- Gambling Age in Oklahoma The age at which someone is legally allowed to gamble in the state of Oklahoma is 18 years of age. However, some casinos serve alcohol on the game room floor and have chosen to only allow players 21 years of age or older on casino premises. The legal drinking age in the state is 21 years of age.
- Another peculiarity refers to the legal gambling age in Oklahoma. The official minimum age is situated between 18 and 21 years old, giving each casino the possibility of choice. Some opt for the low limit of 18, this being the Winstar Casino or the Choctaw casino gambling age. Others have a different approach.
- The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988 established the legal parameters of Indian gaming nationwide, but its benefits had not yet reached Oklahoma. In the 1990s, as much of national Indian Country was entering the gaming industry (gross revenue from Indian gaming nationwide was $54.6 million in 1995), Oklahoma tribes, with the.
- Legal Gambling Age In Oklahoma Casinos
- Legal Gambling Age In Oklahoma
- Legal Gambling Age In Oklahoma Winstar
- Is Online Sports Gambling Legal In Oklahoma
- Is Gambling Legal In Oklahoma
An Overview Of The Gambling Laws In The State Of Oklahoma
Much of the history of Oklahoma involves the resettlement of Indian tribes from the States to the east. It is the descendants of those resettled tribes who now run the largest tribal casino operations anywhere in the US in Oklahoma. There are currently more than 111 casinos, which create a huge amount of jobs and generate millions in revenues for the State's coffers. While there are not too many opportunities to gamble outside of the native lands, there almost does not need to be – with such a wide choice of casinos and poker rooms, large and small.
Oklahoma has many legalized land based gambling establishments throughout the state for its residents who are 18 or older. Online gamblers in Oklahoma are not outlawed by an specific or stated online gambling laws. Oklahoma Gambling and State Lottery Laws States that allow gambling or operate an official state lottery use the proceeds either for the general fund or for specific purposes.
Below you will first see a rapid-paced history of the gambling laws in Oklahoma. This is followed by a look at each of the major forms of gambling in turn, each with a current legal status. After that you'll find the key excerpts from the State laws, and a timeline of the major updates to the Statutes. Finally there is a short summary of the current situation and look towards the future for this State.
Oklahoma Gambling Laws – A Brief History
The early settlers bought gambling with them to the territory which would become Oklahoma during the early 1800's. Tales of barely regulated casinos and poker games in saloons with their card-sharps and gunfights would have been the norm here. There were subsequently a lot of forced migrations of native tribes from the East onto Oklahoma lands – which explains why there are so many tribal casinos today. The prevailing view at the time that Oklahoma became a State in 1890 was that gambling was something to be banned on moral grounds. The initial legislation thus bans all gambling which is not explicitly exempted.
Horse-racing was the first form of gambling to be legalized, when pooled (pari-mutuel) betting was made legal in 1982. There are currently 3 major horse racing tracks in Oklahoma, which later benefited from class 2 slots – becoming ‘racinos'.
Charity gambling including bingo and raffle type games was legalized 10 years later. At the same time, the tribes started to offer bingo games from their lands. They wanted a compact to include the class 3 games (casino table games and slot machines), though the State government refused to engage in any negotiations. This lead to a game of legal cat and mouse, with the tribes pushing the boundaries of the definition of class 2 machines ever further – and the State taking them to court to challenge each progression.
The tribes won out, with their games being approved more often than banned, and in 2000 the Oklahoma government finally entered into negotiations. The result was the legalization of class 3 games on native lands in 2002. It did not take many years for the benefits to be felt. There are now $100's of millions in revenues and huge employment numbers coming from directly from the casinos – as well as the many indirect benefits. Visitors come from neighboring States to visit the mega-casinos of the Choctaw tribe, while 100's more venues cater for gamblers on a local level. Poker games including tournaments are spread on tribal lands, though there is no carve-out for home-games under the ‘social poker' banner like you find in many other States.
What Forms Of Gambling Are Legal?
Casino Gaming: Yes, Oklahoma is home to the largest number of Tribal casinos anywhere in the US, you'll literally be spoiled for choice here with everything from the huge resorts of the Choctaw tribe to smaller regional casinos and high stakes bingo halls. There are no commercial (non-tribal) casinos.
Online Casinos: No, as in many States, the laws were set before the internet, however, they are considered broad enough to outlaw any gambling which is not specifically licensed – which would include online gambling.
Live Poker: Yes, there is a huge choice of poker rooms at the tribal casinos, this includes some big tournament series and events as well as the regular real money games. Social poker games are not carved out under State law – making them technically illegal. Witcher 3 how to unlock more skill slots.
Online Poker: No, there is no indication from the State government that regulation of online poker is being considered.
Sports Betting: Yes, you can bet on horse races (pari-mutuel betting) either at racetracks or remotely. Slots machines and racetracks are combined into popular ‘racinos'.
Lottery Betting: Yes, there is a State lottery in Oklahoma, which includes the inter-State games.
Legal Gambling Age In Oklahoma Casinos
Bingo Games: Yes, charity gaming is carved out and regulated, games falling under this category do need a separate license.
Oklahoma Gambling Laws – Statutes And Legal Timeline
Unlike many States, who go after the organizers of illegal gambling games, Oklahoma also has specific statutes criminalizing players in them. This State makes the bet the subject of criminal proceedings as well as outlawing gambling devices (broadly defined) and profiting from the games via rake or fees. While the bet legislation focuses on games of chance, poker (the only game which could arguably be all skill) is covered under a separate list of illegal gambling games.
Here are the key excerpts:
[su_quote]'Except as provided in the Oklahoma Charity Games Act, every person who opens, or causes to be opened, or who conducts, whether for hire or not, or carries on either poker, roulette, craps or any banking or percentage, or any gambling game played with dice, cards or any device, for money, checks, credits, or any representatives of value…' (From: 21- 941 – Opening, conducting or carrying on gambling game)[/su_quote]
Here is the other crucial definition – that of a bet:
'A 'bet' is a bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, or in which one of the parties to the transaction has valid reason to believe that it is dependent upon chance, one stands to win or lose something of value specified in the agreement. '
While there is no carve out for social or private gambling games, there is no history of busts in this area. Illegal sports-betting is the area which takes the heat from the Oklahoma law enforcement agencies.
1982: Pari-Mutuel betting on horse races is first legislated for, becoming law in 1983. Each of the 15 counties in Oklahoma has a separate vote on this, with 12 approving. Later off-site betting and gaming machines would be allowed from the 3 major racetracks.
1987: Choctaw Indians first host high stakes bingo games on their land.
1992: First compact signed with the many Oklahoma tribes, this allowed for class 2 games and pari-mutuel horse racing on tribal lands. Class 2 gambling includes bingo or lottery type games including electronic machines. Often games run by computers but with the assistance of live dealers are included in this definition.
1992: Charitable Games Act passed into law, allowing bingo, pull-tab games and other raffles to be held under license of the ‘Alcoholic Beverage Law Enforcement Commission' (ABLE).
2004: After years of legal battles about the ever improving class 2 gaming, the State sits down to negotiate a compact for class 3 games. This is approved and the environment was made possible for the tribes to expand to the 111+ casinos operating today.
2005: The Oklahoma lottery begins, this was legislated for in 2003, and put to the voters in a referendum in 2004. This lottery now includes inter-State games such as the Powerball.
Oklahoma Gambling Laws – Summary And A Look To The Future
With so many tribal casinos in one place, and compacts which will run until 2020 and be extended if no renegotiation takes place – there is little pressure for Oklahoma to legislate for any further gambling within their borders. The status-quo provides a lot of revenue and employment for the State and large investments are ongoing, making the Choctaw casino complexes especially lavish.
The government has yet to say anything about future legislation of online gambling, and in particular poker. It is hard to see how they would be able to introduce this without the tribes being a major part of the negotiation. While tribes elsewhere have shown that they would like to be involved (for example in California), there is a chance that a regulation drive could come from them. I do not expect to see this State regulating quickly, with the most likely outcome a proof of revenue coming from other States before this subject gets raised.
Useful Resources:
Indian Compacts
- http://www.gaminglawmasters.com/pdfs/IMGL%20Member%20Article%20Mike%20McBride%205.10.10.pdf
Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association
Charity Gambling Act
State Laws Summary
Oklahoma Compliance FAQs
Statutes (Number 21 Contains Gambling Info, Each Part Downloads A File)
- Legal sports betting in Oklahoma is something that has been a hot topic since Governor Kevin Stitt made it legal with two Tribes in April.
- Stitt's decision was repealed in July before any sportsbooks could open in the state.
- In the 2021 session, it is expected that legalizing a sports wagering market in Oklahoma will be discussed in length as the state is looking for more revenue due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legal sports betting in Oklahoma could still be in the cards for the residents of the state but the final verdict won't be happening any sooner as there is still much to talk about on the subject.
Anyone in Oklahoma knows that Governor Kevin Stitt decided to legalize gambling on sporting events through two Tribal Gaming Compacts with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation earlier this year.
The addition of sports gaming to these compacts was taken to court by the state with the argument that Governor Stitt did not have the authority to bypass the legislative process and make sports betting legal and the state won that argument.
But, not all hope is lost for the future of legal sports betting in Oklahoma.
Where Does Legal Sports Betting Lie For Oklahoma Now?
Legal Gambling Age In Oklahoma
The Tribes in Oklahoma, not just the two that changed their compacts to include sports wagering, are in no rush to expand into sportsbooks at this time.
Most, if not all Tribal Gaming Compacts in the Sooner State have been renewed without gambling on sports matchups listed within them.
However, there is the question of whether or not sports wagers could be classified as Class III gaming. If they were, Tribes would already be eligible to open sportsbooks under their current compacts.
But, knowing this, the Tribes would still feel more comfortable going about any type of gaming expansion through the state and the entire bill to law legislative process so that there are no mishaps like what occurred with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation's when simply going through the Governor.
Due to Governor Stitt being unable to go through with his promised compacts of sportsbooks, it's left the Tribes even more hesitant toward the industry which is why they're happy with where things stand now.
'There's no clock ticking on when this needs to get done,' saidMatthew Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. 'I guess it could come up the next legislative session, but it may not. I don't think you'd see most tribal leaders in a hurry to get this done. It needs to be done correctly. And that's probably going to take time. That relationship between the governor and tribal leaders needs to be repaired.'
Governor Stitt went to court over the summer where a 7-1 vote said that the negotiated compacts with wagering on sports that he drew up in April were not legal.
Prior to the trial, Stitt said he would fight, no matter the cost. But once his decision was overturned by majority vote, he complied with the court and the compacts he was responsible for no longer included sports betting.
Now What?
Oklahoma is looking to discuss legalizing sportsbooks in the state because they need the revenue it could bring in from the financial problems caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
There will likely be discussions during the 2021 legislative session and a few bills on the table to legalize the industry. The Tribes of the Sooner State are open to this but their state of mind is to take it or leave it as it's not a pressing matter for them considering they already have gaming businesses.
'I've consistently said that I think sports betting or wagering is a potential negotiating point for the state in its compact negotiations with the tribes,' said Greg Treat, Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem. 'If an overall compact agreement is reached that is beneficial to all Oklahomans, I will consider it.'
But after the trial endured by Governor Stitt, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that legalizing sportsbooks in the state is something that needs to be done by the Legislature.
Legal Gambling Age In Oklahoma Winstar
If the Tribes are on board as well as lawmakers for the new revenue stream in 2021, legal sports betting in Oklahoma could actually be coming to the state sooner rather than later.
Is Online Sports Gambling Legal In Oklahoma
News tags: Comanche Nation | Coronavirus pandemic | COVID-19 | Greg Treat | Kevin Stitt | Matthew Morgan | Oklahoma | Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association | Oklahoma Legislature | Oklahoma Supreme Court | Otoe-Missouria Tribe
Is Gambling Legal In Oklahoma
Christina has been writing for as long as she can remember and does dedicated research on the newly regulated sports betting market. She comes from a family of sports lovers that engage in friendly bets from time to time. During the winter months, you can find Christina baking cookies and beating the entire staff at Mario Kart…the N64 version of course.
