OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – House Bill 3008, initially filed by Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, has passed an Appropriations and Budget General Government Subcommittee vote by a margin of 6-4. The bill aims to add in-person sports betting to the Oklahoma state-tribal gaming compact, though numerous hurdles remain. The bill will now be set for a full house vote.
“I have had conversations with our gaming tribes during the interim to gauge their interest on this topic,” said Luttrell upon introducing the bill in January. “I feel the time is right for Oklahoma to partner with the tribes and ensure a level, competitive gaming playing field with the surrounding states.”
According to Luttrell, there are currently 30 states with legal sports betting and another 15 considering it in 2022. He said that Arkansas has legalized it in their casinos and Kansas is currently working on an agreement of their own.
“Illegal sports betting occurs throughout Oklahoma, and figures I obtained from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) show 11 offenses recently with tens of thousands of dollars seized,” said Luttrell. “This reflects only a fraction of what actually occurs in our state. [It is estimated] that legal sports betting would generate $240 million in revenue for Oklahoma and create over 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. This legislation just makes sense.”
