Gambling in Oklahoma

Like many Midwest states, Oklahoma is home to only 3.92 million people. Despite its small number of residents, Oklahoma has become the home of tribal gambling.

With 60 Native American casinos within the borders, the Sooner State takes advantage of its proximity to Texas, which has strict gambling laws. In fact, Texans regularly travel to the state on gambling trips, and this accounts for several tribal casinos being close to the state line.

Indeed, the Native American casinos in this state collectively pull in billions of dollars yearly, giving Oklahoma one of the largest casino markets in the United States.

History of gambling in Oklahoma

The first legal gambling move was in 1916, when the state banned all forms of gambling. However, in 1983, the Oklahoma state lawmakers passed the Horse and Racing Bill.

Oklahoma residents could now take part in parimutuel betting at racetracks and in 1988, the federal government passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

Thanks to this act, Native American tribes can negotiate casino compacts with the state. This law particularly made it possible for Oklahoma to have the biggest tribal gambling market in the United States of America.

In 2012, the Iowa tribe launched pokertribes.com. However, players could not win real money, as it was for entertainment value only. Below is a brief overview of Oklahoma’s gambling history.

  • 1916: Oklahoma bans all forms of betting.
  • 1983: State lawmakers pass Oklahoma HRA (Horse Racing Act).
  • 1988: Federal government passes the Indian Gambling Regulatory Act.
  • 2004: Voter referendum approves Native American casinos and racinos.
  • 2005: Oklahoma approves a state lottery.
  • 2011: Officer Roland Benavides is prosecuted for internet horse racing gaming.
  • 2012: Launch of the Iowa tribes, Pokertribes.com.
  • 2013: Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribes are banned from offering PokerTribes.com.
  • 2014:The Iowa tribe drops Pokertribes.com stating that they had “shift in business and tribal strategy and philosophy.”
  • 2014: Indian casinos collectively made more than $4 billion in gaming revenue.
  • 2016: The Iowa Tribe reopens PokerTribes.com as a play money website.
  • 2017: Daily fantasy sports bill introduced.

Several legal brick-and-mortar gaming resorts are accessible in Oklahoma for residents who are 18 years or older. Bettors can visit these gaming venues and bet on different games, including slots, blackjacks, roulette, poker, keno, and craps.

Online gambling is currently not legal in the state. However, Oklahoma residents can still wager at offshore gambling sites if they choose to, since there are no state or federal laws to stop them from doing so. In fact, Oklahoma does not license or regulate online gambling. This means that players who wager online won’t get help from the state authority should they encounter problems with the gambling site they are wagering on.

Is gambling different in Oklahoma compared to other states

Like many states in the US, some form of gambling is not yet legal in Oklahoma. Besides that, the state’s approach toward gambling differs from others.

The Oklahoma state authority is directly involved in helping to expand the industry. One of the ways that the state authorities have contributed so much is by issuing licenses to investors almost every year.

Applying for a license in Oklahoma costs $50,000. This is pretty low compared to other states’ $100, 000 fees. Also, the state permits Native Americans to operate casinos in almost all corners of the state. They can target the state’s largest population in Oklahoma City, or set up shop in the south to attract bettors from Texas. This approach makes gambling products more accessible within the state.

Popular gambling in Oklahoma

Everyone has a particular form of gambling that appeals to them. However, here are the most popular gambling activities among Oklahoma residents.

  • Bingo
  • Charitable betting
  • Daily fantasy sports
  • Horse race betting
  • Raffles prizes
  • State lottery

Sports betting in Oklahoma

Currently, sports betting is not legal in Oklahoma. However, with legal daily fantasy sports, and an open-minded attitude towards games of chance, Okahoma’s sports betting legalization seems certain. Below are a few quick facts about Oklahoma sports betting:

  • There is no Oklahoma-based sports betting at this time.
  • Oklahoma sports betting is only available through offshore sportsbooks.
  • There is a legislative move towards the legalization of sports betting.

Summary

For players who are interested in brick-and-mortar casinos, Oklahoma is a great choice. That is simply because there are sixty Native American casinos in the Sooner State, and they all provide a wide range of exciting games, including blackjack, roulette, and craps. With at least one casino in every Oklahoma country, players won’t have to go far to find a gambling Oklahoma resort.

Besides the tribal casinos, there are other popular legal forms of gambling, including bingo, state lottery, and more. With how open-minded the state is towards Native American casinos, we are still surprised that the state frowns at online gambling.