Governor Wants ‘Fair Plan’ for Oklahoma Sports Betting

• Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) wants a fair plan for Oklahoma sports betting
• Gov. Stitt pointed to a plan he proposed in November 2023 as being a fair one
• He does not support tribal exclusivity for sports betting

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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) took to social media this week to throw his support for a “fair plan” for Oklahoma’s sports betting future.

Oklahoma has had a bevy of sports betting legislation action, as three separate bills have moved through a committee as state lawmakers are once again considering legalization this year.

However, Gov. Stitt opposes tribal exclusivity for Oklahoma sports betting and hopes to bring in outside entities to participate in the online portion if the state passes a sports betting bill.

Stitt Points to Own Sports Betting Plan

Gov. Stitt took to his X account earlier this week to once again remind Oklahoma lawmakers that he does not support tribal exclusivity of sports betting.

“If the Legislature is going to pass sports betting in Oklahoma, it needs to be a fair deal for everyone—not just the tribes.”

If the Legislature is going to pass sports betting in Oklahoma, it needs to be a fair deal for everyone— not just the tribes.

I rolled out a solid, fair plan over a year ago.

Check it out here: https://t.co/di7ec8Cwu5

— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) February 24, 2025

He pointed to a plan he introduced in 2023 (and again in 2024) as a fair deal for the state.

His plan legalizes both retail and online sports betting in the state, but does not give Oklahoma tribes exclusive control over both. His plan gives tribes exclusive control over retail sports betting, which will be taxed at a 15% rate, but allows outside sports betting operators to control Oklahoma online sports betting. Operators will pay an initial licensing fee of $500,000 and an annual licensing fee of $100,000 to offer sports betting in the state.

Online sports betting will be taxed at a rate of 20%.

Stitt’s insistence that tribes not have exclusivity over sports betting seems to be in direct conflict with the bills that are moving through the legislative bodies this session.

Oklahoma Lawmakers Yet Again Considering Sports Betting

Last week, an Oklahoma Senate Committee moved three separate sports betting bills out of committee to provide state tribes, and potentially the Oklahoma Thunder, to offer online and retail sports betting in the Sooner State.

The Senate Business and Insurance Committee approved bills from Sen. Bill Coleman (R-10), Sen. Casey Murdock (R-27), and Dave Rader (R-39), all seek to legalize Oklahoma sports betting in different ways.

Each of the bills allow recognized Oklahoma tribes to offer retail and online sports betting, while one also allows the NBA franchise Oklahoma City Thunder to offer sports betting as well.

Coleman’s bill, SB 585, will allow the 38 recognized Oklahoma tribes to offer retail sports betting at tribal casinos and online sports betting off tribal lands. His bill also allows the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire an online sports betting license as well.

His legislation sets the state tax rate at 10% of net sportsbook revenues, which he estimates would see an additional $20 million annual in revenue for the state.

Murdock’s bill, SB 164, authorizes the Oklahoma Lottery Commission to regulate sports betting and allow tribes and certain non-tribal entities to acquire “sports pools” licenses.

A sports pool is described in the legislation as “any in-person wagering and wagering conducted on a mobile device on the outcome of sporting events or other events, other than horse or other animal races.”

The committee also approved Rader’s bill, SB 125, which will allow Oklahoma Tribes to amend their gaming compacts to offer retail and online sports betting in the state. Rader pre-filed his bill in January before the legislative session began.

The bill provides complete sports betting control to the state tribes.