2022, availability was previously limited due to a revenue-sharing rule requiring third-party operators to give 51% of their revenue to in-state partners.
History and Evolution of Arkansas Sports Betting
The path to legal sports betting in Arkansas began after the Supreme Court deemed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act unconstitutional in May 2018. Later that year on November 6, Arkansas voters approved Issue 4, authorizing casino gaming and legal sports betting at licensed facilities. The first legal sports bet in the state was placed on July 1, 2019, with a $5 wager on the Dallas Cowboys at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. House Bill 1942 was passed in April 2021 to establish the framework for online sports betting, and the Arkansas Legislative Council finalized the 51% revenue-sharing rule in February 2022. State sportsbooks surpassed $1 billion in total handle on September 24, 2024, leading up to the licensing approval of DraftKings and FanDuel on February 26, 2026, and their subsequent launch on March 20, 2026.
Prominent Arkansas Sportsbooks and Promos
FanDuel offers thousands of spreads, money lines, totals, and props for domestic and international professional and college sports through its blue-and-white interface. New users signing up with the Arkansas FanDuel promo code can receive up to $350 in bonus bet tokens by placing a $5 bet in each of the seven days following signup. The FanDuel app is available for Apple and Android, with most withdrawals processed in under a day for debit card, PayPal, and Venmo users.
DraftKings, which evolved from a daily fantasy sports platform, focuses heavily on statistics, player data, and same-game parlays. New users in Arkansas can use the DraftKings promo code to receive $200 in bonus bets and three months of NBA League Pass after wagering $5 or more. The DraftKings app is available on iOS and Android devices, supporting multiple deposit and withdrawal options including PayPal and debit cards.
Market Structure and Regulatory Framework
Oaklawn Casino partnered with FanDuel, replacing the previous Oaklawn Sports app with the FanDuel app powered by Oaklawn Sports. Southland Casino Hotel partnered with DraftKings, replacing the Betly app that previously operated under its license. Saracen Casino Resort did not partner with a national sportsbook and continues operating its BETSaracen app. Arkansas’s three commercial casinos can each operate two sportsbook apps under the unchanged 51%-49% revenue-sharing structure.
The Arkansas Racing Commission regulates all racing, casino betting, and sports betting under the state government. Tax revenue from sportsbooks is distributed with 55% going to the state general fund, 27.5% to the local city and county where the casino is located, and 17.5% to the commission’s Purse and Awards Fund. Arkansas sportsbooks pay a 13% tax rate on the first $150 million in gaming revenue and 20% on revenue above that threshold, collecting $7.229 million between January and October 2025.
Prediction Markets and Responsible Gambling
Federally regulated trading markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket are also legal in Arkansas, allowing users to trade contracts on sporting event outcomes. Kalshi offers $55 in bonus trading credit after a $25 trade with the code CBSSPORTS55, while Polymarket provides $25 in trading credits on a $10 deposit using the code CBSSPORTS.
For responsible gambling support, Arkansas residents can access helplines including the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET and the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council at 501-403-2321.
