Sports Betting in Oklahoma: The Stalemate Continues
Posted on: July 12, 2024, 10:18h.
Last updated on: July 12, 2024, 11:09h.
If you’re from Oklahoma or have ever been curious about the state’s approach to sports betting, grab a seat and a snack. It’s a wild ride, and it seems we’re not getting off anytime soon. Recent chatter from tribal representatives indicates that sports betting in the Sooner State may be more of a “no-go” than a “let’s go!” So, what’s the deal?
Tribes Hold the Cards
Matthew Morgan, who chairs the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, recently shared some insights that should make anyone interested in sports betting in Oklahoma scratch their heads. With 25 tribes involved, these folks operate under Class III gaming compacts, allowing them to run all sorts of fun from slot machines to poker tables. But when it comes to sports betting? Not so fast.
Morgan revealed that there’s a lot of back-and-forth about how sports betting would even work in Oklahoma. If you were expecting a smooth talking point with handshakes and smiles, think again. "There was just too much posturing, too much disagreement,” Morgan lamented. It sounds as if bucket loads of red tape are tying down any real conversations with Gov. Kevin Stitt and the state lawmakers. The tribes want fairness. Shocking—right?
Governor’s Proposal? More Like a Bad Joke
Remember last November when Gov. Stitt threw a surprise proposal into the mix for sports betting? It felt a bit like a friend insisting on karaoke night without checking if anyone wanted to sing. Many tribes were left feeling blindsided—nobody asked for their input! The governor’s idea was to expand their gaming compacts to include sports betting while also allowing commercial giants like DraftKings and FanDuel in on the action.
And just when you think it couldn’t get crazier, the icing on the cake was the hefty $500,000 fee that tribes would need to cough up for an online sportsbook license—the same amount that commercial operators would be hit with. Talk about being raked over the coals! The tribes, who understand that online betting tends to dominate the scene, gave Stitt a collective laugh and pretty much shot down the idea before it could gain any momentum.
So, What About the Future?
The landscape around sports betting in the nation is buzzing with excitement. It’s already legal in 38 states, plus Washington, DC. But Oklahoma’s neighbors are out there having a good time with it, especially Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico—four states that have already embraced the thrill of the bets. To top it off, Missouri’s voters will soon determine whether they’ll board the sports betting train too, leaving Oklahoma feeling a tad left out in the cold.
State Rep. Ken Luttrell, one of the voices from the Cherokee Nation, is quite vocal about wanting to keep those betting dollars from drifting into other states. He feels the pressure to find common ground between the governor, the tribes, and everyone involved in the legislature. You can sense his frustration, as it seems there are more bumps on this road than you’d find on an unpaved country lane.
What’s the Bottom Line?
For now, sports betting in Oklahoma looks more like a waiting game than anything else. The tribes express interest in participating but want to make sure it’s a fair process without the state dictating terms like they’re the head of the family. Everyone’s hoping for clarity and progress, but it seems that until the various parties can find common ground, the prospect of sports betting in the Sooner State remains just that—a prospect.
In a world where sports betting is rapidly becoming the norm, it’s hard not to feel nostalgic thinking about simpler times when a friendly football game with nothing on the line could spark joy. Who knows? Maybe someday soon, Oklahoma will join the ranks and let its residents take part in the fun. Until then, we’re left chatting about what could be while enjoying those good ol’ traditional forms of entertainment. Who’s in for some bingo?
