Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is convinced the state’s tribes are willing to wait him out for sports betting.
Stitt told local media he was not disappointed by the failure to pass Oklahoma sports betting legislation this year, per the Tulsa World. He had previously said he would veto any of the bills that were under consideration.
“We analyzed the 30 or 40 states that actually have sports book and put a great plan together,” Stitt said. “We set it out to have more of a free-market approach. (But) as I’ve said before, I think the big casinos, the big bosses, are waiting until I’m out of office. So we’ll see what happens, I guess, in 2027.”
Oklahoma sports betting nemesis
Stitt attempted to legalize sports betting in 2020 through two tribal compacts.
Other tribes, however, opposed the move, and the state’s courts ultimately rejected the compacts. Since then, the working relationship between the tribes and Stitt has been nonexistent.
The relations are so tenuous that legislative leadership in Stitt’s own Republican Party has threatened to take over negotiations. The tribes hold gambling exclusivity in the Sooner State and have a say in any expansion. In 2024, the tribes paid the state $210 million.
Stitt’s 2023 plan
In 2023, Stitt revealed a plan for sports betting that would open up the market to commercial operators. That proposal would allow in-person sportsbooks at tribal casinos
Stitt’s plan, however, would allow commercial entities to control the online market.
He pointed to the plan during this legislative session. The tribes and legislators have not expressed interest in his plan, though.
OK sports betting made moves
While Stitt was adamant in his position to veto any sports betting bill, Rep. Ken Luttrell’s proposals made it the furthest any sports betting bills have in Oklahoma. The bill, informed by the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, passed the House and made it to the Senate floor.
Luttrell’s HB 1047 would have legalized sports betting framework. If Stitt vetoed that, his HB 1101 would have sent the issue to voters. However, the Senate ultimately did not take a floor vote on either piece of legislation.
The plan to send the issue to voters mirrored the 2003 move to create a state lottery.
