Oklahoma In-Person Sports Betting Bill Passes Subcommittee

An Oklahoma in-person sports betting bill passed the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on General Government 6-4 on Monday.

House Bill 3008 was introduced by Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City. The bill would add in-person sports wagering to the list of games the state could negotiate compacts with the state’s tribes.

Oklahoma Has Tried Sports Betting Before

Sports betting in Oklahoma previously gained momentum in 2020 when the Comanche Nation and Otoe Missouri tribes negotiated gaming compacts with Gov. Kevin Stitt. But the state Supreme Court blocked the deal since the legislature had yet to legalize sports betting.

The tribes and Gov. Stitt’s office have had little discussion on gaming and sports betting since they weren’t able to void the existing gaming compacts. Luttrell is hopeful that this bill will bring more discussion around sports betting and its impact on the state.

“I’ll be satisfied – if this doesn’t go anywhere, if it can’t pass the House, if we can’t get it heard in the Senate – if we can get people to the table for some open, meaningful dialogue,” Luttrell said during the meeting.

Oklahoma Trying to Keep Up With Neighbors

When Luttrell filed HB 3008 in January, he noted how Oklahoma’s neighbors already have legalized sports betting. Colorado has an open online sports wagering market and in-person sportsbooks, while New Mexico is staking retail sports bets. Arkansas is also expected to debut online sports wagering early this year.

"Illegal sports betting occurs throughout Oklahoma, and figures I obtained from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) show 11 offenses recently with tens of thousands of dollars seized," Luttrell told local press members when he filed the bill. "This reflects only a fraction of what actually occurs in our state. The Oxford Economics Group estimates that legal sports betting would generate $240 million in revenue for Oklahoma and create over 3000 direct and indirect jobs. This legislation just makes sense."

HB 3008 will now go to the full Appropriations and Budget Committee for consideration.