The push for legal sports betting in Oklahoma has returned for a run in 2025.
Despite several failed attempts in the past, Sen. Dave Rader introduced S.B. 125 on Friday, aiming to modify the terms of the state’s gaming compact with Indian nations “relating to sports pools.”
Radar’s latest legislative measure would permit at least four tribes that already have a gaming compact with the state to enter a new agreement to offer sports betting.
“Sports pools are defined by the measure as any in-person wagering and conducted on a mobile device on the outcome of sporting events or other events, other than horse or other animal races,” the filed bill states.
The bill also proposes new adjusted gross revenue “fees.” Tribes would be required to pay 5% of the first $5 million, 6% of the next $5 million, and 7% of all subsequent sports betting revenue to the state.
SB125 is scheduled for a first reading on Feb. 3.
‘Tense’ obstacle
Sports betting supporters in the Sooner State know not to get their hopes up just because a new legislative attempt has occurred, and it’s unclear if all necessary parties will back the latest proposition.
Gov. Kevin Stitt has long been at odds with the tribes over gaming and sports betting.
“Our governor has just been overtly hostile and antagonistic toward the tribes to the point where he's signing illegal compacts with various other tribes,” Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission chair John Sparks said last summer. “To say it’s been ‘tense’ is very gracious.”
Indian nations are reluctant to enter a revised gaming compact with new terms, regulations, and revenue fees.
The Oklahoma legislature has also been slow to come to terms. Sen. Casey Murdock authored SB1434 last year, but the bill never made it through the rules and appropriates committees following a second reading.
Attractive market
Oklahoma would likely attract major U.S. sports betting operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM if that form of gaming ever does become legal.
The Sooner State has more than 140 casinos operated by 33 tribes across 50 counties. That diversity, though, has likely hurt the chances of getting sports betting off the ground at times.
Still, Oklahoma borders Texas, which doesn’t have any legal forms of gaming and is the second-most populous U.S. state behind California without regulated sports betting.
Sooner State casinos located near the border already successfully attract gamblers from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Texans potentially crossing a state line to place in-person and mobile sports bets could greatly benefit Oklahoma tribes and regulators.
