Sports betting remains stalled in Oklahoma, home to the most casinos in the country

Jack "The Fat Jack" Ross is a Norman-raised professional sports best handicapper with a 25-year career.

Michael Dekker

Tulsa World Business Author

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John Billings and a small group of friends regularly drive to Kansas and Arkansas to do something that's still illegal in Oklahoma: bet on sports.

"Every penny we spend on hotels, food, drinks, whatever, stays here," he says.

Billings, 48, who lives in Tulsa and works in the energy industry, said that if sports betting were legal in Oklahoma, he would drive "to zero" from out of state to bet on sports.

"Oklahoma, with its many casinos, hasn't disappeared off the map," he said. "This is a modern thing."

Meanwhile, the founder and CEO of a global gaming management company needed few words to describe sports betting in the U. S., which was legalized five years ago:

"It's been a crazy ride," said Steven Crystal of Las Vegas-based SCCG Management.

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The ride is comparable to the nearly quarter trillion dollars that have been wagered legally.

"It wasn't as profitable as hoped initially because of taxes, cost structures and marketing expenses, but five years later, the core operators and vendors have found their way and I think sports betting is poised to continue to grow."

Crystal was part of several breakout teams at the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association's annual conference and trade show in Tulsa last week.

Since a 2018 U. S. Supreme Court decision lifted the federal ban on sports betting outside of Nevada, more than $246. 4 billion has been wagered legally on sports in more than 30 U. S. states since mid-August, according to LegalSportsReport. com.

More than $3. 5 billion has been paid to state, tribal and local governments in those five years, according to the site.

"The first five years were a time for operators to get the basics right, as they faced the opening of many jurisdictions," Crystal said. "I don't think we're seeing anything close to the innovation that's going to happen. Obviously the market leaders, the top four or five, control almost 90% of the national market, and that's going to change over time.

"Things like betting on horses and same-day parlays, things that people can enjoy interactive experiences with. I think we could see professional prostitution in sportsbooks. I wish we could add prostitution. I've seen putt-putt golf. I think we're actually seeing the proliferation of very exciting niche sports."

"Sports (betting) can be very appealing to the next generation.

Oklahoma’s status

Despite having the most casinos in the country (143), Oklahoma's efforts to legalize sports betting have stalled.

So people like Billings who want to bet legally have traveled to Caney and Wichita, Kansas, and Hot Springs, Arkansas.

His team is focused on the start of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, as well as college and NFL games. He said he takes these trips before the start of the NBA football season.

His football bets are on teams' overall seasons, as well as division and conference winners.

At least one member of his team is to bet on weekly and live games, "If you go straight on (US) Route 75, there is almost no traffic congestion." He has been visiting many times.

Bings said that he and his team would usually bet on Draftkings, Fanduel, or BetMGM apps.

In order to make a bed with these apps, it is necessary to turn on the setting of the mobile phone location information service.

"If you cross the state border, you can bet at a nearby Kansas or Arkansaw casino," he says.

According to Oklahoma's law, native American tribes have monopoly on gaming, so commercial companies, such as Villies and Caesers, cannot build casinos in Oklahoma or provide online gambling.

Many observers have cited the differences between Governor Kevin Stet and the tribes of the state as a major obstacle, and OIGA's Chairman Matthew Morgan is one of them.

"I feel a deadlock with the CEO of Oklahoma.

"I hope that somewhere on this journey, he will change his attitude toward our tribe."

Stitt, a member of the Cherokee tribe, had a steep relationship with most of the tribes in Oklahoma, trying to reconnect the interductive gaming method in the state, but failed.

Stitt has also protested with the tribes over the countless problems related to the cigarette agreement, hunting and fishing license, and the McGart ruling of the Supreme Supreme Court.

"It's like a divorced parent is fighting over children," he said, "The Fat Jack", a famous player and handicapper in the professional sports world who grew up in Norman and has been involved in this job for 25 years. Ross says.

"If the governor and the tribe do not reach some agreement, nothing will happen."

Stitt first expressed his support for Sports Betting Legalization this year. The bill for that was passed in the lower house, but was stuck in the Senate.

Ken Ratrel (selected by Ponka City) has submitted a bill to add a personal and mobile sports betting as complementing the state's compact gambling female model. Ratrel has promoted the legalization of Sports Book for the second consecutive year.

In the current form, HB 1027 costs 4 % for the first $ 5 million bet every month, 5 % for the next $ 5 million, and more 6 %.

According to Ratrel, sportsbetting can make a maximum of $ 9. 35 million a year, of which 12 % are used as general financial resources and 88 % for education.

In addition to Kansas and Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and New Mexico have legalized sports betting.

"All states that have not legalized sports betting are missing," says Ross.

Legalization of sports betting can eliminate malicious properties when illegal betting has.

"It's much better than a Killer Pongi Guido.

Ross has also denied the theory of legalization of Sportsbetting based on addiction and religious concerns.

"The state, which legalizes sports betting, has a fund to rescue people who have problems as part of this. In Oklahoma, the 1-800 phone number and the word" pray for good luck. " It is prepared. "

According to Ross, lotteries, slot machines, and other gambling are more important for some people than sports betting.

"The Bible has nothing to do about sports betting." There is nothing to bet here. Sports betting should not be legalized. "

"After all, people don't want to be instructed what to do."

‘We’ve been getting prepared’

Pat Crofts, CEO of River Spirt Casino Resort and Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises.

He says, "I've been preparing for a few years," regarding the legalization of sports betting.

The mascogie nations have nine casinos, including the flagship casinos and river splits on the south side of the 8 1-chome on the Riverside Parkway.

We believe when it is not "if". I hope it will be sooner or later. " "

According to Kurofutsu, one of the Spirit Rivers, which could be used in the sportsbook, is a former buffet area on the north side of the casino, closed during a large trend of Cobid 19 and remains a vacant lot.

"If sports betting is legalized in the spring, a new sportsbook with large TVs and the like may be made by the football season.

But he says that it will be faster to be able to bet online through casinos.

According to Mickey Ward, Vice President of CHEROKEE NATION ENTERTAINMENT's strategy and business development, in a statement, "guests can expect a tribal casino to be the same as a nearby state sportsbook." I mentioned.

Hotel Roland and the Cherokee Casino & Amp; Amp? Hotel West Siloham Spring, he said.

CROFTS stated that Muscogee Nation would use a thir d-party vendor instead of doing it in the company to set the betting line and other aspects.

"If you don't know what you're doing, you'll get a big burn," he says.

According to Kurofutsu, sports betting is relatively small, but the amount may be relatively large.

Kurofuts also stated that Sportsbetting is likely to attract people who don't usually go to slot machines and table games, that is, new customers.

Bings are one of them.

"I don't usually go to the casino. But if you have a lot of big TVs and have a live game that you can bet, you'll definitely go." < SPAN> Hotel Roland and the Cherokee Casino & Amp; Amp? Hotel West Siloam Spring, "he said.