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Oregon has a unique sports betting situation. Unique because they have a single operator covering the whole state — for online at least. This lack of competition isn’t necessarily the best for bettors, but they still don’t have it all that bad.

You’re going to want to keep reading for our in-depth look at Oregon betting — the good, the bad, and everything in between. Spend the next seven minutes or so with us and you’ll learn everything there is to know about betting inside of Oregon.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Oregon?

Oregon got into the sports betting mix quite early in August 2019. However, it’s not your traditional sports betting market. That’s because there’s a monopoly inside the state. There’s only one operator and that’s DraftKings. They signed an exclusive deal with the Oregon Lottery to provide it early on, and that’s remained the case five years later.

There are some tribal casinos that take in-person bets. However, let’s be real, the sports betting appetite is via online so it’s DraftKings or offshore. The latter is not a bad option because offshore betting sites do work, and some are on par with DraftKings.

International Online Sportsbooks Available In Oregon

Oregon has established a legal framework for sports betting, allowing residents to participate in various wagering activities. However, the state's regulated sportsbooks come with specific limitations that bettors need to consider. For instance, while you can place bets on numerous sports events, Oregon sportsbooks do not accept wagers on political events or entertainment props. Additionally, there are restrictions on betting related to in-state college teams, which can limit options for local sports fans looking to wager on their favorite teams.

This is where international sportsbooks can significantly enhance your betting experience. These offshore platforms provide the ability to bet on political outcomes, engage in wagering on a full range of college sports without the same limitations, and explore a wide variety of niche markets not offered by Oregon’s legal sportsbooks. If you’re interested in betting on local college teams or political events, these international options expand your opportunities considerably.

When it comes to safety, the international sportsbooks we endorse have undergone thorough vetting to ensure they meet high standards for reliability and security. Our team has used these platforms over the years, confirming that they deliver quick payouts, fair odds, and responsive customer support. By choosing these trusted offshore operators, you can enjoy a richer and more varied betting experience while feeling secure about your funds and personal information.

Legal Online Sportsbooks Available In Oregon

Usually, we list a table here with all the legal betting apps in Oregon. No need to do so here, however. Again, it's DraftKings or nothing in Oregon. They have a monopoly on the industry.

Oregon Online Sportsbook Comparison

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This is usually where we compare and contrast different sportsbooks. But we can’t do that in Oregon since only DraftKings is licensed in-state. Therefore, we’ll give a primer on what you can expect out of this platform:

For starters, expect a smooth playing experience. DraftKings is the second-most used betting app nationwide and that’s no coincidence. Bettors overwhelmingly like playing here. Probably because it loads fast, it’s easy to use, menus are well-organized, transferring money is cake, and things just work like they’re supposed to.

But more than that, DraftKings excels at live betting. This is in large part due to its fast, real-time updates and wide range of in-game betting options. The platform’s live odds update in near real-time (thanks to AI technology), allowing bettors to make quick, informed decisions as the action unfolds. In-play is available on all the major sports, and even some smaller ones from time to time.

Bonuses though are a little more “vanilla” at DraftKings. It’s a $250 free play bet that’s unlocked as soon as a better makes one wager for at least $5. We suppose it’s a killer return at 50X, but still, $250 isn’t all that much — especially compared to some competitors. We suppose that happens when you have a monopoly and don’t need to lure bettors away from other platforms.

Anyway, Oregon could've fared way worse having a monopoly with a bad platform. We love free markets as much as the next guy, but DraftKings is a pretty killer option all things considered. The good far outweighs the bad with the platform.

Oregon Quick Facts

FactOregon
Launch date:2019
Legal age:21 Years Old
Online sports betting? Yes
Number of licenses1
Remote registration? Yes
Retail sportsbooks? Yes
Retail casinos? Yes
Online casino sites?No
Online poker?No
Betting on college sports?No
Betting on esports? Yes
State population4 million
State regulatorThe Oregon Lottery
Last verified? September 8
Last updated on: November 21, 2024

What You Can’t Bet On In Oregon

Oregon is known for being very liberal and open-minded, but if we’re being honest, they have some strict rules on what can’t be bet in. Check out markets that are not available in the state:

College sports: this one is crazy. Oregon bettors are almost completely cut off from college betting — and we mean completely. While some states disallow betting on local teams, Oregon doesn’t allow it on anything collegiate, even national teams. We should say this is via the DraftKings app. These markets are only available at tribal sportsbooks.

Online casino: Here again, Oregon has tribal casinos where you can enjoy traditional casino gaming, but online games are not allowed within the state.

Non-sporting events: Non-sporting events such as politics, award shows, WWE, and so on won’t be available at DraftKings or tribal casinos.

If you’re in Oregon and wanting to bet on these things, we encourage you to bet at an offshore sportsbook. These platforms work in the state and have much looser restrictions on what can be wagered on.

Who Can Legally Bet In Oregon?

We’re still shocked about the no college betting thing, but on the flip side, here’s all the thing Oregon bettors CAN do:

Legal age: You must be 21 years old if you’re betting in person at a tribal casino or online through the DraftKings app.

Mobile betting: Yes, Oregon allows mobile betting via the DraftKings app, which means you can place bets from anywhere in the state without needing to visit a physical sportsbook. Oregon works anywhere and everywhere within state borders:

Retail sportsbooks: Oregon also has retail sportsbooks at select tribal casinos like Chinook Winds and Spirit Mountain. These locations offer a more social and immersive betting experience for those who prefer it.

Remote registration: In Oregon, you can sign up to bet entirely online through the DraftKings app. There’s no need to visit a retail location — just a few steps on your phone or computer and you’re ready to start betting online.

Taxable winnings: Any gambling winnings in Oregon are taxable by both the state and the IRS. You’ll need to report your earnings when filing taxes at the end of the year. Whomp whomp, but the tax man always “covers the spread” in this country.

Oregon Sportsbooks & Casinos

Nine tribal casinos dot the state of Oregon. However, among them, only two have physical sportsbooks. They are as follows:

  • Chinook Winds Casino Resort (Lincoln City) offers a sportsbook with betting on various sports, plus slots, table games, and poker. It features an oceanfront hotel, dining, and live entertainment, making it a full-service resort.
  • The Mill Casino (North Bend) features a sportsbook alongside over 700 slots and table games. It includes a hotel, RV park, dining, and entertainment, catering to both gaming and sports betting enthusiasts on the southern Oregon coast.

Oregon Sports Betting Timeline

So how did we get here? How did Oregon become a one-operator state? Let's take you back memory lane, shall we?

The early days of PASPA in 1992 and beyond

However, Oregon was one of the four states of the USA that were grandfathered in when PASPA was passed in 1992, banning sports betting in all states but those select four. Alongside Nevada, Delaware, and Montana, they were given the option to allow sports betting in their state with certain rules and regulations.

They ended up only legalizing parlay betting, with a game called ‘Sports Action’, where they received quite a bit of backlash from the NBA and collegiate programs. In 2005, they shut down Sports Action.

2019 and major changes to state gambling law

In September 2019, a little over a year after the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, the first sportsbook was launched in the state of Oregon at Chinook Winds Casino. The state technically didn’t need any bills to be passed, as they were already grandfathered in, and the laws surrounding Sports Action sufficed to cover sportsbooks in the state.

In October 2019, the Scoreboard sports betting app was launched by the Oregon Lottery, allowing Oregon residents to bet on sports from their smartphones. Other than Chinook Winds, the mobile app was the only way to bet on sports in Oregon, other than offshore sportsbooks.

In early 2022, DraftKings replaced Scoreboard as the state's official sports betting license.

A Brief Timeline of the Legality of Oregon Sports Betting

2023

  • The sports betting handle in Oregon surged in 2022, reaching nearly $500 million, a substantial increase of over $160 million from the previous year in 2021. Additionally, January 2023 witnessed the highest single-month sports betting handle in the state’s history, totaling $62.3 million, almost $7 million more than the prior record set in October 2022.

2022

  • DraftKings Sportsbook officially takes over as the exclusive sports betting app in Oregon.

2021

  • The Oregon Lottery concludes a deal with DraftKings, designating it as the sole online sportsbook in the state. Plans are underway to shut down the Scoreboard app in the coming year.

2019

  • Sports betting is officially launched in the state, with betting available both online through the state lottery’s Scoreboard app and in person at tribal casinos.

2018

  • The US Supreme Court declares PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) unconstitutional, granting states the authority to legalize sports betting if they choose to do so.

How To Bet On Sports In Oregon?

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Besides college sports, Oregon allows you to bet on all markets quite freely. But here’s the ones that are going to get the most attention from bettors:

How To Bet On Football In Oregon?

Football betting absolutely dominates the Oregon scene — and this is without the state having a pro team and not being allowed to wager on the Oregon Ducks. Still, football season is when both sportsbooks and bettors are the absolutely most busy. This all comes to a head during the Super Bowl in February which is the biggest betting event of the whole year.

How To Bet On Basketball In Oregon?

The Portland Trail Blazers are the state’s de-facto home team, which means basketball betting is also a big thing in Oregon. This will only uptick if the franchise can turn it around in the post-Dame Lillard era which is yet to be seen.

How To Bet On Baseball In Oregon?

If you’re aiming to boost your betting profits, baseball might be your best bet. With each MLB team playing a staggering 162 regular-season games, plus playoffs, no other sport offers the sheer volume of betting opportunities. This constant stream of games gives Oregon bettors near endless amount of hearing options half the year.

How To Bet On Fighting In Oregon?

Whether it's UFC, boxing, PFL, Bellator,  Bareknuckle Fighting Championships, or even a Jake Paul circus fight, Oregon's betting platforms have fight fans covered. Fights almost always take place on the weekend so it’s something to “spice things up” from the usual betting markets.

Betting on Oregon Teams

Unlike other states, Oregon doesn’t have many pro teams to lean on. It’s Seattle, not Portland, that houses much of the pro teams in the Pacific Northwest. But there are a few options:

Betting on Oregon NBA Team

That’s right, Rip City still has its Blazers. As the only major pro sports team in the state, they soak up a lot of betting money and mindshare — even when they’re not competitive like the present day. The Trail Blazers are amid a rebuild stage but one or two moves that go in their direction could be enough to re-engage the fanbase, and with that, bettors. Look out for this team.

Betting On Oregon MLS Team

Let’s not discount the Portland Timbers, the state’s MLS team. They — not the Blazers — are the most successful franchise in the state with five different MLS Cups won. This success has nestled a pretty diehard soccer following across the state. MLS might not be one of the “Big 4” leagues, but the Timbers draw crowds and bettors just as well as those teams.

Oregon Betting Revenue Statistics

Despite Oregon’s monopoly-based market, they are not struggling to grow one bit. This is best understood by looking at December 2023 figures. Why that month? Because that’s the final full month of NFL betting, which is where all states make the most money. In Oregon, they hit a record $73 million in betting handle that month. Not only that, but it was up 38 percent from the year before.

Just imagine if Oregon offered more than just DraftKings? The number would be way higher with operators battling each other in the advertising arena, which brings up the whole industry. For now, that’ll remain a what-if because Oregon is showing no signs of opening up to more operators.

Other Types Of Betting In Oregon

Beyond sports betting, Oregon offers several other ways to get action. The most popular is casinos. The state has several tribal casinos that work perfectly fine in the state. These establishments offer slots, table games, and video poker machines — all the casino classics.

There are also two subtypes of sports betting allowed in the state — daily fantasy sports and horse racing. Most states don’t group these two into regular sports betting laws, including Oregon. Nonetheless, all are available to Oregonian bettors.

Furthermore, Oregon has a state-run lottery. Games like the Powerball and Mega Millions attract more bettors than you probably think, and the same goes for scratch-off tickets. Entries can be bought at gas stations and convenience stores.

Sports Betting Rules In Each State

Interested in placing bets outside of the Beaver State? We’ve got you covered! Choose a state underneath, and we’ll guide you through everything you need to know to bet legally. Just click one of the links below for more details:

Responsible Gaming In Oregon

While we’ve been discussing the fun side of betting, it’s just as essential to consider the potential downsides if things go too far. Betting can be an exciting and enjoyable hobby (that pays out sometimes), but if left unchecked, it can lead to financial issues, stress, addiction, and other not-so-good things.

There are warning signs before it ever gets to that point — signs that might not always be so obvious. Here are a few worth keeping in mind:

  • Chasing losses: Continuously betting more to try and recover previous losses.
  • Betting with money you can’t afford to lose: Using funds meant for essential expenses like rent, bills, or food.
  • Preoccupation with betting: Constantly thinking about betting, planning your next wager, or reliving past wins.
  • Escalating risk: Increasing the size of bets over time to maintain the same thrill.

If you ever find yourself exhibiting these signs and struggling with control, seeking help is a smart and proactive step. Oregon offers a range of resources to guide anyone facing gambling issues. Here are a couple of useful resources to start with:

Oregon Problem Gambling Resource (https://www.opgr.org/)

This state-run service provides free and confidential support, including counseling for those affected by problem gambling. The helpline is available 24/7 at 1-877-MYLIMIT (1-877-695-4648).

Gamblers Anonymous Oregon (http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/locations)

A peer-led group that holds meetings across Oregon for individuals looking to address gambling-related challenges. These gatherings offer a supportive, confidential environment to share experiences and seek help.

Oregon Health Authority (https://www.oregon.gov/oha/hsd/problem-gambling/pages/index.aspx)
Offers information on problem gambling services and treatment options.

National resources are available too:

Gamble Aware (https://www.gambleaware.org/)

A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.

International Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.icrg.org/)

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.

24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/)

A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems.