The Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) has approved online sports betting vendor licenses for FanDuel and DraftKings that will allow the pair to launch in the state ahead of March Madness.
The imminent debut of the country’s two market leaders in a hitherto local operator dominated sector came after the ARC voted unanimously 7-0 to license the pair.
FanDuel and DraftKings had their pick of any of Arkansas’ three existing casino sports books at Oaklawn, Southland, or Saracen casinos.
According to Thursday’s reports, DraftKings has chosen to partner Southland Casino for online sports betting. FanDuel, meanwhile, has elected to partner with Oaklawn Casino.
With the ARC’s approval, Southland’s Betly app will transition to a DraftKings-powered platform, while Oaklawn’s sportsbook will relaunch as “Oaklawn Sports Powered by FanDuel.”
That FanDuel and DraftKings are now powering Arkansas mobile sports betting should give previously disgruntled bettors a boost ahead of one of the largest betting events of the year: the 2026 edition of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
DraftKings Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports Gregory Karamitis referenced the anticipation around March Madness, stating: “we look forward to serving Arkansas customers with innovative features, including our No. 1 live betting experience.”
