Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt doubled down this week on his stance on launching commercial sports betting, promising to veto any tribal exclusivity.
Stitt has been advocating for sports betting expansion for years and published a plan to welcome online sportsbooks to Oklahoma in November 2023. He continues to be clear that he does not believe that tribal exclusivity is the right thing for the state.
“If the Legislature is going to pass sports betting in Oklahoma, it needs to be a fair deal for everyone — not just the tribes,” he posted on social media platform X with a link to his 2023 proposal. “I rolled out a solid, fair plan over a year ago.”
In that release from November 2023, Stitt stressed that his plan “would do it right by allowing tribes to add sports betting onto their existing infrastructure.
Stitt’s plan would legalize retail and online sports betting. Oklahoma tribes would have exclusivity for land-based betting at the state’s retail casinos, which are tribal-owned, but not digital wagering. Online betting would be taxed at 20% and operators would pay $500,000 for an initial license.
Tribes have pushed back, arguing that they were not consulted on a proposal that would violate the state Tribal Gaming Act.
The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association maintains that for tribes to accept online sports betting, proposals need to ensure that they do not breach current tribal compacts and that the system works for all parties economically.
Other proposals vary in tribal approach
While Stitt reiterated his hardline stance, other lawmakers have suggested a willingness to cater more to the state’s tribes.
Last week, a Senate Committee moved forward three sports betting bills, including Sen. Dave Rader’s SB 125. That proposal would amend the Model Tribal Gaming Compact to allow tribes to enter compacts to offer both retail and online sports betting. The bill, which would require the consent of at least four tribes, would effectively keep sports betting control in their hands.
The bill would tax sports betting at 5% of the first $5 million of annual net revenue, 6% of the next $5 million and 7% of any revenue above $10 million. Licensed tribes would be entitled to keep an amount equal to their state payments from sports betting.
“I have constituent after constituent continuing to ask for this,” said Rader this week. “We know we have constituents driving up Highway 75, driving up I-35, crossing the state line, placing bets and coming back in.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Ken Luttrell’s House bills were approved by a 5-0 vote in a subcommittee. HB 1047 would tether sportsbook operators to tribes and tax betting at 10% and HB 1101 would set up a voter referendum on sports betting legalization if HB 1047 does not pass. Luttrell said he met with tribes and the OIGA to take their suggestions on board in an effort to ensure his proposal works for all.
Other bills would let tribes in on the game but allow other operators to join the fray alongside them.
Stitt vows to veto anything resembling exclusivity
In a press conference this week, Stitt declared his intention to “absolutely veto” any bills that reach his desk and propose to give tribes online sports betting exclusivity, which he said would amount to a monopoly
“That’s not transparent, that’s not a fair deal,” he added. “They’re sovereign nations, they’re a separate government coming in and hiring lobbyists to come say what’s good for their nation, not what’s good for the taxpayers of Oklahoma.
“I’m always going to stand for what’s good for the taxpayers of Oklahoma, and I think we need more of a free market accountable system.”
