As one of Oklahoma’s biggest advocates for legalizing online sports betting gets ready to push again in 2026, the Oklahoma City Thunder wants a slice.
Oklahoma Senate Business and Insurance Committee Chair Sen. Bill Coleman hosted the state legislature’s first-ever interim study on sports betting last week with the aim of getting lawmakers to further consider a framework for legal sports wagering that might work for all parties.
“Oklahomans are already placing bets by crossing state lines or turning to illegal platforms,” said Coleman. “Right now, none of that activity is happening in a safe, regulated environment that generates tax revenue for the state. Legalizing sports betting would eliminate the black market and give the state and its partners the resources to identify and help problem gamblers.”
As reported by The Oklahoman, the Thunder’s VP of Corporate Sponsorships Will Syring proposed at the meeting on Oct. 23 a sports betting model that would allow the NBA team or a tribe-led consortium to offer a combined mobile and retail wagering license to tribal and state-approved commercial operators.
Syring suggested that sports betting revenues would be shared among the tribes, while the Thunder would collect 0.25% of total wagering handle.
Thunder included in 2025 efforts
Oklahoma’s NBA team was brought into the fold in proposals debated in the state legislature earlier in 2025.
An amendment made to Coleman and Rep. Ken Luttrell’s Senate Bill 585 in February would have authorized the would-be regulator, the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, to issue one license to the Thunder and allow the team to partner with a tribal-approved mobile sportsbook.
Coleman estimated at the time that the state could make $20 million in total annual tax revenue from that proposal, which would tax online sports betting at 10%.
That bill passed the Senate in late March but did not advance beyond committee stage in the House. Two House bills from Luttrell to legalize sports wagering also passed their chamber of origin but faltered after crossing over. All three are eligible to be heard again when the next legislative session begins in February.
Tribes and Gov. Stitt hold the key
Oklahoma is one of 11 states yet to legalize sports betting and all of its border states other than Texas let sportsbooks do business.
At the heart of the conversations in legislature for several years have been the state’s tribes. Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) Chairman Matthew Morgan said the member tribes support the idea of legalizing sports betting as long as the operating model respects the tribal gaming compacts by putting the tribes front and center.
The proposal outlined by Syring would geofence the activity of the NBA team license to non-tribal territory in Oklahoma, while betting on each tribal territory would be run by the relevant tribe and its partner operator.
“If we can find a way forward and work with the Oklahoma City Thunder, that’s what we want to keep in mind as we move forward,” he said, per The Oklahoman. “They’re a big part of the discussion and someone we want to ensure that we listen to their voice and their thoughts.”
Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt staunchly opposes tribal exclusivity for betting and vowed to veto any bill that would give them what he sees as a monopoly.
“This study was about getting everyone in a room to figure out how we can come together to legalize sports betting next session,” Coleman added. “This is a real chance to create new economic opportunities and revenue streams for our state and our tribes while supporting local sports teams like the Thunder. I’m ready to do my part to get it done.”
