Oklahoma lawmakers to renew legal sports betting push with bill already submitted ahead of legislative session

Oklahoma lawmakers are set to renew the push for legal sports betting in the new year. Former coach and now Oklahoma State Senator Dave Rader has submitted a bill ahead of the legislative session to bring the activity to the state.

Rader believes launching sports betting in Oklahoma will help raise revenue for the state, in addition to other benefits. "I think it gives us a chance to strengthen our communication and our partnership with the tribes. I think it's a win-win-win. I think it's a win for the tribes, I think it's a win for the state, I think it's a win for our taxpayers," said Senator Dave Rader, according to Fox.

The report further quoted him as saying: "We've had almost a billion dollars in tax decreases in the last few years, you know, somewhere along the line, we need something to come back, because our state is continuing to grow. And this has a way to offer a little bit of tax revenue to come back to the state."

This is just the latest effort following several failed attempts to legalize the growing industry in the Sooner State. Rader said efforts to pass sports betting so far have stalled because the executive branch hasn't been able to come to any agreements with the tribes on compacts.

"Maybe this bill can be a bit of a push to say 'Hey, you guys need to get this done.' But it's mainly there that if a compact can be agreed upon, then we have a law that we can turn to," he said.

Rader added it's also important that sports betting is legalized in Oklahoma so that the state can stay ahead of the curve compared to other states.

"We need to do it before Texas does. We have many many vehicles driving from Texas to Oklahoma to gamble at the tribal casinos, and we sure would like for those cars to continually be pointed at Oklahoma," he said.