Oklahoma Sports Betting

Oklahoma, also referred to as the Sooner State, is one of the most picturesque US states. With vast mountain ranges, forests, prairies and mesas, it’s home to around 40 federally recognized Native American tribes. These tribes play an essential part in the Oklahoma gambling scene, with 33 having entered into compacts to offer land-based gambling on tribal land. While commercial gambling is not legal in Oklahoma, state lawmakers have expanded regulation to make tribal gambling a possibility in Oklahoma. But where does the state stand on sports betting? Compare.bet has everything you need to know.

Is it legal to bet on sports in Oklahoma?

No, it is illegal to bet on sports in Oklahoma. However, residents can place pari-mutuel wagers on horse racing at racetracks and via online platforms.

In February 2018, prior to the PASPA repeal, Oklahoma lawmakers introduced sports betting legislation. The bill, titled HB 3375, sought to extend tribal-state compacts to include sports betting at tribal casinos across the state. Thought it was ultimately unsuccessful, the bill was unique in that it contained provisions for  “sports pools”, rather than full-scale sports betting. This means that bettors would simply bet on events happening, with all wagers pooled together- similar to pari-mutuel wagering. Any winning bets would be paid out from the pooled money, with a small amount allocated to the sportsbook.

Where will I be able to bet on sports in Oklahoma?

In the event that sports betting is legalized in Oklahoma, there are several tribal gambling establishments that might offer sports betting markets. Online gambling is currently outlawed in the state, which means online or mobile sports betting in Oklahoma is unlikely in the near future.

Which sports will I be able to bet on?

The legislation introduced in 2018 did not specify which sports betting markets would be on offer. However, if future legislation follows the same pattern as other US states, Oklahoma might allow wagering on all professional sports, including NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA events, as well as collegiate sporting events.

What else can I bet on in Oklahoma?

Although sports betting and online gambling are illegal in Oklahoma, there are still several gambling activities for residents to enjoy. These include the state lottery, including several multi-state drawings, as well as charitable gambling, such as bingo and raffles, and casino gambling.

However, it’s only tribal casinos that are currently legal in Oklahoma. These casinos offer a variety of casino games, including blackjack, poker, craps and roulette. The tribal-state compacts entitle some of these tribal casinos to charge a $0.50 commission on table games.

Here are the casinos you can visit in Oklahoma:

Are offshore gambling sites legal in Oklahoma?

Just as online gambling is illegal in Oklahoma, so are offshore gambling sites. This means that they do not hold licenses to operate in the state and are not regulated by Oklahoma governing bodies to ensure the level of security or that they have adequate customer protection measures.

You can spot offshore gambling sites by looking at the website’s domain name. Domains ending in .EU or .AG do not hold a license to operate in Oklahoma.

Will it be safe to bet on sports in Oklahoma?

Yes, providing that any future sports betting regulation puts the same emphasis on player protection as Oklahoma’s current robust gambling laws.

While it’s likely that, in the event that Oklahoma sports betting is legalized, there will be regulatory bodies to monitor their compliance with state law and regulation, sports bettors must also take steps to gamble responsibly. This involves setting limits on gambling activity, and never betting more than they can afford to lose.

If you have concerns that you, or a loved one, may have a problematic relationship with gambling, you can seek support from a number of different resources in Oklahoma. The National Council on Problem Gambling has several problem gambling resources available to everyone across the US, but the Oklahoma Association on Problem & Compulsive Gambling (OAPCG) offers support specifically to Oklahoma residents. This non-profit organization exists to provide education and training on problem gambling.

You can contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline via:

Call: 1-800-522-4700

Text: 1-800-522-4700

Live chat

You can contact the Oklahoma Association on Problem & Compulsive Gambling via:

Call: 1-405-801-3329

Email: [email protected]

Who regulates gambling in Oklahoma?

Tribal gambling in Oklahoma falls under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and is regulated by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). The Gambling Compliance Unit within the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), created under the State-Tribal Gaming Act, is also responsible for making sure that Oklahoma gambling activity meets the minimum requirements set by the state.

How old do I have to be to gamble in Oklahoma?

To play the state lottery or participate in charitable gambling you must be at least 18-years old. The legal age to partake in casino gambling in Oklahoma varies between 18 and 21.

The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in Oklahoma

1916 – The state of Oklahoma outlawed all forms of gambling.

1982 – Lawmakers in the state moved to approve pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing.  A vote was held across Oklahoma’s 15 counties in which 12 voted to legalize betting on horse racing. Further down the line, off-track betting and other gambling machines were installed in the state’s 3 most popular racetracks.

1987 – The Choctaw Indians hosted the first high stakes bingo game on their land.

1988 – Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulation Act (IGRA), establishing rules and regulations for tribal gaming operations.

1992 – Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibiting sports betting across US states. Four states were made exempt from the law: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana. These states had legal sports betting regulations in place.

The first tribal-state compact was signed in Oklahoma. These compacts allowed for Class II gambling and pari-mutuel wagering on horse and dog racing.

The same year, Oklahoma passed the Charitable Games Act which allowed venues to offer bingo, pull-tab games and raffles. These activities fell under the jurisdiction of the Alcoholic Beverage Law Enforcement Commission (ABLE).

2004 – The tribes and the state successfully negotiated Class III gambling compacts. This allowed tribes to expand their operations and open casinos on their land.

2005 – The Oklahoma Lottery was approved.

2013 – Oklahoma tribes were given permission to offer online gambling to international audiences, but not to Oklahoma residents.

2014 – Tribal casinos in Oklahoma reported a record-breaking $4.2bn in revenue.

2016 – Oklahoma’s Iowa tribe launched an international real money poker site. This is still only accessible to overseas players and not Oklahoma residents.

2018 – In February, Oklahoma lawmakers introduced a bill that would legalize sports betting pools the bill was ultimately unsuccessful as the session ended without a vote on the bill.

On 14 May, the Court reached a decision. In a 7 – 2 vote, it was agreed that one of the clauses in PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment, as it commandeered power from states to regulate their own gambling industries. This paved the way for all US states to decide whether or not to legalize sports betting. In the weeks after the PASPA repeal, a number of US sportsbooks launched across the country.

Oklahoma’s lawmakers are now exploring how to go about introducing legal and regulated sports betting operations.

Oklahoma has yet to legalize legal and regulated sports betting, so be sure to check back with Compare.bet for the latest updates on sports betting in Oklahoma.