Oklahoma Sports Betting Odds Remain Long, Likely Not Coming Anytime Soon

Posted on: July 12, 2024, 10:18h. 

Last updated on: July 12, 2024, 11:09h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Oklahoma will likely remain on the sports betting sidelines for the foreseeable future, a tribal spokesperson reveals.

Oklahoma sports betting tribes Kevin Stitt
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt last year presented a path to authorize sports betting in the Sooner State, but the tribes expressed little enthusiasm. The tribes say they aren’t willing to pay the state costly fees to operate online sportsbooks. (Image: AP)

Matthew Morgan is the chair of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, which represents the interests of the Sooner State’s 25 federally recognized tribes that hold Class III gaming compacts that allow the Indian nations to operate Las Vegas-style slot machines and table games on their sovereign lands. Speaking with the Oklahoma Voice, Morgan says tribes aren’t overly eager to expand their gaming operations to include sports betting, and that there have been few meaningful discussions with Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) and state lawmakers about the issue.

Any discussion of sports betting really never left the ground because there was just too much posturing, too much disagreement on how the industry would work,” Morgan revealed. “From our perspective, we’ve not really seen the state legislature or the governor’s office have an appetite for sports betting.”

Morgan divulged that the tribes he represents in the Oklahoma City capital would be interested in operating sportsbooks but aren’t willing to pay the state extravagant fees to include the small-margin betting vertical.

Governor Proposal D.O.A.?

Stitt surprised the tribes last November when he pitched a sports betting proposal without consulting the natives. The governor suggested that Oklahoma expand the tribes’ compacts to include retail sports betting privileges and allow commercial sportsbook operators like DraftKings and FanDuel to run online wagering platforms.

Under the governor’s recommendation, tribes could also pursue online sportsbook licenses but would be required to pony up the same $500K permitting fee that commercial operators would pay. Since states that allow in-person and online sports betting typically see the bulk of the bets be made via the internet, the tribes scoffed at the Stitt pitch.

State Rep. Ken Luttrell (R-Ponca City) authored a sports betting bill mimicking the governor’s ideas. House Bill 1027 passed the state House of Representatives last year but stalled in the Senate. Luttrell is a member of the Cherokee Nation, one of the five largest tribes in the state.

State Sen. Bill Coleman, also a Republican from Ponca City, co-sponsored the sports betting bill. He said at the time that Oklahoma should keep sports betting money from flowing into neighboring jurisdictions where sports gambling is legal.

Sports Betting Outlook

Sports betting is legal and operational in 38 states, plus Washington, DC. Of Oklahoma’s six border states, four have sports gambling — Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico. New Mexico limits sports betting to in-person at its tribal casinos.

In November, voters in Missouri will decide whether the Show-Me State becomes the 39th state to approve sports gambling and add yet another border state to Oklahoma where such betting is permitted.

Coleman isn’t folding on his wishes to retain sports betting money being bet in those neighboring states.

“You’ve got the governor, you’ve got the tribes, you’ve got the legislature, you’ve got plenty of people that are giving input,” Coleman said. “It just takes time to get everybody on the same page.”