The push for the legalization of Oklahoma sports betting by the end of 2024 is officially on. And it may even be heating up.
Entering the start of January, we knew sports betting in Oklahoma would generate. The governor’s office ensured as much. And they did so months ago. Governor Kevin Stitt announced plans to make Oklahoma sports betting legal all the way back in November.
Still, the introduction of a sports betting bill in The Sooner State felt like it would mean very little. Other measures have made it to the House of Representatives and Senate in the past only to fail. The relationship between Mr. Stitt’s office and local tribes also remains touch-and-go. Their dynamic is considered tenuous, if not tense, at best. And multiple outlets have also reported that the latest Oklahoma sports betting bill was cobbled together without first consulting the tribes.
That seems problematic. We already witnessed the downfall of legal California sports betting hopes in 2024 precisely because of this season. (There are others, as well.) Just a couple of weeks ago, it appeared as if Oklahoma would head down a similar path. Sports betting will be discussed, sure. But actually legalized? That’s a different story. It’s a long shot.
Or maybe not. It turns out the addition of other Oklahoma sports betting initiatives could help swing the latest efforts heading into 2024 legislative meetings.
The Reason Why Optimism Surrounding The Legalization of Oklahoma Sports Betting Is On The Rise
Though it initially looked like there might only be one Oklahoma sports betting proposal on the table in 2024, it turns out there will be a few. Nikhil Kalro broke down the latest for Gaming Today:
“The sports betting legalization scrap is heating up in Oklahoma, with the next legislative session set to start next month. Lawmakers have pre-filed a couple of bills, with State Senator Casey Murdock taking the lead with SB 1434. The bill would legalize sports betting with authorization from the Oklahoma Lottery Commission. The state of Oklahoma is one of the jurisdictions in the US where tribal casinos and racetracks dominate the market. The SB 1434 bill outlines all agreements around in-person sports pools with other jurisdictions, including native tribes. Apart from that, Representative T.J. Marti has pre-filed HB 3360 and provides an alternate path for legalizing online sports betting in Oklahoma.”
Neither measure will have trouble gaining the support of Governor Kevin Stitt and his office. He is a known proponent of legalizing sports betting throughout Oklahoma. The presence of multiple bills is considered more crucial for tribal approval.
As is the case in many regions, Oklahoma tribes have exclusivity over all gaming rights. If The Sooner State wants to rewrite their gambling laws, they realistically need to do so in collaboration with their tribes. In fact, Governor Stitt has already tried to bypass some steps only to come up short. He previously negotiated a different gaming compact with select tribes that was widely opposed by the masses.
Putting multiple options in play theoretically gives more for the state’s tribes to consider. That’s a good thing. It also arms policymakers with multiple angles from which to negotiate. That’s another good thing. It should, in theory, increase the chances of effective compromise.
Despite Good Vibes, Legalized Sports Gambling In The Sooner State Is Far From A Sure Thing
While optimism may be climbing, the legalization of Oklahoma sports gambling has plenty of hurdles to clear. Aside from a checkered past between Governor Stitt and many of the state’s tribes, many expect the issue of online sportsbooks in the United States entering the market to be a turning point in negotiations.
Plenty of people fail to realize where opposition over Oklahoma sports betting comes from. It isn’t just lawmakers worried about gambling addiction, spiritual concessions or predatory practices. Many tribes in Oklahoma actually oppose sports betting.
This doesn’t make sense on the surface. After all, if The Sooner State allows any or most of their casinos to get sports betting licenses, the potential for profit is quite lucrative. But although this is true, tribes are worried about online sportsbooks in the USA infringing upon their market share.
Competing with corporate gambling operators is difficult. Bigger sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, et al. have more experience and a larger reach. Retaining exclusivity is important to tribes in many regions. That’s why we’ve seen a handful of states legalize only on-site sports betting. On top of that, we’ve seen states fail to legalize sports betting at all due to the issue of online operators.
Does Oklahoma Sports Betting Have A Real Shot At Success In 2024?
It’s tough to answer this question before Oklahoma legislative sessions begin in February. We will have a better hold of the situation when actual dialogue is taking place.
Still, we remain skeptical that Oklahoma sports betting can get legalized in 2024.
Make no mistake, it’s encouraging that so many parties are interested in having a discussion. But online sports betting in Oklahoma figures to be a major roadblock. We’re not so sure it’s one all sides can overcome.
Policymakers seem intent on including online sportsbooks as part of any legalization. That makes sense. The vast majority of sports bets placed in the United States are processed through online operators. But the tribes, to this point, seem resistant to inclusion of online sportsbooks. That makes sense, too. They have to preserve their own business interests and livelihood.
So where does that leave the topic of Oklahoma sports betting? In a weird spot, to say the least. From our 10,000-foot view, it seems as if the state must better incentivize tribes to work with online sportsbooks. Well that, or the governor’s office needs to warm up to the idea of approving sports betting only on tribal grounds for the foreseeable future.
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