Oklahoma Sports Betting Bill Hits a Wall
Oklahoma’s latest stab at legalizing sports betting is stuck in neutral. Senate Bill 585, dubbed the “Thunder Bill,” sailed through the Senate. But the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee shelved it hours before a planned hearing, tossing another wrench into a years-long push.
Thunder Bill Stalls Amid Tensions
The bill promises online and in-person sports wagers via the state’s federally recognized tribes and even a license for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s not dead yet, just delayed, again, leaving backers scrambling to keep the dream alive.
The bill’s got solid bones. It greenlights tribes to run sportsbooks in their casinos and offer online betting on tribal lands, while handing the Thunder a slice of the action.
A 10% tax on net betting revenue could pump $20 million yearly into state coffers, per estimates. With neighbors like Arkansas, Colorado, and Kansas cashing in on legal sports betting, and Missouri gearing up for a 2025 launch, Oklahoma’s eyeing a piece of that pie. But tribal turf wars and a governor’s veto threat have the whole thing teetering.
Tribal Power vs. Open Market
Ttribes want it all. Oklahoma’s got a big tribal footprint, and dozens of casinos, and they’re pushing to keep their exclusive grip on gambling, including sports bets. SB 585 fits that mold, letting them handle in-person and online wagers on their land.
They’re open to teaming up with heavy hitters like FanDuel or DraftKings, but the catch is control. Two House bills, HB 1047 and HB 1101 from Rep. Ken Luttrell, double down on that exclusivity, passing the House but stalling in the Senate’s Business and Insurance Committee.
Governor Kevin Stitt’s not buying it. He’s all-in on a wide-open market: tribes, commercial operators, maybe even racetracks or the lottery, all in the mix.
“I’ll veto any bill giving tribes sole rights,” he’s warned, dead-set against locking out competition. That clash, tribal lock versus free-for-all, has SB 585 spinning its wheels. If it sticks to tribal turf, Stitt’s pen stays capped. If it opens up, tribes might balk. Either way, the deadlock’s real.
A Stalled Saga
This isn’t new. Oklahoma’s been kicking this can since the 2018 PASPA repeal unleashed sports betting nationwide. SB 585 looked like a breakthrough, blending tribal muscle with a nod to the Thunder’s clout.
But the House punt echoes last year’s flops: two Luttrell bills cleared one chamber only to fade in the other. The Thunder Bill’s delay doesn’t kill it outright; it’s still got a pulse. Lawmakers could revive it later this session, but time’s ticking, and the rift’s wide.
What’s at stake? A $20 million tax haul’s no chump change, and Oklahoma’s missing out while neighbors rake it in. Tribes could flex their casino network, but Stitt’s vision sees urban hubs like OKC buzzing too. Without a deal, it’s a fragmented mess: tribal zones might bet, but city people won’t.
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