Is Oklahoma sports betting next up for legalization? The legal sports betting wave is making itself across the country and Oklahoma might be due soon. TheSportsGeek is going over the status of legal sports betting in Oklahoma at this minute and how the future looks.
It does not matter now whether it is a red or blue state. Everyone wants to get involved in the legal sports betting party. It is likely going to take some time for states in the south like Alabama to adopt sports betting, but it was not without an attempt.
Alabama has had multiple sports betting bills, including last year, but none have picked up any traction. Texas and Oklahoma are well ahead of Alabama when it comes to sports betting in the south.
Happy Statehood Day! On this day in 1907, #Oklahoma became the 46th state to join the Union. Celebrate Oklahoma's 115th birthday by sharing what you love most about the Sooner State! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/8vcKqzGhaj
— TravelOK.com (@TravelOK) November 16, 2022
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Texas and Oklahoma have always had a rivalry on the football field. When it comes to legal sports betting, who will be the first to launch their product? Oklahoma sports betting is not that far off from being approved by governor Kevin Sitt.
Along with Texas, it feels like only a matter of time before sports betting receives the green light in Oklahoma. Like Texas — and many other states — one of the primary issues holding up sports betting in Oklahoma is the Native American tribes.
Ongoing Feud Between Gov. Stitt and Tribal Casinos
All of the stakeholders at the table have to be content with the details of the bill. One of the biggest stakeholders in Oklahoma is the Native American tribes. Any state that has casinos run by an indigenous tribe must go through them, as well.
Like some other states, the governor has been in a dispute with the tribal leaders over the implementation of Oklahoma sports betting.
In the end, it always comes down to economic benefits. The state is always going to want more, while the Native American casinos feel that they are entitled to more.
When is legal sports betting in Oklahoma going to come to fruition? Let’s look at where Oklahoma sports betting is in 2022 and where it is projected to go in 2023.
Sports Betting In Oklahoma
Sports bettors in Oklahoma are hoping to have a chance to vote on Oklahoma sports betting in 2023. The most recent attempt to legalize sports betting in Oklahoma fell through the cracks. The bill was not feasible, so it is back to the drawing board to satisfy all parties involved.
Oklahoma Sports Betting Bill Crashes and Burns In March
There was a strong push to have sports betting approved and launched in time for the 2022 football season. Getting a sports betting bill through the legislature must happen before the process moves on to the next step. There was optimism that a bill was going to pass in 2020, but there are still hurdles to overcome in Oklahoma three years later.
The second attempt at sports betting in Oklahoma died in the chamber before it was able to garner more traction this past March. Keep in mind that this sports betting bill did not include language for online and mobile gambling, only for retail sports betting.
House Bill 3008 was a sports betting bill that was not going to make everyone happy. This includes sports bettors in Oklahoma, who have been excited about being able to bet from their homes on a mobile device.
While HB 3008 had the potential to add mobile sports betting, later on in the future, there was no framework for how it would work in the bill. Along with sports bettors not being happy with a bill that excluded online sports betting, the Native American tribes did not like this plan, either.
The sports betting bill was going to permit in-person sports betting in tribal casinos, but they wanted more. Like most sports bettors, the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association is interested in sports betting.
“Almost all of the association is very interested in sports betting,” …”But we do have some folks that are very interested in the mobile aspect of sports betting, which Rep. Luttrell’s bill does not capture…
And we also have some concerns from our members on what fee split would look like given the low margin of sports betting. I think they would like to see that reworked in a way that would make them more likely to support something in that way.” Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association chairman, Matthew Morgan, stated to The Center Square.
The Native American casinos are very much in favor of legal sports betting in Oklahoma. They want to get this up and running as soon as possible. However, not under the current proposals from the state.
Ultimately, after the Oklahoma Appropriations and Budget Committee voted in favor of sports betting, 28-3, it did not make it past the House and to the State Senate for a vote.
The 10% cut for the state from Oklahoma sports betting is not something that is getting the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association too excited, either. This was proposed in HB 3008, but only 10% is not going to be in their best interest.
Oklahoma Tribal Casinos Have Mobile Betting Infrastructure Active In Another State
There is an Oklahoma tribe that has already launched its mobile sports betting product. However, the app is not legal in their home state of Oklahoma, at least not yet.
Oklahoma indigenous tribe, the Quapaw Nation, has been offering their mobile sports betting app next door in Arkansas. They did not want to wait for politics and the red tape to clear in Oklahoma.
The Quapaw Nation has a casino presence in Arkansas with the Saracen Casino Resort. Upon the legalization of sports betting in Arkansas back in 2018, one of the first southern states to legalize sports betting, the Quapaw Nation got to work.
Their mobile gaming app, BetSaracen, is widely used throughout Arkansas. However, the Quapaw Nation is still unable to offer their mobile betting platform in their home state of Oklahoma.
How Does This Impact Legal Sports Betting In Oklahoma?
Lawmakers and state representatives in Oklahoma can look at the Quapaw Nation as an example of success. The state has no excuses for not having a reputable sports betting mobile app provider.
The Quapaw Nation only has to receive the green light and they can have their mobile app live almost immediately. The other tribal casinos would shortly follow with the same blueprint for a sports betting app.
Oklahoma Sports Betting In 2023
Oklahoma will undoubtedly come back with another sports betting bill in 2023. While nothing has been introduced into the state legislature in December of 2022, expect something coming down the pike in Oklahoma.
The Native American tribal casinos are pushing for legal sports betting in Oklahoma. However, they are not going to be thrilled if the new bill is a repeat of HB 3008. The tribes are siding with sports bettors, and stressing that online and mobile sports betting has to be included.
In the 2023 Oklahoma sports betting bill, there will have to be a plan for mobile sports betting to please the tribes. The Quapaw Nation already has the infrastructure to offer sports betting through a mobile app.
Along with mobile sports betting in Oklahoma, the 10% cut of net winnings for the state will have to be examined. The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association feels that this would take too much out of their revenue. If the state is not going to budge on 10%, there might have to be a compromise elsewhere.
Do not expect legal sports betting in Oklahoma in 2023. The earliest launch date appears to be in 2024. Mid-2024 towards the end of 2024 is probably more realistic for Oklahoma sports betting.
If a bill is not passed in 2023, then it will keep being pushed back. Remember that taxpayers in the state will have to vote YES on legal sports betting, as well. The way things are shaping up in the country, Oklahoma will not stop until there is sports betting in the state.
For sports bettors in Oklahoma looking to bet on sports right now, check out our Oklahoma Betting Sites page for the best online sportsbook.
