What Are The Odds? Gov. Stitt Says Sports Betting On Oklahoma's Horizon

Americans are expected to place nearly 8 billion dollars in legal bets on this weekend’s big game, however you can’t do that in Oklahoma, at least not legally.

Just as the NFL season comes to a close, Oklahoma lawmakers are getting back to work. Some are optimistic this could be the year sports wagering is legalized in Oklahoma.

The Sooner State is one of 14 states without any form of legal sports betting. With horse racing, electronic gaming, ball and dice, table games, even bingo legalized, it begs the question: ‘why is the state missing out on tens of millions of dollars in annual tax revenue when it comes to sports?’

“I just want Oklahoma to know that I want to get rolled out for them because I think Oklahomans want it,” Gov. Kevin Stitt told News9.

Since the United State Supreme Court legalized sports betting in 2018, bets once left to neighborhood bookies have emerged as a multi-billion-dollar industry.

“Literally every weekend, Oklahomans bet millions of dollars with out of the country sports betting operations,” Rep. Ken Luttrell, R- Ponca City, said. 

But it’s not just overseas operations anymore, in fact, it’s knocking on Oklahoma’s front door. Last year Kansas joined Arkansas and New Mexico becoming our most recent neighbors with in-person and online sports wagering.

“If you have your cell phone, you have an app you’re able to go into the state and you can drive literally right over the border,” sports betting analyst Jack Ross said. Ross, better known as Fat Jack to the sports betting world, is a regular contributor to ESPN, FOX and Sirius XM. He’s also on the national syndicated sport gambling show Beat the Odds.

Gambling on sports really is that easy, crossing the Kansas state line and downloading one of five sports betting apps. In the first three months sports betting was legal in the sunflower state, more than half a billion dollars was wagered, generating the state around $11 million in tax revenue. 

Kansas betting apps offer lucrative incentives, like a first bet of just $5 offered with $200 in free bets. But if an Oklahoman does come out on top after the big game, they’ll have to cross back into Kansas to claim their cash, as the state of Kansas takes their tax dollars.

Back in Oklahoma, Ross said “It’s like a couple of divorced parents who are fighting over the children.”

Ross said even while it is outlawed, Oklahoma has one of the most pervasive sports gambling scenes in the country.

“I’m from Oklahoma. I started my business in Oklahoma. I raise my kids here and never got to a point where I felt the need to move to a state that has legalize sports gambling,”Ross said.

 At this point, holding out on sports betting only hurts the state, Ross said.

“The big loser is the state not being able to benefit from the revenue that’s generated, taxable revenue that’s generated,” Ross said. “I don’t know that it matters where they put it, if you have extra money, you can do something positive with it.”

At the state capitol – lawmakers will once again consider a bill to legalize sports betting, a measure that stalled out last year.

“You know, there’s a good chance it does,” Stitt said when asked if there’s any chance the bill gets taken up. “We’ve been studying it, talking to the Thunder, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.”

A spokesman for the OKC Thunder said they’re actively engaged with state and tribal leaders and are involved in the process.

“The Thunder fully supports legal sports betting for Oklahoma,” Thunder VP for Corporate Communications Dan Mahoney said. “36 other states currently have sports betting, and like other pro teams in those states, we are excited about the possibilities it would offer our fans and their engagement with the NBA and the Thunder throughout our state.”

But if sports betting could be so lucrative for Oklahoma, why has it taken so long to implement?

“I think we just haven’t taken it up to be quite honest with you, because there’s a difference of opinion on how to roll it out but let’s get it done for Oklahomans,” Stitt said.

“Number one,” Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association Chairman Matthew Morgan said, “the tribes have to be the operator. There’s no getting around that.”

Morgan said his member tribes are highly interested, some even preparing their facilities sport books build-outs should sport betting become legal. 

Following Stitt’s election last November over vocal opposition from the Five Tribes, Morgan said, tribal leaders hope to have “a very positive and productive relationship with the governor, no matter who’s in the seat.”

“The campaign is over,” Stitt said. “Let’s not bring yesterday's battle into this year. God gives us a brand-new morning every day, he gives us a brand-new year to set new goals. I’ve got a new term, so let’s not be bringing in all battles and old relationships.”

“I think this is the year for it,” Luttrell said.

Luttrell is the co-chair of the Native American Caucus and has authored a bill setting up a sliding scale for tax collections. Something he says is fair to all sides.

If this bill were made into law, one might wonder who ‘loses’ in this situation.

“The state of Oklahoma and the citizens of the state of Oklahoma. It’s throwing money away. We’re not getting our share of what we should be getting, that is gone anyway whether it’s with the illegal bookie down the street or an entity out of the Caribbean,” said Luttrell.

The Republican leader of the State Senate, Pro Tem. Greg Treat, said he has had productive talks with a number of Tribal leaders

“I want to have this conversation in a methodical and respectful manner that benefits both Oklahoma and the tribal nations within our state," Treat said in a statement.

 House Speaker Charles McCall calls it a complex issue that he’s open to exploring in the upcoming session.

“Let’s get it done for Oklahomans,” Stitt said. “Let’s make sure it’s transparent. Make sure it’s fair. Make sure it’s auditable.”

“We’re willing and able and ready to start working with the stakeholders here, too, if they want to make an offer,” Morgan said. “I think we’re ready to listen and assist in their efforts.”