Key Takeaways
- Still Illegal: Despite years of legislative attempts, sports betting remains unauthorized in Oklahoma. Bills have passed chambers but never become law.
- The Core Dispute: Governor Stitt has pushed for commercial operators alongside tribes. Tribal nations and OIGA argue that gaming compacts already provide the framework and that exclusivity should be protected.
- 2026 May Be Different: A voter referendum could appear on the November 2026 ballot, potentially bypassing the legislative gridlock that has stalled previous efforts.
Oklahoma is the 28th largest state by population and home to more tribal gaming operations than any other state in the country. It's also one of the largest states where you still can't legally bet on a football game. That contradiction has made sports betting one of the most contentious issues in Oklahoma politics—and the 2026 legislative session may finally force a resolution.
How We Got Here
The Supreme Court's 2018 decision in Murphy v. NCAA struck down the federal ban on sports betting, opening the door for states to authorize and regulate it themselves. Within six years, more than 35 states had done so in some form. Oklahoma wasn't among them.
The obstacle hasn't been lack of interest. Multiple sports betting bills have been introduced in nearly every legislative session since 2018. Some have passed one chamber or the other. None have become law.
The sticking point has been the same each time: who gets to operate sports betting in Oklahoma, and under what framework?
The Governor's Position
Governor Kevin Stitt has been the most consistent voice against tribal exclusivity in sports betting. His position, broadly, is that Oklahoma should have a "free market" for sports betting—meaning commercial operators (online platforms, potentially retail sportsbooks) could compete alongside tribal gaming operations.
This position isn't new. In 2020, Stitt attempted to renegotiate tribal gaming compacts unilaterally, arguing that compact provisions allowed him to authorize sports betting without legislative action. The Oklahoma Supreme Court disagreed, finding that his approach violated state law. The compacts remained unchanged.
Since then, Stitt has opposed bills that would give tribes exclusive control over sports betting. He vetoed legislation in past sessions and indicated he would do so again for bills that don't include commercial operator pathways. Given that legislative supermajorities would be required to override such a veto, the Governor's position has effectively blocked tribal-exclusivity models from becoming law.
The Tribal Position
Oklahoma's tribal nations, largely unified through the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA), take a different view. Their position rests on several points.
First, tribes already have gaming compacts with the state. Those compacts provide exclusivity rights—tribes pay significant exclusivity fees precisely because they have the exclusive right to offer Class III gaming in Oklahoma. Authorizing commercial sports betting operators would undermine that exclusivity.
Second, tribes have invested billions in gaming infrastructure across Oklahoma. They've built the facilities, created the jobs, and generated revenue for both tribal citizens and the state. A sports betting framework that hands market share to out-of-state commercial operators would redirect revenue away from Oklahoma communities.
Third, tribes argue they're ready to offer sports betting within the existing compact framework. They've worked with legislators on language, supported bills that would add sports betting to authorized games under current compacts, and indicated willingness to pay appropriate fees on sports betting revenue.
OIGA has been clear about its bottom line: any sports betting legislation must protect existing compact structures, follow established statutory processes, and remain economically viable for tribes. Legislation that would allow commercial operators to compete directly with tribal gaming doesn't meet those criteria.
What Happened in 2025
The 2025 legislative session saw the most serious sports betting efforts yet—and the most public confrontation between the competing approaches.
House Bill 1047 would have authorized sports betting through tribal gaming operators. It passed the House but faced opposition from the Governor's office. House Bill 1101 also passed the House, with a provision that would send the issue to Oklahoma voters in November 2026 if other legislative efforts were vetoed or failed.
Senate Bill 585 took a different approach but similarly failed to reach the Governor's desk.
By session's end, Oklahoma remained without legal sports betting. The fundamental dispute between tribal exclusivity and commercial operator access hadn't been resolved—just postponed.
What 2026 Might Bring
Several factors could make the 2026 session different.
A voter referendum is on the table. If the provisions in HB 1101 take effect, Oklahoma voters could see a sports betting question on the November 2026 ballot. The proposed measure would authorize tribal casinos to conduct sports betting with a 10% fee on monthly transaction totals. This would bypass the legislative gridlock by putting the question directly to voters—though it would also require a statewide campaign and public engagement effort.
New legislative proposals are coming. Senator Bill Coleman has indicated plans to introduce legislation that would attempt to bridge the tribal-commercial divide, potentially including provisions for the Oklahoma City Thunder (which has expressed interest in sports betting revenue streams) alongside tribal operators. Whether such a hybrid approach can satisfy both tribal concerns about exclusivity and the Governor's desire for commercial participation remains uncertain.
Political pressure continues to build. Oklahoma residents can drive to Kansas, Arkansas, or Colorado to bet legally. Every year that passes, more money flows to neighboring states' operators rather than staying in Oklahoma. The economic argument for legalization isn't going away.
The Thunder factor. The OKC Thunder's public interest in sports betting revenue adds a new constituency to the conversation. Professional sports leagues have increasingly supported legal sports betting as a fan engagement and revenue tool. Having Oklahoma's NBA franchise actively engaged in the debate changes the political dynamics.
What the Legal Landscape Actually Allows
Much of the debate treats the question as purely political, but legal constraints matter too.
IGRA governs Class III gaming on tribal lands. Sports betting, if conducted through tribal casinos, would fall within this framework. The existing compacts already address how new game types get authorized and what fee structures apply.
The question is whether sports betting can be added to existing compacts through compact amendment or whether it requires new legislative authorization. Different stakeholders read this differently. What's clear is that any framework must comply with IGRA, must respect federal Indian law principles around tribal sovereignty, and must navigate Oklahoma's own constitutional and statutory provisions governing gaming.
A framework that violates compact provisions, undermines tribal exclusivity rights that tribes are paying for, or runs afoul of IGRA's requirements for Class III gaming wouldn't survive legal challenge—even if it passed legislatively.
For Tribes: What to Watch
Tribes with gaming operations should be paying attention to several things over the coming months.
Compact provisions. Do your current compacts address sports betting explicitly? Do they include procedures for adding new game types? The answers affect what legislative action, if any, is required to offer sports betting.
Revenue sharing implications. Sports betting operates on different margins than slot machines or table games. The fee structures that make sense for one game type may not translate directly to another. Tribes should understand what proposed fee rates would mean for actual operations.
Voter positioning. If the issue goes to voters, the campaign matters. Public understanding of tribal gaming's economic contribution to Oklahoma—and of the difference between tribal gaming and commercial gambling—will affect how voters approach the question.
Collective action. Oklahoma tribes have historically benefited from coordinated positions on gaming issues. The sports betting debate is no exception. Unified tribal messaging and legislative strategy has more impact than fragmented approaches.
Sports betting is coming to Oklahoma eventually. The trajectory is clear even if the timeline isn't. The question is whether it comes through a framework that respects tribal gaming compacts and sovereignty, or through one that prioritizes commercial operator access.
The 2026 legislative session and potential November ballot measure may finally answer that question. Tribes, businesses, and stakeholders across Oklahoma should be prepared for whichever path the state ultimately takes.
At Addison Law, we advise tribes on gaming regulatory matters, including compact interpretation, new game authorization, and legislative engagement. If you're evaluating how sports betting developments might affect your operations, contact us.
Need Strategic Counsel?
Navigating complex legal landscapes requires more than just knowledge; it requires strategic foresight. Contact Addison Law Firm today.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice.
Need Strategic Counsel?
Navigating complex legal landscapes requires more than just knowledge; it requires strategic foresight. Contact Addison Law Firm today.
*This article is for general information only and is not legal advice.*