College basketball, not unlike NCAA football, is a sports religion in Oklahoma. But as betting on the 2024 March Madness tournament reaches its fever pitch, residents of The Sooner State will not be allowed to place wagers of their own. That’s because, despite mutual interest from state tribes and officials, sports betting in Oklahoma remains illegal.
Naturally, this raises the question of why. It’s an issue we have covered around these parts before. In the past, failures to legalize Oklahoma sports betting has come down to shaky relations between Governor Kevin Stitt’s office and the state’s tribes.
Years into the process, very little has changed. Governor Stitt’s poor working relationship with Oklahoma tribes is still among the most powerful forces complicating sports gambling in The Sooner State.
However, this is not the only problem.
Power and Money is Also at the Root of the Oklahoma Sports Betting Issue
On the eve of NCAA basketball Selection Sunday, Michael Dekker of Tulsa World dove into the issues that are most preventing the legalization of Oklahoma sports gambling:
“Despite having more than 130 Native American gaming and casino facilities, Oklahoma remains one of about 10 states that still have not legalized sports betting since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2018 allowing states to legalize it if they choose. So why doesn’t Oklahoma have it? The short answer: Philosophical differences about power and money; and, specifically, over how much money would go to tribes, how much would go to the state and whether Gov. Kevin Stitt and tribal leaders can reach a so-far unattainable agreement.”
Though “power and money” is ambiguous phrasing, it’s at least partially referring to the legalization of online sportsbooks in the United States. Oklahoma tribes aren’t thrilled about—or even necessarily open to—the idea of mobile betting sites in the USA entering their market. As things currently stand, the tribes have exclusivity to all gaming rights inside the state. Adding online sports betting in Oklahoma will require their collaboration and support, not to mention a constitutional amendment and, potentially, voter approval.
Officials who support sports gambling throughout The Sooner State, including Governor Stitt, have yet to foster the necessary dynamic with Oklahoma’s tribes. Granted, this isn’t uncommon. A handful of states have legalized on-site sports betting only in the face of similar philosophical differences.
Why Might Oklahoma Tribes Oppose the Legalization of Online Sports Wagering?
To the tribes’ credit, you can understand their stance. Competing with major online USA sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings would be ultra-difficult. Bigger companies with more established track records in the industry (BetMGM, Caesars, Penn Entertainment, etc.) have even struggled to eat into their share of the USA sports betting handle. Asking localized tribal operations to do the same is unfair.
Sure, any Oklahoma sports betting bill can mandate online sportsbooks partner with tribes and their casinos. But that can still give the corporate gambling sites disproportional control over gaming.
Look no further than sports betting trends in the United States as proof. By the end of 2024, we could realistically find out that 85 percent or more of all wagers placed legally will be processed through an online sportsbook.
Certain regions won’t care about this large gap between on-site and online sports betting. States like Oklahoma are different. It’s not like The Sooner State doesn’t already have a foothold in the casino industry. As Dekker pointed out in his piece, there are 130-plus Native American gaming and casino facilities in Oklahoma. Giving a portion of them sportsbooks licenses would naturally boost their revenue stream. But pitting them against veteran online sportsbooks could theoretically disrupt the entire casino industry.
Can A Middle Ground be Found for Oklahoma Sports Betting?
Most logistical issues at the state level tend to have a happy medium—that spot in which opposing sides compromise and concede and are ultimately okay with the end result. The same should be true of Oklahoma sports betting. But whether the state and their tribes find this middle ground anytime soon is a separate matter.
This is where the rocky dynamic between tribes and Governor Stitt come in. The tribes remain peeved—and arguably rightly so—that he previously tried to alter the state’s gaming compact with select parties. They’re not alone, either. Even members of Governor Stitt’s own political party have expressed shock and dismay over what happened.
Before the issue of Oklahoma sports betting goes any further, Mr. Stitt and the state’s tribes need to be on the same page. Indeed, they need to be actively collaborating. And right now, they don’t appear to be doing anything of the sort.
This can fall by the wayside for stretches at a time. But focus on Oklahoma sports gambling is redoubling with the start of 2024 March Madness. Even if the University of Oklahoma doesn’t make the Big Dance, betting on college basketball is still something that would significantly intrigue local fans.
And rest assured, they will find a way to gamble their money over the next few weeks. Sports betting in Oklahoma may not be legal, but bordering states such as Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado and Louisiana all have it.
Eventually, we expect the revenue potential of sports gambling to win over every stakeholder in The Sooner State. But when will that happen? And what will the legalization of sports betting in Oklahoma inevitably look like? We have no idea. And truth be told, hardly anyone, if anyone at all, actually does.
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