Oklahoma sports betting bills advance
An Oklahoma Senate panel advanced two sports wagering bills on 25 April, taking a step toward legalizing sports betting in the state following years of failed attempts.
Sen. Bill Coleman, the measure’s author, reported that House Bill 1047 and House Bill 1101 passed the Senate Business and Commerce Committee by votes of 8-1 and 6-3, respectively. This is the first Senate committee to advance sports betting legislation.
House Bill 1047 would grant Oklahoma’s tribes exclusive rights to offer sports betting, with a 10% fee paid to the state. The measure requires a supplement to the Model Tribal Gaming Compact, which gives tribes sole authority over certain Class III gaming, such as slots and roulette.
Coleman estimated the bill could generate US$14 million to US$142 million annually for Oklahoma, citing Kansas, where sports betting yielded US$165 million in revenue last year, with the state receiving about 10%.
If House Bill 1047 fails or is vetoed by Governor Kevin Stitt, who opposes tribal exclusivity, House Bill 1101 would allow Oklahomans to vote on legalization.
Coleman noted that a similar approach was used in 2003, when the Oklahoma Legislature put lottery questions on the ballot. This led to the establishment of the Oklahoma Lottery in 2005, which has since contributed over US$1.3 billion to education.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert acknowledged sports betting’s prevalence and emphasized the need for a regulatory framework in collaboration with tribal partners.
