Rep. Ken Luttrell (R-Ponca City ) filed House Bill 1027 in February. This brings Oklahoman sports gamblers and aficionados one step closer to legalizing sports betting in the Sooner State.
After the legislation was reviewed by a friendly committee chaired and approved by Luttrell’s, KOKO TV announces that the House Committee on Appropriations and Budget will vote to approve the bill on Thursday.
27 “Yes” Votes, Four “No” Votes
The second trial by Luttrell to bring sports betting to Oklahoma garnered 27 “yes” votes. It was opposed only by four members of the Appropriations & Budget Committee.
The bill’s initiator stated that the bill’s main purpose is to allow for any additional changes during the lawmaking process. The legislation in its current form would allow Native American tribes to enter new sports betting compacts, which legalize both mobile and in-person sports betting.
Tribes that are interested in participating would be permitted to form partnerships with larger online betting sites, or to create their own gambling platforms and platforms. They could also set limits on mobile betting and allow only the vertical to be placed on tribal land.
Luttrell explained how the new bill was the result of long work and collaboration with tribes and gaming partners in both his own district and several other Oklahoma districts.
Although the bill passed the committee in good faith at the beginning of March, it does not guarantee that it will reach the House. Luttrell expressed optimism that this would happen.
If the bill does reach the House floor, it will still need to be approved by the Senate and the House before being signed into law by the Governor. Kevin Stitt.
The Power of Example
Luttrell added that Oklahoma is currently losing a lot of money by arguing that sports betting was legalized in Arkansas. The three Arkansas casinos generated a huge total bid of $500m, with $11M going to the state’s Treasury.
Initiator of the bill also claimed that sports betting is already legal in New Mexico and Colorado. He added that the bill was not intended to expand gambling or gaming but to offer “another choice for those tribes who would like to offer this to their customers.”
It would be the same distribution of fees as currently received from other compacts if it were to become effective.
Accordingly, education would receive 80% and counseling would be provided to persons at risk and problem gamblers.
Although the legislation has much to do before it becomes a tangible reality, it is encouraging that both the Governor and the tribes support it.
