Oklahoma Sports Betting

Online and retail sports betting are not legal in Oklahoma, despite the efforts of Governor Kevin Stitt. In 2020, Stitt signed new gaming compacts with the Comanche Nation and Otoe-Missouria Tribe to allow these Native American tribes to provide retail sports betting. However, neither tribe ever launched a sportsbook, as other state legislators filed lawsuits against the gaming compacts.

Since then, Oklahoma lawmakers have tried to pass legislation to bring sports betting to the state. However, as no legislation has passed yet, the earliest sports betting can be legalized is in 2023. Read this guide written by our betting experts to learn more about the history of sports betting in Oklahoma, where you can go to bet legally, and potential places where sportsbooks can launch in the future.

Oklahoma Legislation Timeline

May 14, 2018: The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) is overturned by the US Supreme Court. This allows each state to legalize sports betting, ending Nevada’s effective monopoly on wagering. 

April 19, 2020: In a surprise move, Governor Kevin Stitt announces that gaming compacts have been renegotiated with the Comanche Nation and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. The renegotiated compacts allow the two tribes to offer sports betting within casinos on tribal land. The two tribes operate a combined ten casinos in the state.

April 20, 2020: Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter declares that Gov. Stitt has acted outside of his Gubernatorial authority in legalizing sports betting. This threatens to derail legal sports betting in Oklahoma.

May 15, 2020: Senate President Greg Treat and House Speaker Charles McCall sue Gov. Stitt for acting outside of his legal authority in legalizing sports betting via the renegotiated gaming compacts.

June 29, 2020: The US Department of the Interior publishes the signed gaming compacts on the Federal Register, in effect, legalizing sports betting in Oklahoma. Despite the compacts being posted on the register, the tribes will wait until the outcome of the lawsuits against Gov. Stitt are decided before launching retail sportsbooks in casinos. 

January 25, 2021: The Oklahoma Supreme Court sides with Attorney General Hunter and House Speaker McCall, determining that Gov. Stitt did not have the authority to legalize sports betting in Oklahoma. The court rules that the governor only has the authority to allow tribes to legalize gambling activities that are detailed in Oklahoma’s Tribal Gaming Act. Sports betting is not one of the listed items. The court’s decision invalidates the compacts published on the Federal Register, making sports betting illegal in OK again. 

February 1, 2022: HB 3008 is introduced to the House by Representative Ken Luttrell. HB 3008 proposes to legalize sports betting in retail sportsbooks located on tribal land. The bill does not include an option for online sports betting state-wide. 

March 2022: HB 3008 does not pass the House floor, ending the chances of a sports betting bill passing during the 2022 legislative session. The next chance for sports betting legislation to pass in Oklahoma is 2023.

Popular Sports to Bet on in OK

If sports betting is legalized in Oklahoma, there will be a wide range of sports markets available to be on. You’ll be able to find betting lines for the most popular sports in the US, including the major leagues, along with smaller events. Check out some of the potential markets that will be available in OK if sports betting launches.

NFL Betting in Oklahoma  

While there is no NFL team in Oklahoma, many fans choose to support teams in nearby states like the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. Regardless of which team you support, you’ll have dozens of different bets available on every NFL game. This includes moneylines, point spreads, and totals. You’ll also find markets like season-long futures on players to win the MVP award.

NBA Betting in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma City Thunder is the only team from the big four leagues in Oklahoma. The team was previously known as the Seattle SuperSonics, before moving to OK in 2008. The franchise won an NBA Championship in Seattle in 1979. The franchise came close to repeating the feat in 2012 but lost the NBA Finals with a team featuring Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Kevin Durant. 

If sports betting is legalized in Oklahoma, there will be loads of interest in wagering on the NBA. You’ll be able to find pre-game and in-play odds for NBA games featuring the Thunder and the 29 other NBA franchises.

MLB Betting in Oklahoma

While Oklahoma has produced some of baseball’s great players, including Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle, the state doesn’t have an MLB team. Regardless, the MLB will be a huge betting market in OK if sports betting goes live. Bets like moneylines, point spreads, and total bets would be available, as well as many prop bets such as first to x runs and number of strikeouts.

NHL Betting in Oklahoma

There are no NHL teams in Oklahoma, and fans tend to choose between teams in neighboring states, including the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. NHL betting will almost certainly be available if sports betting goes live in OK, so you will be able to place single-game bets or combine bets on multiple games in parlays. 

NCAA Betting in Oklahoma

Unlike professional sports, there may be restrictions on betting on college sports if sports wagering is legalized. Some states, like New Jersey, don’t allow you to bet on in-state teams. Others don’t let you place prop bets on athletes. However, it is impossible to know what regulations will be in place until OK lawmakers pass sports betting legislation.

However, if college sports betting is available, there will be a massive market in the Sooner State. Games featuring the University of Oklahoma Sooners or the Oklahoma State University Cowboys would be particularly popular. College football, basketball, baseball, and hockey are all likely to be available to bet on if collegiate events are available. However, it is unlikely college wrestling will be an option.

Where can I Bet on Sports in Oklahoma?

Sports betting is illegal in Oklahoma, but if legislation does pass, it will likely involve retail sports betting at tribal casinos. The state’s governor previously tried to allow sports betting in the state through gaming compacts with tribes. In addition, the state has the second most casinos in the US, only fewer than Nevada, so it makes sense for sportsbooks to partner and launch at these retail locations.

There are 33 tribes that could provide sports betting through more than 130 casinos. The Comanche Nation and Otoe-Missouri Tribes have already shown an interest in launching sports betting by signing updated gaming compacts with Gov. Stitt. Here are some of the locations where sportsbooks could launch if sports betting goes live. 

• Comanche Red River Hotel Casino
• Comanche Nation Casino
• Comanche Star Casino
• Comanche Spur Casino
• Comanche Cache Casino
• Comanche War Pony Casino
• 7 Clans First Council Casino
• 7 Clans Paradise Casino
• 7 Clans Chilocco Gasino
• 7 Clans Red Rock Gasino
• 7 Clans Perry Casino

Bordering States

Oklahoma shares a border with six states, four of which have legalized some type of sports betting. You can cross the borders into these jurisdictions and bet legally as long as you follow local regulations. Here is a brief overview of the sports betting rules in Oklahoma’s neighboring states.

New Mexico

Despite the New Mexico Legislature not having passed any specific sports betting legislation, five casinos accept sports bets because state law does not explicitly prohibit sports wagering. 

The Hilton Buffalo Thunder Casino in Santa Fe, Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, Isleta Resort & Casino, Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque, and Santa Ana Star Casino in Bernalillo all accept sports bets on tribal lands. The Navajo Nation intends to launch sportsbooks at its three land-based casinos, but none of these have launched. 

These casinos offer sports betting on major US leagues like NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB, as well as NASCAR, MMA, tennis, soccer, and golf. Each tribal casino offers different markets, meaning you will only find college sports at some New Mexico sportsbooks. 

There is no option for mobile sports betting in NM, and statewide mobile betting won’t launch without sports betting legislation. To bet, you need to be over 21 and within tribal grounds. 

Colorado

Colorado legalized sports betting in November 2020, with the decision confirmed by referendum. To bet on sports in Colorado, you need to be over 21 and within state lines. Retail and online sportsbooks launched in May 2020, and all apps must partner with casinos located in CO 

Retail sportsbooks are available in three cities in Colorado: Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. However, there are a few tribal casinos in other locations. 16 retail sportsbooks have opened in CO, with operators like Caesars and DraftKings launching sportsbooks. 

Colorado has the most extensive range of options of states neighboring Oklahoma, with 26 online sportsbooks having launched. Major operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars are all available. 

Kansas

Sports betting in Kansas went live in September 2022, and six online sportsbooks are available. These include major US operators like Caesars, BetMGM, and FanDuel. Bettors can place wagers on markets from various sports, including all major professional leagues and college sports. You can use licensed sports betting apps anywhere in the state if you are over 21.

Every betting site needs to partner with brick-and-mortar casinos, and each casino can partner with up to three operators to launch. That means a potential of 12 sportsbooks can launch in KS.

Three retail sportsbooks are also open in Kansas: Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Kansas Speedway, FanDuel Sportsbook at Kansas Star Casino, and DraftKings Sportsbook at Boot Hill Casino & Resort.

Missouri

Sports betting is illegal in Missouri, just like in Oklahoma. Missouri lawmakers have attempted to pass sports betting legislation numerous times, with six sports betting bills introduced to the Missouri Legislature in 2018, six more in 2020, and three more in 2022. Only one has so far managed to pass either House.

Despite this, sports teams and casinos in MO have declared support for the legalization of sports betting. HB 2502 in 2022 made substantial progress in the state legislature, but failed to pass before the end of the legislative session. It became the first sports betting bill to pass the Missouri House of Representatives. 

Arkansas

Retail and online sports betting has been legal in Arkansas since November 2018, when voters passed a constitutional amendment to introduce sports betting at three casino venues. To bet, you must be over 21 and within state lines.

Retail sportsbooks are available at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, and Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis. A fourth casino licensed to provide retail sports betting is currently under construction. 

Despite this, there was initially no option for mobile betting. The Arkansas Racing Commission adopted new rules on mobile sports betting in April 2022, allowing AK casinos to partner with two mobile sportsbooks. 

Each book was required to pay 51% of its revenue in tax, so no major operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM have launched in AR. Three sportsbook apps have launched, and you can use Betly Sportsbook, BetSaracen, and Oaklawn Sports anywhere in AR. 

Texas

Despite repeated attempts to legalize sportsbooks, sports betting is not legal in Texas. Sports betting legislation was introduced in 2015 and 2019 but failed. In 2021, five bills were introduced but each failed to pass the committee stage. 

The Texas Legislature only meets in odd-numbered years, so the next opportunity to pass legislation is in 2023. Commercial casino gambling is not permitted inside state lines either, so if Texas sports betting launches, it will likely operate with an online-only model like Tennessee.

Oklahoma Sporting Events

Along with having an NBA franchise, there are sports events held in Oklahoma yearly which attract the attention of thousands of sports fans. Check out some of the most popular events below.

Golf Events at the Southern Hills Country Club

The Southern Hills Country Club has a long history of hosting major golf tournaments, playing host to the US Open Championship three times, the PGA Championship five times (being the only course to do so), and the Senior PGA Championship once. The most recent event held at the Southern Hills Country Club was the 2022 PGA Championship, with Justin Thomas winning after overcoming a 7-shot deficit to defeat Will Zalatoris in a thrilling playoff. 

Bedlam Series Events

The Bedlam Series refers to the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State University Cowboys rivalry that takes place across many athletic sports. The highlights of the Bedlam Series are the football and basketball matchups, with the Sooners leading the series in both sports. 

In addition, both schools are some of the best in the US at wrestling, with the Sooners winning seven national championships. However, the Cowboys have won a colossal 34 national championships and dominate the event in the Bedlam series.