Arkansas Online Sports Bets Soar With FanDuel, DraftKings

Arkansas casinos have experienced a surge in online sports betting since two major operators launched new partnerships with national platforms, highlighting a shift in market dynamics across the state.

Data from the Arkansas Racing and Gaming Commission and the Department of Finance and Administration show that online sports wagers surpassed $100 million for the first full month of operations with FanDuel and DraftKings. Oaklawn Casino in Hot Springs, which partnered with FanDuel, led the market with nearly $53 million in bets, while Southland Casino in West Memphis, in conjunction with DraftKings, recorded $35.6 million.

Market Leaders Drive Online Growth

Oaklawn’s figures represent a significant increase from the same period a year earlier, when the casino handled $14 million in online bets in April 2025. Similarly, Southland’s wagers grew markedly compared with the prior year. Oaklawn emphasized that combining its locally operated sportsbook with FanDuel’s platform has expanded the reach and experience for sports bettors across Arkansas.

“The success reflects the power of combining Arkansas’ premier locally owned online sportsbook, Oaklawn Sports, with the industry-leading FanDuel platform to deliver an exceptional experience for sports bettors across the state,” Oaklawn stated. “The partnership between Oaklawn Sports and FanDuel has helped drive significant growth in Arkansas’ online sports wagering market.”

By contrast, Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff, which operates its proprietary BetSaracen platform without a national partner, saw its online handle decline. After leading the market last year with $26 million in online bets, Saracen’s April 2026 handle fell to approximately $13.8 million. Carlton Saffa, Saracen’s Chief Market Officer, noted that promotional activity and free play from other casinos contributed to the shift.

“BetSaracen is an Arkansas-built product built by Arkansans for Arkansans to bet on,” Saffa said, as KHTV-TV reports. “We even market it that way. We don’t bring in out-of-state celebrities. We don’t push folks from other places down your throat all over Instagram and television.”

Profits and Losses Vary

While Oaklawn and Saracen remained profitable, Southland operated at a loss, reporting more payouts to customers than it collected in wagers. Saffa explained that high promotional spending and free-play incentives across competing platforms were expected to impact profits.

Despite the gains in online sports betting, Arkansas casinos still derive the majority of revenue from in-person gaming. Southland reported the largest overall profit among the three operators for April, supported by strong performance on the casino floor.

Analysts also noted that April’s results built on early momentum from March, when FanDuel and DraftKings went live for 12 days, already accounting for over 60% of that month’s handle. Both operators had been approved to enter the state in February, but Arkansas regulations requiring casinos to maintain majority control over any vendor agreements delayed their launch for more than four years.

While the total online handle has reached record levels, tax contributions to Arkansas remain modest. DraftKings reported a net loss for the second consecutive month, while FanDuel posted only $1.2 million in revenue for April, reflecting a hold of 2.3%.

Promotional investment appears to be a major factor in these low returns. Flutter, FanDuel’s parent company, indicated it spent roughly $20 million in Arkansas, while DraftKings cited spending in the “low double digits.” Currently, the Arkansas Racing and Gaming Commission does not limit deductions for promotional activity, though legislation could introduce restrictions in the future.