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.
