Oklahoma Senate passes sports betting bill, paving way for Thunder partnership

The Oklahoma Senate has passed a bill to legalize retail and online sports betting through the state’s tribal casinos, while also granting the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder a potential role in the market.  

The measure, Senate Bill 585, narrowly cleared the chamber with 25 votes in favor, 15 against, and seven abstentions, after initially failing by a single vote. The legislation now moves to the House for further consideration.  

If enacted, the bill would allow each of Oklahoma’s 38 federally recognized gaming tribes to operate retail sportsbooks and accept online wagers within their tribal land, which covers much of the state. The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission would oversee the market’s regulation.  

The proposal marks a significant step in the state’s long-standing debate over sports betting, which has faced political and tribal disputes since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal wagering ban in 2018.  

A key amendment to the bill allows the Oklahoma City Thunder to obtain a license for a sportsbook partnership. The team would be able to offer mobile betting outside of tribal land, including in Oklahoma City’s metro area.  

Under the measure, revenue from the Thunder’s sportsbook would be shared among all participating tribes under the state’s Model Tribal Gaming Compact.  

Sen. Bill Coleman, a co-sponsor of the bill, estimated that the measure could generate $20 million annually in tax revenue, with a 10% tax rate on online sports betting revenue.  

The bill’s future remains uncertain, as Gov. Kevin Stitt has consistently opposed granting tribes exclusive control over sports betting, arguing it creates an unfair monopoly.  

“That’s not transparent, that’s not a fair deal,” he said. “They’re sovereign nations, they’re a separate government coming in and hiring lobbyists to come say what’s good for their nation, not what’s good for the taxpayers of Oklahoma.”

Stitt has previously advocated for a more open-market model, allowing non-tribal entities such as the state lottery and racetracks to operate sportsbooks. The Thunder provision may serve as an attempt to secure his approval, as it allows for a non-tribal betting operation under tribal oversight.  

The bill now heads to the Oklahoma House, where lawmakers will weigh its implications.  

The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) has indicated a willingness to compromise, with OIGA Chair Matthew Morgan stating that tribes will “attempt to be inclusive of other stakeholders within the parameters of the law.”