Oklahoma is going to take another shot at legalizing tribal sports betting in 2023. State Rep. Ken Lutrell pre-filed a bill similar to one he filed last year which would lay the groundwork to bring in-person and online sports betting to tribal casinos and racetracks.
Per Lutrell’s proposed law, if at least four Oklahoma tribal nations agree to a tribal-state compact approved by the Department of the Interior, the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission will issue licenses and oversee sports betting.
The scope of the regulations would also allow racetracks in counties with at least 600,000 residents to start offering up to 650 gaming terminals, with the option to add additional terminals after five years of operation. For racetracks in counties with fewer than 400,000 residents, the number of gaming terminals would be limited to 250 terminals.
The particulars of the Oklahoma sports betting elements of the legislation would allow tribal casinos or racetracks to agree to a supplement to their existing compacts. The agreement would require tribal operators to pay according to the following scale:
- 4% of gross gaming revenue on the first $5 million of annual revenue
- 5% on the next $5 million of annual revenue
- 6% of revenue above that initial $10 million
The tax schedule is a change from a flat 10% fee Lutrell proposed last year.
While he did not go so far as to wholly endorse Lutrell’s legislation, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt did Tweet on Tuesday that he is open to sports betting in the state, so long as it is fair and equitable.
Lutrell has time to potentially amend the bill. It is scheduled to be read in committee in early February.
