Oklahoma House Subcommittee Axes Sports Betting Bill Hearing

Oklahoma’s efforts to legalize betting on sports have been set back once again as lawmakers removed the bill from discussion hours before a scheduled committee debate. While this doesn’t spell the end of the measure, it is yet another challenge sports betting advocates must overcome.

The Bill’s Hearing Was Stalled

Oklahoma is among the US jurisdictions seeking to capitalize on the growing popularity of sports betting in America. As a result, proponents of the gaming sector have launched Senate Bill 585, which seeks to bring retail and mobile sports betting to the Sooner State.

While the bill gained significant traction last month, narrowly passing the Senate, its momentum has now been stalled. As it turns out, a subcommittee of the House of Representatives Appropriations and Budget Committee, which was set to discuss the bill on Monday, decided to pull consideration of the bill several hours before the scheduled hearing.

While the withdrawal of the Monday hearing does not mean that SB 585’s chances to pass have been quashed, it is yet another difficulty in Oklahoma’s already troubled legislative efforts. If the bill had passed the subcommittee and later the main Appropriations and Budget Committee, it would have likely headed to the House.

Now, the bill’s fate will have to wait some more.

Oklahoma Tribes Seek to Retain Their Exclusivity

Oklahoma’s ongoing efforts to legalize sports betting have been running for years amid strong pressures from industry advocates. However, there have been certain disagreements over the matter as tribal entities, which are widely spread in Oklahoma, seek to retain their gaming exclusivity.

For further context, Oklahoma has been considering sports betting ever since the repeal of the PASPA in 2018. However, the tribes have consistently challenged those efforts, postulating that they would only accept legal sports betting so long as they retain their exclusive rights to offer gambling.

Because of that, SB 585 proposes a framework under which Oklahoma’s federally recognized gaming tribes may legally offer retail sports betting in their casinos. However, it is unclear whether the tribes would join forces with commercial operators or offer sports betting on their own. The tribes have so far suggested that they would be okay with working with other operators.

Oklahoma’s Governor Desires an Open Market

However, Governor Kevin Stitt, who is a firm advocate for a competitive sports betting market, has vowed to veto any bill that offers tribes exclusivity to offer betting. For reference, there are three such measures as of the time of this writing.

Stitt emphasized that he would only support an open market in which anyone can participate.

In the meantime, Oklahoma continues to lag behind its neighbors, most of which already offer sports betting. Arkansas, Colorado and Kansas already offer legal betting, while Missouri is set to launch its market later this year.