Governor Kevin Stitt Announces Plan to Make Oklahoma Sports Betting a Reality

Will Oklahoma sports betting become a reality in 2024? If Governor Kevin Stitt has his way, it almost assuredly will.

Now, whether Governor Stitt gets his wish is a different story. He has long supported the legalization of sports betting in Oklahoma. But despite so many surrounding states making the transition, The Sooner State has yet to follow suit.

Ironically enough, Governor Stitt is among the forces that have prevented the passage of sports gambling in Oklahoma. He may support the concept, but his execution has been widely criticized by the state’s federally recognized tribes. In fact, his previous attempts to amend the state’s gaming compact has led to a contentious dynamic between him and the tribes. 

As we close out 2023 and enter 2024, it isn’t clear whether this relationship has improved. But Stitt nevertheless has plans to push for legal Oklahoma sports betting in 2024. Will he be successful? What do these plans include? And has his relationship with the state’s tribes improved enough for them to work together? Let’s see if we can shed some clarity on what’s been a drawn-out issue in The Sooner State.

There Will Definitely be an Oklahoma Sports Betting Bill in 2024

Governor Stitt made this much clear in an official press release dated November 2, 2023. Here is his announcement, along with a quote from the Governor himself, which was posted directly to Oklahoma.gov:

“Today, Governor Kevin Stitt announced his plan to make sports betting a reality in Oklahoma. The Governor’s plan, which would allow Oklahomans to place in-person bets at gaming sites operated by federally recognized tribes, would protect tribal investments in brick-and-mortar facilities. The plan would also allow Oklahomans to place bets on their mobile devices on a sportsbook licensed by the state. Additionally, the plan protects Oklahoma’s student-athletes by prohibiting prop betting and bets on individual student-athlete performance.

“‘I promised Oklahomans if we pursued sports betting, we would do it right— and this plan does just that,” said Governor Stitt. ‘Thirty-five states have already legalized sports betting, and it’ll be a great revenue stream for the state. Tribes will be able to add it onto their existing infrastructure, and Oklahomans can access it right from their phone.’”

This statement answers a big question: Will online sportsbooks in the United States be permitted to enter the market? Many thought the next Oklahoma sports betting proposal would concede that element to help entice local casinos. Tribal operations tend to favor on-site sports betting. And there’s no secret as to why. It prevents them from having to compete with heavyweight United States online sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM and more.

Granted, the inclusion of Oklahoma online sports betting isn’t exactly a bad omen. Plenty of other tribes across the United States have signed off on mobile wagering. It can help juice their revenue when done strategically.

What are the Other Details of Governor Stitt’s Sports Betting Proposal?

The press release didn’t just cover the forms of Oklahoma sports betting that would be legalized. It also outlined some specific details on compliance, procedure, tax rates and more. Below are some of the Oklahoma sports betting bill details that stand out to us:

• Online sportsbooks in Oklahoma would be taxed at a 20 percent rate. Mobile app users will be allowed to place wagers from anywhere in the state.

• The Oklahoma sports betting licensing fee will be $500,000 for online operators when they are first approved. From there, it will cost $100,000 annually to maintain the license.

• All federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma will be permitted to receive a sports betting license. These operators will be taxed at a 15 percent rate so long as all bets are placed in person.

• Oklahoma tribes will be free to enter the mobile sports betting market with their own apps or by partnering with corporations eligible to receive licenses. However, these mobile wagers will be taxed at the same 20 percent rate assessed to other online operators.

• This Oklahoma sports betting bill will prohibit wagers on the individual performances of NCAA athletes, coaches, refs, injuries and prop bets.

• Finally, there is no official plan for what type of NCAA betting will be allowed. Some states have chosen to prohibit betting on teams that play inside the state—unless they’re participating in a tournament, the postseason or a championship game. Governor Stitt is reportedly looking for input from the NCAA and their conferences on how to structure and regulate the Oklahoma college sports betting industry.

This seems like a pretty comprehensive baseline off which to work. And it does seem to take into account tribal preferences. But one question remains. 

Will the Latest Oklahoma Sports Betting Bill Generate Tribal Support?

This is, unequivocally, the biggest question of all. Many don’t see how Oklahoma sports betting can be legalized without tribal support. They still have gaming exclusivity inside the state. If they decide to push back, or to outright denounce the proposal, it will have consequences.

Still, there’s a chance Governor Stitt and the tribes have found a middle ground we’ve yet to hear about. Tribal officials over the summer said they were willing to workshop Oklahoma sports betting with the governor’s office if presented with the opportunity. As far as we can tell, discussions between the sides have not been publicly confirmed. But this doesn’t mean they haven’t taken place. 

Ultimately, though, it all comes down to this. If the tribes get on board, the outlook for Oklahoma sports betting in 2024 is pretty rosy. If they don’t support Governor Stitt’s sports betting measure, well, the issue will likely remain gridlocked until 2024 or later.

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