The Sooner State has still not legalized sports betting — but unlike the other dozen states yet to do so, they actually want to get it done. But “political maneuvering” has stopped them in their tracks.
However, recent tech moves made in Oklahoma signal optimism that politics will be put aside and betting will be legalized. When? We don’t know for sure, but moves are being made that say it’s likely close. Allow us to catch you up on this deal that’s flying under the radar.
Tribe Signs Deal With Kambi
Like several other states, Oklahoma betting is monopolized by local Native American tribes. This monopoly is why sports betting remains banned — but not because the tribes are against it. More on that later in this article.
One of those tribes with influence is the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Choctaw owns four different casinos in Oklahoma so they’re known to local casino bettors. This is why it’s important that Choctaw signed a deal with Kambi, a well-known tech company in the legal sports betting space.
What does Kambi do? Simply enough, they are behind the technology that powers betting apps — as in the software used. At one point, Kambi was one of the biggest players in the sports betting app industry. Both DraftKings and PENN used Kambi to power their own platforms. That is past tense for a reason though, as both ditched Kambi to build proprietary software on their own.
Since those splits, Kambi has lost some of its luster. It’s still powering a few different apps, notably that of Bally Bet and BetRivers, but partnerships have dried up. Until now that is. The Choctaw deal is about creating a sports betting platform for the tribe, simple as that.
Put on your thinking hat, why would Choctaw enter into this agreement with sports wagering banned? Obviously, they think that is going to change — sooner rather than later. This is not us guessing either, it was said directly in the press release when the agreement was struck. The statement said the agreement comes with “the ambition to become an online and retail sports betting powerhouse.”
The deal was actually inked in April. However, it got lost in the news cycle and we are digging it back up for folks who missed it, especially gamblers itching to take advantage of sports betting in Oklahoma AND Texas. Why Texas? There’s more to this story, as we’re about to cover.
Choctaw Has Influence In Texas Too
The Choctaw tribe doesn’t operate a casino in Texas, however, it strongly benefits from Texans who travel to neighboring Oklahoma to get a wager in. You see, one of its flagship casino properties is only 90 miles north of Dallas. Eight million people live on the Dallas metro and you better believe a good chunk of them bet at this location, which even has a sponsorship agreement with the MLB’s Texas Rangers.
If Choctaw and Kambi release a sports betting app, and Oklahoma legalizes, well, it’s safe to assume many Dallas locals will do their sports betting in the Sooner State. This was common in other markets. Before New York legalized betting, many in-state bettors trekked to nearby New Jersey to get action. The same should transpire here IF Oklahoma legalizes. But will they? Here’s the latest info:
Governor and Tribes At Odds Over Betting
Make no mistake about it, Oklahoma sports betting is not legal because of money issues or morality issues. No, this is simply about in-fighting between two stakeholders — the local government and the tribes.
As we said, tribes have exclusive rights to control betting inside the state — and have since 2004 when both sides agreed to a compact. However, current governor Kevin Stitt backed a recent bill that undercut that monopoly. Stitt wanted to introduce mobile sports betting, but allow commercial operators (e.g. FanDuel and DraftKings) in too, not just the tribes.
The tribes staunchly opposed this. According to them, their compact — which ended in 2019 — contractual auto-renewed for another 15 years. Stitt believed it didn’t, hence the bill support. Long story short, the tribes sued and actually won in court, maintaining their monopoly in the Sooner State.
All of this has created friction between both sides. Friction that needs to be resolved for any sort of legalized betting to ever get passed through. What’s the phrase, “time heals all wounds”? Oklahoma bettors have to hope that’s true here.
Oklahoma Bettors Have Alternative Options For Now
If you’re a bettor in Oklahoma right now, you have alternative options to get sports betting — options that don’t depend on the state or the tribes. We’re talking about the world of offshore online sportsbooks. In that world, these five bookies are the “best of the best”:
All five sites above are “best bets” for online wagering, per our latest reviews. They work perfectly fine in Oklahoma or anywhere else in the world. Their accessibility makes them a great spot to place bets.
