Oregon, also known as the Beaver State, is a fairly progressive state when it comes to gambling. There is something for everyone here, with gambling options including horse racing and tribal casino games. But with the repeal of the federal sports betting ban, where does Oregon stand when it comes to gambling on sports? Compare.bet has everything you need to know about sports betting in Oregon.
OR sports betting regulation
Is it legal to bet on sports in Oregon?
Yes, sports betting is legal, and live in the state of Oregon. Legal and regulated sports wagering came to the Beaver State in August 2019.
Oregon was one of four states to be granted exemption from the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). These states were granted partial exemption from PASPA as these states had already offered some form of sports betting prior to the enactment of the law.
In 1982, the state lottery was granted regulatory approval to offer a parlay game called Sports Action which involved the National Football League (NFL) games. To avoid infringing on NFL copyright and trademarks, the lottery used city names instead of actual NFL team names. In 1990, the state added National Basketball Association (NBA) games to Sports Action which led to the NBA suing the state. Oregon eventually dropped NBA games from Sports Action because they didn’t generate enough money. Sports Action was abolished in 2007.
Sports wagering returned to Oregon in August 2019, with the launch of a land-based sportsbook at Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. In October 2019, the Oregon Lottery launched its SBTech powered online sports betting platform, Scoreboard.
In addition to sports betting, residents can place pari-mutuel wagers on horse racing events at the state’s horse racing tracks and online, via sites such as TVG, BetAmerica, and TwinSpires.
Where can I bet on sports in Oregon?
At the time of writing Oregon’s residents and visitors can place sports in person at a land-based casino sportsbook, or online via the Lottery’s online betting platform, Scoreboard. Currently, land-based sports wagering is only available at Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City.
What sports can I bet on in Oregon?
Sportsbooks in Oregon can take bets on a variety of sports including football, basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer, NASCAR, boxing, and UFC. Residents can bet on major leagues such as the MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL. However, betting on college sports is prohibited in the state.
OR sports betting revenue
Oregon sports betting revenue
Oregon’s sports betting market went live with the opening of several tribal casino sportsbooks in August 2019. Shortly after this, the Oregon Lottery launched its own mobile sports betting app.
*Data from the Oregon Lottery does not include data from tribal operators.
Complete state reports can be accessed on the Oregon Lottery’s site.
Last updated on 11th January 2022
| Month | Handle | Revenue | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2019 | $5,605,244 | $220,396 | – |
| November 2019 | $17,115,416 | $960,714 | – |
| December 2019 | $22,551,453 | $1,743,231 | – |
| January 2020 | $21,151,604 | $1,773,757 | – |
| February 2020 | $20,899,825 | $1,481,197 | – |
| March 2020 | $9,007,680 | $937,750 | – |
| April 2020 | $4,430,648 | $392,767 | – |
| May 2020 | $7,290,190 | $598,061 | – |
| June 2020 | $7,921,864 | $777,903 | – |
| July 2020 | $14,042,425 | $1,003,037 | – |
| August 2020 | $25,845,403 | $1,662,406 | – |
| September 2020 | $26,174,303 | $1,527,243 | – |
| October 2020 | $29,455,228 | $2,751,147 | – |
| November 2020 | $25,039,884 | $4,116,314 | – |
| December 2020 | $26,987,303 | $3,050,785 | – |
| January 2021 | $34,935,891 | $3,872,604 | – |
| February 2021 | $29,600,150 | $2,684,777 | – |
| March 2021 | $24,054,960 | $1,374,377 | – |
| April 2021 | $25,323,061 | $2,729,277 | – |
| May 2021 | $27,780,213 | $2,350,290 | – |
| June 2021 | $24,903,118 | $2,841,767 | – |
| July 2021 | $18,189,572 | $2,173,572 | – |
| August 2021 | $17,686,198 | $1,063,135 | – |
| September 2021 | $25,070,339 | $1,259,744 | – |
| October 2021 | $37,639,041 | $3,022,298 | – |
| November 2021 | $32,673,216 | $4,428,658 | – |
| December 2021 | $33,743,754 | $2,597,503 | – |
| Total | $595,117,983 | $53,394,710 | – |
Land-based gaming in Oregon
What else can I bet on in Oregon?
In addition to sports wagering, there are several gambling options available in Oregon. Residents can take part in the state lottery, which offers inter-state drawings, as well as bingo and raffle games. Live poker is also permitted at card rooms across the state.
While both land-based and online commercial casino gambling is illegal in Oregon, tribal casinos are legal. There are currently nine tribal casinos in Oregon, operated by tribes that are engaged in Class III tribal-state gaming compacts, which allow them to offer a variety of games such as:
- Blackjack
- Poker
- Slots
- Roulette
- Craps
- Bingo
These are the tribal casinos that operation in Oregon:
| Casino Name | Location | Contact | Opening times | |
| Chinook Winds Casino Resort | 1777 NW 44th St, Lincoln City, OR 97367, USA | +1 888-244-6665 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Indian Head Casino | 3236 US-26, Warm Springs, OR 97761, USA | +1 541-460-7777 | [email protected]
|
24 hours |
| Kla-Mo-Ya Casino | 34333 US-97, Chiloquin, OR 97624, USA | +1 541-783-7529 | Online form | 24 hours |
| The Mill Casino Hotel | 3201 Tremont Ave, North Bend, OR 97459, USA | +1 541-756-8800 | Not available | 24 hours |
| Seven Feathers Casino Resort | 146 Chief Miwaleta Ln, Canyonville, OR 97417, USA | +1 541-839-1111 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Spirit Mountain Casino | 27100 SW Salmon River Hwy, Grand Ronde, OR 97347, USA | +1 503-879-2350 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Three Rivers Casino Resort | 5647 OR-126, Florence, OR 97439, USA | +1 877-374-8377 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Three Rivers Casino Coos Bay | 1297 Ocean Blvd NW, Coos Bay, OR 97420, USA | +1 541-808-9204 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Wildhorse Resort & Casino | 46510 Wildhorse Blvd, Pendleton, OR 97801, USA | +1 800-654-9453 | [email protected]
|
24 hours |
Offshore
Are offshore gambling sites legal in Oregon?
Gambling at offshore websites is illegal within the state of Oregon. Although offshore gambling sites are not explicitly mentioned in the state’s gambling laws, legislation classifies unlawful gambling as anything that is not specifically authorized by the state. Both participating in and profiting from unlawful gambling in Oregon is illegal and punishable with fines of up to $125,000 and up to five years in prison.
Legality aside, we recommend avoiding offshore gambling sites because of the lack of regulation. These sites are not licensed or regulated, which means they are not subject to the same regulatory standards as authorized gambling entities in Oregon.
As a result, offshore sites may not have implemented industry-standard security and player protection measures. There’s also no guarantee that your funds will be safe with offshore betting sites. Whereas licensed operators usually hold player money in accounts separate from their own, or that of any other players, there’s no guarantee you’ll have this protection with an unlicensed gambling operator.
You can spot offshore gambling sites by looking at the website’s domain name – domains ending in .EU or .AG aren’t licensed to operate in Oregon.
Is it safe to bet on sports in Oregon?
Oregon’s gambling industry is strictly regulated and sports wagering is no different. The state places a strong emphasis on player protection and safety, to ensure sports betting and all gambling in the state is safe and fair.
Despite the likelihood that sports betting will be strictly regulated, it is important that punters also take steps to gamble responsibly, never betting more than they can afford to lose. If you’re concerned about your gambling habits or know someone that may be suffering from problem gambling, there are various resources available to you. The National Council on Problem Gambling provides several resources and screening tools to help identify and combat gambling addiction, but Oregon’s residents also have access to the Oregon Council on Problem Gambling, which operates a helpline where callers can speak to a certified gambling addiction counselor for advice and help.
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 Oregon Council on Problem Gambling via:
Call: +1-503-685-6100
Helpline: +1-877-695-4648
Email: [email protected]
Who regulates gambling in Oregon?
The Oregon Lottery is currently responsible for monitoring lottery gambling and sports betting within the state, while the Oregon Racing Commission oversees pari-mutuel wagering within the state. The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) regulates tribal casinos in Oregon.
How old do I have to be to gamble in Oregon?
Residents must be 18 years old to play bingo, bet on horses and play the state lottery. The legal age to gamble at the state’s tribal casinos is 21.
OR sports betting history
The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in Oregon
1933 – The Oregon legislature passed the Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act creating the Oregon Racing Commission. Wagering on greyhound racing at dog tracks began the same year.
1971 – The Beaver State legalized charitable gambling. This allowed businesses to host fundraising casino night events.
1973 – Portland Meadows began offering pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing. The same year the state legalized social gambling, providing the house did not turn a profit from running a game.
1976 – Oregon lawmakers expanded the state’s charitable gambling laws to include raffles and bingo.
1984 – Lawmakers in the state approved a state lottery. This led to the creation of the Oregon Lottery and the Oregon Lottery Commission, the regulatory body charged with overseeing the state’s lottery.
1989 – The Oregon Lottery approved the Sports Action parlay game. This game allowed residents to place parlay-style bets on NFL games.
1991 – Virtual Lottery Terminals (VLTs) were installed in bars, replacing illegally operated video poker terminals. The law that permitted VLTs was later amended, increasing the total number of VLTs allowed in a location to six. VLTs were regulated by the Oregon Lottery Commission.
1992 – Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) placing a federal ban on sports betting across the nation. Oregon was one of four states that were granted a partial exemption from PASPA as the state already had laws in place for legal sports betting. Partial exemption was also granted to Nevada, Delaware, and Montana as these states also had some form sports betting legislation in place.
The same year, Oregon’s first tribal-state compacts for gambling were signed, allowing federally recognized tribes in the state to offer Class I and Class II games.
1994 – The Cow Creek Tribe opened the first casino in Oregon.
1997 – The state expanded upon existing laws to accept electronic bets for out-of-state bets on horse and greyhound racing.
2004 – The very last greyhound race took place. The state no longer hosts greyhound racing events.
2005 – Charitable gambling laws were expanded to include Texas hold’em poker.
2007 – The Oregon Lottery abolished the Sports Action parlay game.
2012 – voters were presented with a ballot question on the issue of allowing commercial casinos to operate in Oregon, which they quickly rejected.
2018 – On 14 May, the Supreme Court reached a decision in the legal battle between New Jersey and the US sports leagues. 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 repeal of PASPA, a number of US sportsbooks launched across the country.
2019 – Oregon lawmakers introduced HB 2288, a bill outlining how sports betting revenue would be spent if the lottery decides to offer the activity again.
In August, land-based sports wagering went live with the launch of a land-based sportsbook at Chinook Winds Casino. The state lottery launched mobile sports betting in October.
For more updates on sports betting in Oregon stay tuned to Compare.bet.
