Will 2025 be the year that Oklahoma lawmakers finally pass a sports betting bill? Two new pieces of legislation have been introduced in the state senate, but there is already some doubt placed on their potential for becoming law.
Senate Bill 125
Senator Dave Rader has introduced Senate Bill 125. Rader’s bill would grant a sports betting monopoly to the four Native American tribes in OK. The state has long struggled with the balance between tribal interests and outside domestic operators when attempting to set up legal Oklahoma sports betting.
Florida sportsbooks are entirely controlled by the Seminole Tribe. California has struggled to usher in locally-regulated sports betting, mainly due to local tribes and their insistence on 100% control of the industry.
Governor Kevin Stitt has been wishy-washy on the subject of legal sports betting in OK and prefers that there be a mix of tribal books and outlets offered by domestic entities like DraftKings and FanDuel.
There are also questions as to whether the tribes would prefer to wait until Stitt is no longer in office to renegotiate current gaming compacts. New leadership may be more in line with The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association’s (OIGA) stance on sportsbooks, and since the profit margins are so slim, every penny counts.
“Any bill that only allows sports betting licenses for tribal entities is a no-go for the governor.”
A Statement From Gov. Stitt’s Office
Rader’s bill would set the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission as the regulatory body. Revenues will be taxed at a rate of 5% on the first $5 million, 6% on the next $5 million, and 7% on any further profits collected.
Senate Bill 164
Senate Bill 164 is sponsored by Senator Casey Murdock. His bill is similar to failed bills of the past but does have the support of the Governor. If it passes, Native American gaming interests and non-tribal entities would be able to offer in-person and mobile sports betting.
The mobile portion is especially important to Murdock, considering the large number of Oklahomans who are traveling into neighboring states to use their sports betting apps as soon as they cross the border.
“I went to a conference last summer on sports betting, and a company that does geo-fencing showed me a map of Oklahoma. You could see people on I-35 headed to Kansas trying to place bets. As soon as they got into Kansas, you saw massive amounts of green dots…”
Senator Casey Murdock
The bill places the Oklahoma Lottery Commission in charge of local sportsbooks. Initial licensing would be $500,000, and operators would be required to pay a $100,000 renewal fee each year.
The Commission would be tasked with maintaining a fund of no less than $1 million dedicated to problem gambling assistance.
The bill carries with it an effective date of November 1, 2025, giving locals a chance to bet on the NFL before the 2025-26 season concludes.
The Oklahoma Legislature ends on the last Friday in May.
Sources:
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