Oklahoma Online Sports Betting
Oklahoma is silent regarding the issue of online sports betting, although it warns residents against signing up at locally-operated online gambling shops or sportsbooks. The sports betting laws of Oklahoma, remember, are directed at operators of illegal bookie businesses in the state. Nov 03, 2020 A bipartisan group of state lawmakers, along with Oklahoma's attorney general, have expressed opposition to the expansion of sports betting in Oklahoma and the prospect of legalized sports.
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Since online sports betting is not currently legal in Oklahoma, there are no sanctioned sportsbooks and therefore no deposit bonuses of any kind to speak of. However, in the event that online sports betting becomes legal, residents of Oklahoma can expect a similar approach to what sites in other states are currently offering. Apr 21, 2020 No, sports betting in Oklahoma is not legal. Sports betting in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is home to more than 130 tribal casinos, but Republican Governor Kevin Stitt and tribal officials have been unable to get very close on any kind of agreement for legal sports wagering. Feb 09, 2021 Legal sports betting options in Oklahoma. Right now, there are no options to place legal bets in Oklahoma. Any online sportsbooks that claim they can accept bets from someone in Oklahoma at this point is an unlicensed offshore operator.
The tides are turning in favor of Oklahoma being able to offer legalized sports betting very soon.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned on May 14, 2018. On that day, courts voted to allow each state to propose and create their own laws and regulations for sports betting.
While Oklahoma did not immediately move to implement sports betting, a recent agreement with the two local tribes in the state on a new gaming compact could mean legal wagering is on the way. However, opposition from both lawmakers and some tribes have the topic tied up by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Oklahoma has over 100 casinos that are owned and operated by 33 federally-recognized tribes in the state. There is strong potential for the tribes to support the motion and offer sports betting at their casinos.
Until then, Oklahomans can get their gambling fix with things like multi-state lottery drawings, bingo and raffles, electronic gaming, horse racing, daily fantasy games, and casino-style table games at one of the many tribal casinos. Craps and roulette are not offered at these locations because existing compacts and state laws only allow for games of chance played with cards.
Oklahoma is also home to the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville. Boasting 600,000 square feet, the Winstar is the world’s largest casino.
When it comes to sports betting, until the current tribal compact situation is worked out, Oklahomans can travel to nearby states like Colorado, New Mexico, or Arkansas to get their sports betting fix where wagering is already legal.
When Will Sports Betting Be Legal in Oklahoma?
The roadblock to allowing legal sports betting in Oklahoma has often come from negotiating with the state’s tribes. However, in April 2020, the state and two local tribes (the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation) were able to come to an agreement where they would be able to offer sports betting at their casino properties.
The renegotiated compacts also permit the state to open up to five non-tribal retail locations for sports betting as well. Mobile wagering would be allowed, but only while physically inside the casino. But there is an issue.
The compacts were renegotiated by Governor Kevin Stitt and almost immediately after doing so, his authority was called into question. Attorney General Mike Hunter has launched an appeal saying Stitt can only authorize games outlined in the Tribal Gaming Act, of which sports betting is not listed.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court will review the compacts in July and rule on the outcome. If the new compacts are allowed to remain, the next step would be to publish the compacts in the Federal Registrar, though that could take some time.
Moreover, the two tribes who signed into the new compacts did so on their own and have now more or less been outcast by the remaining tribes in the state. They even got a one-year suspension from their statewide organization.
The coming months will play a big role in what the sports betting landscape will look like in Oklahoma. We could see legal sports betting within a year, or we could be in for months of legal entanglements.
Oklahoma Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Oklahoma?
No, sports betting has yet to be approved in Oklahoma.
Are there casinos in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma is home to over 100 casinos that are owned and operated by the state’s 33 local tribes.
Who are the top sports team in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma is home to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA and also boasts several popular collegiate sports teams in the NCAA and NCAAF.
The status of Oklahoma sports betting remains unclear as the governor and attorney general remain on opposite sides of the issue.
Gov. Kevin Stitt approved OK sports betting on tribal land when he renegotiated two tribal gaming compacts. The compacts, signed with the Comanche Nation and Otoe-Missouria Tribe, permitted betting on all but in-state college teams and in-state college events.
The compacts specifically stipulate two retail locations for each tribe at their tribal casinos. Mobile is allowed as long as it is geofenced to the property.
The compacts further say the state could authorize up to five non-tribal retail Oklahoma sports betting locations in the future.
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter quickly disagreed with the governor’s actions the same day the compacts were announced. He later published a formal opinion outlining why Stitt lacks the authority to offer sports betting.
The governor is only allowed to authorize tribes to operate games that are listed in the state’s Tribal Gaming Act. Sports betting, or event betting as it’s called in the compacts, is not listed in the Act.
The future of Oklahoma sports betting
At this point, it’s tough to say what will happen with Oklahoma sports betting. Gov. Stitt hedged his stance on sports betting in Oklahoma with specific text in each compact:
“For the avoidance of doubt, even if it should be found that the State’s conduct of Event Wagering is in violation of the State’s obligations, if any, under compacts with other Oklahoma tribes, such a finding shall have no effect on the Tribe’s right to engage in Event Wagering.”
That makes it pretty clear that Stitt doesn’t seem to think the state has any say in those tribal operations.
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The compacts have not yet been approved by the federal Department of the Interior.
When will online Oklahoma sports betting launch?
If the two approved tribes move forward with their compact as negotiated, the answer could be fairly soon, though it comes with a significant catch.
The use of mobile devices will be limited to when bettors are actually on the tribal property. That means as soon as the bettor leaves the casino, they won’t be able to utilize that mobile betting app anymore.
Tribes could always push for more in future compact negotiations to allow for an open statewide mobile market.
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