Oklahoma Moves One Step Closer To Legal Sports Betting In Casinos

Sports viewing across Oklahoma could soon look a whole lot different, as the state and tribes are one step closer to cashing in on a growing, multi-billion dollar industry.

"I'm excited about this,” said Ken Luttrell. “I know many of the tribes are excited about this."

Ponca City Republican Ken Luttrell filed House Bill 3008 On Monday. It would amend tribal gaming compacts and give casinos in the state the chance to offer in-person betting on sports.

"We want to get Oklahoma out there in front of the curve so Oklahoma citizens aren't leaving the state and going across state lines to Kansas or Arkansas and spending their hard-earned dollars over there giving them to another state," said Luttrell.

For decades, sports betting was illegal in most of the country, until a 2018 Supreme Court decision gave individual states the right to regulate sports betting. Since then, 30 states have legalized it in some form with 15 others, including Kansas and Missouri, considering it. An added hurdle for Oklahoma though is tribal gaming and compacts already in place.

"If gaming is going to expand in Oklahoma, it has to be done through the tribes as the operators," said Matthew Morgan.

Morgan is the chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, a group that represents tribes in the gaming industry. Ever since the Supreme Court's decision, Morgan says tribes have been educating themselves and discussing the opportunity.

Both Morgan and Luttrell say that details of the bill can be negotiated, and like other gaming, the state would receive a portion of winnings. An amount Luttrell estimates could be between 200 to 240 million dollars per year directly to Oklahoma.

"If this is something that our customers want and makes economic sense for both the tribes and the state, I think it should behoove us to explore that conversation," said Morgan.

If passed, sports betting could go into effect later this year.

Governor Kevin Stitt and the tribes have had some disagreements recently about gaming compacts. In a statement today his office says, "Governor Stitt is open to any compact as long as it is a fair deal, enforceable, and provides the transparency and accountability all 4 million Oklahomans deserve."