Several attempts at passing sports betting legislation in this session alone have gone for naught, but the most promising of those measures has recently been pulled only hours before subcommittee consideration.
All Bets Are Off
Several sports betting bills have stalled during this legislative session, but one that appeared to be gaining traction has hit a significant roadblock. The bill in question would allow retail sportsbooks at all of Oklahoma’s tribal casinos and allow the gaming tribes to accept online wagers within tribal lands.
It would also permit the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder to partner with a third-party operator to offer mobile betting on non-tribal territories, including Oklahoma City’s metro area and the state’s Northwestern corner.
Pulled Before Play
A subcommittee of the House of Representatives Appropriations and Budget Committee was scheduled to discuss a Senate sports betting bill, but it was pulled from the agenda and will not be heard. Had it advanced, it would have gone before the full House Appropriations and Budget Committee before it would then land on the House floor for a full vote.
The Native American gaming tribes jealously guard their monopoly on casino gambling in the state. Oklahoma has more tribal casinos per capita than any other state, and the tribes have been unwilling to allow third-party platform providers to enter the mobile sports betting market without their control.
However, this bill seemed to narrow that bridge as the tribes appeared amenable to the NBA’s Thunder working with a national platform provider in a portion of the state that was non-tribal land. Nevertheless, Governor Kevin Stitt has vowed to veto any bill that does not open the market up to multiple third-party mobile sports betting platforms, and his opposition has derailed many previous attempts.
Governor Stands Firm
The standoff between Governor Stitt and the state’s gaming tribes is well documented, and although the latter has slightly softened their position, the governor remains resolute regarding his demand for an open mobile sports betting market. Yet, many of the lawmakers are standing united with the tribes.
“We’re not having to reinvent the wheel here. There’s a market for this,” Stitt said. “I introduced what would be a great, great bill for Oklahoma a couple years back.”
“Some of the bills that you’re seeing come through, which I’m not supporting, and I would absolutely veto any of the bills that hit my desk, are exclusively giving a monopoly to the tribes. It’s not transparent. It’s not a fair deal; not everybody could do it,” Stitt said earlier this year. However, Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton has been on the side of the spectrum, stating, “That’s his decision to make, and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
State Senator Kyle Hilbert echoed Paxton’s sentiments, saying, “I am not going to support sending legislation to the Governor on sportsbooks that does not include the tribes. We absolutely must work with our tribal partners.”
“I can’t see a solution where we can pass sportsbooks without working with our tribal partners, as it would also put into jeopardy all of the other agreements we have in gaming compacts,” Hilbert added.
