The Oklahoma Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget recently voted 22-16 against SB 857, which would have allowed roulette and craps in tribal casinos and permitted tribes to run sports betting if the federal government authorized it in Oklahoma. Supporters said the measure would have helped plug the 8 million gap in the upcoming fiscal year budget.
Senate Republicans and House Democrats presented dueling versions of the legislation on May 8. Republican Senate leaders presented the measure as part of a package to help raise $400 million in revenue to balance the budget. However, anti-gambling Senate Pro Tem Mike Shultz opposed the proposal.
Meanwhile in budget negotiations House Democrats requested allowing roulette and dice games at tribal casinos in exchange for votes on a cigarette tax—but the deal fell apart. Both groups held press conferences blaming the other for not finalizing a new budget.
Legislators will have to advance the House bill or negotiate a new version that would restart the process. House spokesman Jason Sutton did not say if another bill will be introduced.
Under state law, legislators are required to present a budget to Governor Mary Fallin before the session ends May 26. Fallin has said she’s willing to remain at the Capitol as long as it takes lawmakers to reach an acceptable a budget agreement that avoids making “draconian cuts.” She stated, “If I have to veto the budget because we don’t get our work done, and we devastate our state agencies and not fund core mission services that our citizens actually demand that we do, then I’m willing to veto the budget.”
If that occurs and lawmakers require a 30-day special session to hammer out an agreement, taxpayers could be on the hook for more than $900,000 at $30,300 per day, state House and Senate officials said.
House Speaker Charles McCall said, “We are committed to working whatever hours we need to between now and the required session deadline to get the budget in place that will not require us to be in special session.”
