Oklahoma Once Again Exploring Legalized Sports Betting

• Sen. Bill Coleman (R-10) recently held the legislature’s first-ever interim study on sports betting
• Stakeholders discussed reached a consensus on the framework for legalized sports betting in the Sooner State
• The Oklahoma City Thunder is hoping to play a primary role in the potential new sports betting market

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Oklahoma will likely once again explore legalized sports betting during its upcoming legislative session.

Sen. Bill Coleman (R-10) recently hosted the legislature’s first-ever interim study on sports betting through the Senate Business and Insurance Committee, which brought stakeholders together to discuss a consensus on a framework for legalized Oklahoma sports betting.

“Oklahomans are already placing bets by crossing state lines or turning to illegal platforms,” Coleman said during the study. “Right now, none of that activity is happening in a safe, regulated environment that generates tax revenue for the state. Legalizing sports betting would eliminate the black market and give the state and its partners the resources to identify and help problem gamblers.”

Oklahoma City Thunder Want In

Sports betting was a hot topic during the last Oklahoma legislative session. Several legislators introduced bills to legalize sports betting in the Sooner State, but none were able to cross the finish line. Even if they had been approved, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) made it no secret that he did not support legislation that provided Oklahoma tribes with exclusive control over sports betting, instead favoring a “free market solution” for the state.

Stitt noted on several occasions last year he would veto any bill that gave exclusive sports betting control to the tribes.

Last year, Coleman introduced SB 585, the “Thunder Bill,” the only piece of legislation to allow outside interests to participate in sports betting. His legislation allowed the 38 recognized Oklahoma tribes to offer retail sports betting at tribal casinos and online sports betting on tribal lands, but also allowed the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire a sports betting license.

According to the document, the Thunder would “have the right to sublicense the event wagering license to one tribal-approved operator for mobile and in-person event wagering on nontribal land.”

Oklahoma City Thunder Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Will Syring, who attended last week’s sports betting study, said the Thunder support legalized sports betting and hope to play a primary role in its legalization.

According to Alexia Aston of The Oklahoman, Syring said the Thunder hope to be able to procure a retail and online sports betting license and offer them to an online sports betting company and tribe.

All revenues generated from the two Thunder licenses would be shared with collective Oklahoma tribes, Syring said, with the franchise receiving 0.25% of the total handle, the same rate as the federal excise tax on sports betting.

Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association Chairman Matthew Morgan said during the study that his member tribes want to see “sports betting legalized in a manner that respects Oklahoma’s state-tribal gaming compacts.”

The tribes have had discussions regarding a framework for online sports betting, including potential revenue-sharing models and partnerships with online operators.

“This study was about getting everyone in a room to figure out how we can come together to legalize sports betting next session,” Coleman said. “This is a real chance to create new economic opportunities and revenue streams for our state and our tribes while supporting local sports teams like the Thunder. I’m ready to do my part to get it done.”

NBA and Sports Betting Have Had Interesting Week

Discussions between the Thunder, tribes, and Oklahoma legislators came exactly one day before news broke of two indictments involving current NBA player Terry Rozier, NBA coach Chauncey Billups, and former player and coach Damon Jones.

On Friday, Oct. 24, it was reported that Miami Heat guard Rozier had been arrested through a federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for potentially manipulating a 2023 game performance as part of an illegal sports betting ring. Shortly after, news also broke that current NBA coach and hall of fame member  Billups and former NBA player and coach Jones had also been arrested for their roles in an illegal poker scheme involving New York families of the mafia.

Jones was involved in both the poker and sports betting indictments.

The sports betting case, dubbed “Operation Nothing But Net” by the FBI, involved similar individuals who also orchestrated the sports betting scheme involving former Raptors center Jontay Porter.

Six individuals were arrested, including Rozier, for their roles in manipulating the outcome of game performances. A federal investigation for Rozier was announced in January, centering around a March 23, 2023 game when Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier played less than 10 minutes in the game after leaving with what was described as a foot injury. Rozier averaged more than 35 minutes a game that season.

The individuals involved in the conspiracy knew when specific players would be sitting out futures games or who planned to pull themselves out of competition early, for purported injuries of illnesses.

The defendants placed bets on games involving the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, and Portland Trail Blazers, he said. They did so through online sports betting platforms and in-person at casino sportsbooks.