Oklahoma Legislators Propose Legalized Sports BettingThree Bills Introduced, But Obstacles Remain |
|
The betting windows may soon be open in the Sooner State. Three bills advanced out of the Oklahoma state senate last week that would legalize sports wagering, but may need further negotiations with the state’s tribes.
“They are tools that we are using for negotiations that are going on between a professional sports franchise here in Oklahoma and the tribes,” Sen. Bill Coleman (Republican) told Oklahoma Voice.
Details On The Proposals
The first of those bills is SB125, which would legalize betting for tribes with a compact in place with the state. The bill would include an exclusivity fee for the state’s tribes of 5% to 7% of revenue paid to the state. Of that, 12% would go to the state’s general revenue fund and 88% to the Education Reform Revolving Fund.
Additionally, a small portion of revenue would go to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services “for the treatment of compulsive gambling disorder and educational programs related to such disorder.”
The bill was approved in a 9-2 vote by the Senate Business and Insurance Committee and now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SB525 would allow a combination of the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise and the tribes to host NBA sports betting. The bill allows tribes to host retail sports and mobile betting on tribal land. The Thunder could then operate mobile betting away from tribal land.
The bill would tax sports betting revenue at 10%, but would need an agreement between the team and the tribes. Representatives of the team and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association are set to meet this week. Backers of the bill see the additional revenue for the team as a way to ensure that the franchise stays in Oklahoma. The bill has passed in committee and now moves to the senate floor.
SB164 also advanced out of committee and would charge the state lottery commission with regulating sports betting. The bill calls for an initial licensing fee of $500,000 with an annual renewal fee of $100,000 and a tax rate set at 15%.
However, some worry that the plan violates exclusivity provisions in the state’s tribal compacts. Sen. Casey Murdock (Republican) has called the bill a “work in progress” and a way to negotiate with tribes.
The movement toward legalization comes as many neighboring states now have already legalized betting including Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico. Missouri was the most recent neighbor to legalize betting after voters approved a measure in November. Texas legislators are also now considering allowing voters to decide the issue.
“We’re way behind the curve on sports betting as compared to some of our fellow regional states,” Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association chairman Matthew Morgan said, “and that’s always concerning to us in a competitive market.”
Oklahoma is the sixth-most gambling addicted state, according to a recent study, and is among the states with the most gambling machines available per capita. There are more than 140 gaming establishments in the state, supporting nearly 90,000 jobs and contributing $2 billion in tax revenue as of 2023.
Copyright © 2001-2025
CardPlayer.com. All rights reserved.
