TLDR
- Oklahoma lawmakers introduced an amended sports betting bill (HB 1047) with tribal backing ahead of an expected Senate vote this week
- The bill allows tribes to offer retail and mobile sports betting and partner with commercial operators like FanDuel or DraftKings
- The state would receive an 8% fee on adjusted sports betting revenue, with funds going to education, workforce programs, and problem gambling services
- A supermajority of tribes in the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, public universities, and the Oklahoma City Thunder support the bill
- Governor Kevin Stitt remains a hurdle, insisting on a free-market model rather than a tribal-controlled framework
Oklahoma lawmakers are making another push to legalize sports betting in the state. A new amendment to a previously stalled bill has been introduced with backing from tribal leaders, universities, and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sen. Bill Coleman and Rep. Ken Luttrell announced the amended version of HB 1047 this week. The original bill passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate.
The new substitute replaces the earlier version of the bill entirely. It creates a framework for tribes to offer both retail and mobile sports betting through the state’s existing gaming compact system.
Under the proposal, tribes would be allowed to partner with commercial operators like FanDuel or DraftKings. All wagering would be legally attributed to tribal lands where servers are located.
Revenue Split and Education Funding
The state would collect an 8% fee on adjusted sports betting revenue. There are no revenue-sharing requirements between tribes and operators, leaving that open to negotiation.
All state revenue tied to NBA and WNBA wagers would go directly to early childhood literacy programs. The rest of the funds would be divided among higher education, student development, workforce initiatives, and a tourism fund connected to the Thunder’s global reach.
A fixed monthly deposit would also go toward problem gambling treatment and education services.
Coleman described the amendment as the result of years of talks between stakeholders. He said Oklahoma is closer than ever to legalizing sports betting.
He added that the proposal respects tribal partners while also creating a legal system that can compete with the unregulated black market and prediction markets.
Luttrell echoed that message, saying years of work went into getting the details right. He credited ongoing conversations with tribal partners and the Thunder for shaping the final version.
Governor Stitt’s Opposition Could Block Progress
The bill has the backing of a supermajority of tribes within the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. Public universities and the Thunder also support it.
That support is seen as a key development. Previous sports betting efforts in Oklahoma failed largely because of disagreements between tribes, lawmakers, and the governor’s office.
Despite the momentum, Governor Kevin Stitt remains a potential roadblock. He has said he supports legalized sports betting but only under a free-market model.
Stitt has argued that proposals like HB 1047 benefit only the tribes. In 2025, he said negotiations had excluded the governor and the state from the process.
A spokesperson for the governor told News 9 that Stitt will only support a free-market approach to sports betting. The spokesperson said they would not comment on specifics of pending legislation since no bill has reached his desk.
The spokesperson also criticized the state’s existing gaming compact, calling it a deal that lacks transparency and fair market rates.
If the amended bill passes the Senate, it would return to the House for another vote. The timeline for a Senate vote is expected to be this week.
