Oklahoma Advances Sports Betting Bills Amid Governor’s Opposition
OKLAHOMA CITY – Two sports betting bills approved by the Oklahoma House are moving closer to Governor Kevin Stitt’s desk, despite his vocal opposition. The Senate Business and Insurance Committee recently greenlit Rep. Ken Luttrell’s identical bills, HB 1047 and HB 1101, which now advance to the Senate floor for further consideration.
Both bills would permit Oklahoma tribes to amend their gaming compacts, allowing for in-person and online sports betting exclusively on tribal lands. Notably, HB 1101 includes a provision for a voter referendum in 2026, which would enable the public to decide on sports betting if the governor vetoes HB 1047.
Luttrell argues that the legislation ensures that control of sports betting remains with Oklahoma’s tribes, imposing a 10% fee on adjusted sports betting revenues for licensed tribes. This is in stark contrast to Governor Stitt’s stance; he insists that any bill granting exclusive tribal control is unacceptable and has vowed to veto such proposals unless they incorporate a “free market solution.”
Stitt has expressed frustration over being excluded from discussions regarding the bills, emphasizing that taxpayers are not adequately represented in the current negotiations. However, should both bills pass, HB 1101 offers a strategic safety net by allowing voters to have the final say at the polls.
Senator Bill Coleman, who sponsors one of the bills, claims the legislation could generate $42 million annually if enacted. While another Senate-approved sports betting bill, the “Thunder Bill,” has been withdrawn recently, it initially sought to allow both tribal and outside entities, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, to obtain sports betting licenses.
As Oklahoma inches closer to potentially legalizing sports betting, the legislative outcome hangs in the balance amid ongoing debates over tribal versus commercial interests.
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