Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is voicing his frustration over failed efforts to bring sports betting to the Sooner State.
Earlier this year, Stitt proposed a plan for retail sports betting in Oklahoma to be offered at tribal casinos and gaming establishments across the state with online wagering offered through the Oklahoma Lottery Commission (OLC). The plan called for retail betting to be taxed at a 15% rate for operators with online sportsbooks being hit with a 20% rate, along with a $100,000 annual licensing fee for market access. Stitt’s plan, first announced in 2023, failed to garner support from Oklahoma tribes. Another proposed measure, Senate Bill 1434, also dissolved after failing to pass ahead of the state’s third reading deadline.
“I’ve studied what other states have done, and there’s 35 other states that have a sports betting system, and so we can see exactly how that’s set up,” Stitt told News 9. “Let’s just get this across the finish line. Maybe we’ll come in and work on that next year, but I certainly want us to get something across the finish line that’s fair for Oklahomans.”
Stitt’s plan failed to resonate with Oklahoma tribes as they believe it puts them in direct competition with commercial operators while taking away their exclusive right to offer regulated sports betting in the state. A gaming compact renewal in 2020 provides Oklahoma tribes with exclusive rights, which were solidified in a legal dispute. Stitt believed the compacts had expired, which led leaders of Oklahoma tribes to sue Stitt in federal court.
“The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association was not consulted prior to Gov. Stitt releasing his sports betting plan,” said the non-profit organization last November. “The members of the OIGA have been preparing to receive an offer from the state on sports betting for the past couple of years, and while we appreciate Gov. Stitt finally joining the sports betting conversation, to date he has not engaged in meaningful and respectful government-to-government discussion with tribes.”
Not enough time in Oklahoma
SB 1434, introduced in February by Sen. Casey Murdock, aimed to allow Oklahoma tribes to offer sports wagering through contracts with the OLC. Under SB 1434, sports betting would be authorized to “sports pools retailers” that are awarded licenses by the OLC.
The measure calls for an initial licensing fee of $500,000, with annual renewals priced at $100,000. Retail wagering would see operators taxed at a 15% rate with online at 20%. The revenue generated betting is allocated toward problem gambling initiatives.
SB 1434, which adds over $9 million a year to the state’s budget, was referred to Oklahoma’s Rules and Appropriations Committees and underwent its second readings but failed to progress ahead of the state’s third reading deadline, which was March 14.
Oklahomans will now have to wait until the state’s next legislative session for sports betting to be reconsidered. Until then, Stitt and other supporters of wagering will remain patient.
