Oklahoma state Rep. Ken Luttrell recently filed House Bill 3008, which would expand tribal gaming compacts to include pooled sports betting, with the state receiving 10 percent of net winnings. Luttrell said Oxford Economics Group estimated legal sports betting would generate $240 million in revenue for Oklahoma and create more than 3,000 jobs. “This legislation just makes sense,” Luttrell said.
Matthew Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said when the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for legalized sports betting, Oklahoma tribes expected to be allowed to quickly add sportsbooks at their casinos. He stated, “The ball is in the legislature’s court. It’s all determined by what House and Senate leadership wants and whether it is on their agenda.”
Morgan said once a measure, such as Luttrell’s, would become law, a formal offer would then be made to tribes. “You can add supplements to compacts, but it has to be proposed by the state. The offer has to come from the state to the tribes. Also, the offer has to make economic sense. Tribes would be the ones taking all the economic risk,” Morgan said.
He pointed out although legalized sports betting continues to grow in popularity, typically it has a “low margin of operation.” He said, “From what I’ve looked at, with a $100 wager, the operator might make $2 to $4.”
Morgan added, “It’s not like sports betting will be brand new. Oklahomans are getting on the internet every day and placing illegal bets in the sports market.” They’re also traveling to nearby states where sports wagering is legal. “There’s no doubt that bettors will drive to partake in their entertainment purposes,” he said.
“I think tribal leadership is always willing to step up and have that gaming conversation. There is a good relationship with legislative leaders. But it also depends on the governor. The relationship with the governor has not been there. That’s unfortunate. That’s a sad situation for everybody. We’re not meeting our potential. We’re not doing everything that can possibly be done,” Morgan said.
Governor Kevin Stitt’s office responded in a statement, “Governor Stitt is open to any compact as long as it is a fair deal, enforceable and provides the transparency and accountability all 4 million Oklahomans deserve.”
