Online Gambling Legal In Oklahoma

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  • Oklahoma, otherwise known as the Sooner State, has multiple gambling activities available for residents and tourists to take advantage of. There are domestic brick-and-mortar gambling locations for local players to use, as well as, licensed offshore online casinos, poker, bingo, and sports betting options legally available.
  • Oklahoma is home to more than 130 tribal casinos, but Republican Governor Kevin Stitt and tribal officials have been unable to get very close on any kind of agreement for legal sports wagering. Currently neither the governor nor the legislature is considering legalization for sports gambling. Online sportsbooks in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has a huge legal land based casino industry featuring over 100 casinos. 1992 saw the first style of casino, which included electronic games and bingo. It was not until 2004 that the casinos were allowed to provide table games with live dealers.

Oklahoma is a state that enjoys betting on sports, casino games, poker- you name it. While residents know that there are always seats available of one of their numerous casinos, there are still restrictions on what and how bets can be placed. Thousands of OK residents have turned to online gambling in order to bet without limitations on their favorite sports, slots, and poker games. Even with online gaming sites becoming more popular, many still want to know is online gambling legal in Oklahoma. The answer to that question is affected by several federal and state laws that regulate gambling in the state.

By learning more about the legal forms of gambling in Oklahoma you will be able to better understand why millions of people choose to bet online, and also start to get in on the action yourself. We will cover the legality of sports betting, poker rooms, and casino gaming in the state, along with the best online gambling sites for Oklahoma residents.

Important Federal & State Gambling Laws in Oklahoma

The Wire Act - The Wire Act was passed in 1961 and is one of the first federal laws that specifically targeted the sports betting industry. Interstate gambling operations led by crime mobs were a major issue in the USA during the time period. US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy proposed that the transmission of sports betting information and the placement of bets via wire communication be deemed illegal, and on September 13, 1961, the law was enacted. The main goal of the act was to further antiracketeering efforts and help individual states enforce their specific gambling laws.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) - The passage of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was the end all to land-based sportsbook opportunities in the US. The act makes it illegal for states to issue new sports betting licenses and establish regulated sportsbooks. The only exceptions to the law are Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware, all of which had maintained sports betting operations for several years before the law was created.

Oklahoma

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) - While this federal law does not explicitly mention sports betting, it is often put into the same category as sports betting laws and is worth knowing. The UIGEA essentially requires that financial institutions implement policies and procedures that block transactions related to online gambling. As a result, your credit card payments may sometimes be declined by the bank when trying to make deposits at online sportsbooks and other sites. The upside is that online sportsbooks offer a multitude of payment options for OK bettors.

As you can see from the federal laws than ban land-based sports betting, online sportsbooks are the best (and only) option for Oklahoma residents. There are a number of online sites that accept bettors from OK every day, and there are often times more sports wagering options than would be found at a brick and mortar betting location.

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) - The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, passed in 1988, authorizes federally recognized tribes to establish Indian gaming operations on native lands. The IGRA also defined three categories of gaming- Class I includes social and traditional Indian gaming with minimal prizes, Class II includes bingo, pull tabs, and non-banking card games, and Class III includes all other games including slots, roulette, craps, and other banking card games commonly found at full-scale casinos.

Oklahoma’s State-Tribal Gaming Act - Oklahoma’s State-Tribal Gaming Act essentially mirrors the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act but also includes details specific to the tribes of the state. It only covers Class II casinos in the state, and a separate state-tribal compact is required for tribes wishing to establish Class III casinos. While the act includes some state regulatory information, the Indian tribe is still self-governing and the National Indian Gaming Commission holds ultimate authority.

While OK has not taken a specific stance on online casinos, the state does offer land-based casino operations and does not have any laws exclusively banning online casino gaming. It would seem that the state leans more in favor of internet gaming operations than against them.

While there are state laws that govern the majority of gambling types, sports betting is not one of them. When looking through the Oklahoma Statutes and those focused on gambling, there is not a specific mention of betting on sports. That does not, however, does not mean that sports betting is allowed in the state. In fact, the reason that OK does not have exclusive sports gambling laws is because there are federal laws that already make sports betting illegal. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and the Wire Act are the two laws that make land-based sports betting impossible in OK.

Go To: Legal Sports Betting Sites For Oklahoma Bettors

Is It Legal To Play Casino Games For Money in OK.?

The simple answer is that, yes, it is completely legal to play casino games for money in Oklahoma. This legality comes two-fold, however, as only certain types of casinos are permitted in OK. While you will not find commercial casinos in the state, there are 90+ tribal casinos where you can enjoy gaming. These establishments are both Class II and Class III, meaning that there are no limits to the table games and slots that you will find at most venues. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is the federal law that paved the way for tribal gaming in the United States, while Oklahoma’s State-Tribal Gaming Act is the state law that was created to further regulate the agreement.

Go To: Legal Online Casinos For Oklahoma Residents

Some of the best casinos in Oklahoma offer live poker rooms and table action, which means that it is without a doubt legal to play poker in Oklahoma. The state does make it clear, however, that poker and other gambling games should not be played socially. 21 OK Stat. 21 – 941 states that playing craps, poker, roulette, and other card games is illegal in the state, however, this only applies if outside of authorized venues. Poker rooms within tribal casinos are 100% permitted by law as can be seen by the Class II gaming laws set forth in the IGRA and state-tribal gaming compacts.

Oklahoma is also pioneering the way when it comes to online poker rooms. In 2016, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma launched their first online poker site in a monumental move for the state. In the upcoming years, the tribe plans to start offering real cash games to international bettors. This is one step in the right direction for the future of online poker rooms in the state.

Go To: Legal Poker Sites For Oklahoma Players

Online Gambling Sites That Are Legal For Oklahoma Residents

Online gambling sites that feature sports betting, poker and casino games are few and far between. Fortunately, we are familiar with the best online gambling sites that are legal for OK residents. We handpicked these sites due to their outstanding reputations and the exceptional value that they bring to players. We are talking the games you want to play, the sports that you want to bet on, and the tournaments that you want to enter. When you want an all-in-one gaming solution, BetOnline and SportsBetting are the top online gaming sites for Oklahoma residents.

Best Cash Promotions For Sports Betting, Poker, Table Games, & More!

When it comes to providing a comprehensive online betting experience, BetOnline has everything that you need. You can bet on the Buckeyes, play casino games, and join an online poker room all from one central location. Rather than just take our words for it, let us tell you what sets them apart! The major advantage of the sportsbook section of the site is that it will feature the latest betting lines before any other site has them posted. You can bet on college basketball, football, tennis, hockey, and any other sport that you can think of. Another edge that BetOnline has on competitors is their new player bonus. The 50% Welcome Bonus will match your initial deposit by 50%, up to $2,500, and is the biggest deposit of its kind across the best Oklahoma sportsbooks.

The casino section of BetOnline offers a fun and exciting experience. There are games for every type of player out there. In the table games catalog, you will find blackjack, craps, and roulette. The casino has a large selection of both 3-reel and 5-reel slots, along with plenty of 3D slots like The Slotfather and Mr. Vegas. There are a couple of skills games like dominoes and Yahtzee that you can of course play for cash, or just practice with a free round. When you head over to the BetOnline Poker area, you will be impressed by the weekly tournaments that offer huge cash prizes. There are multi-table and single table challenges that you can sign up for a seat at. There are a number of prize pools that you can enter to win in, such as the $10,000 weekly cash race and the $7,500 GT series. No matter which type of gaming that interests you, signing up at BetOnline.ag is completely free! Use your Visa, MasterCard, or Bitcoin wallet to create a BetOnline account now!

There is a fine line between legal and illegal when it comes to online gambling in Oklahoma. Currently, domestic online pari-mutuel bets are accepted on-site at terminals, and Daily Fantasy sports games are permitted. However, OK does not offer any domestic state-licensed online gambling services for poker, casino games, bingo, or sports betting.

This page provides a breakdown of how licensed offshore gambling sites fit into Oklahoma’s online gambling laws, as well as, information on Federal laws in play, and reliable resources for legal online gaming.

Other Oklahoma Gambling Pages

Oklahoma’s Gambling Legislation

Oklahoma’s current legislation has provisions for brick-and-mortar gambling through tribal-run outfits. The tribal-state compacts dictate the types of gambling available in each venue and how revenue is paid back to the state. Residents can walk into a land-based tribal-run casino destination and find slots, table games, and poker due to Class III game licensing permission. However, sports betting has not yet been legalized at the state level or authorized to be offered by tribal casinos.

Federal Gambling Laws

Legal

Only 2 USA federal gambling laws exist which apply to online gambling. These are known as the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful internet gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The Wire Act currently bans interstate betting on sports through domestically based online sportsbooks. The UIGEA is a federal banking regulation dealing with banking institutions who process financial transactions between users and gambling sites. However, neither law prohibits licensed offshore gambling operators.

The Rise And Fall Of PASPA

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) banned state-regulated sports betting in 46 states (including Oklahoma) for over 25 years since its inception in 1992. The law was repealed by the Supreme Court in May of 2018. This did not legalize nationwide sports betting, but it gave states the opportunity to vote in legislation introducing new domestic betting options.

Has Oklahoma Passed Any Sports Betting Legislation?

There were two bills that surfaced during the 2018 legislative session. These were H3375 and S1175. The bills aimed to legalize sports gambling as part of a new tribal gambling package. There was language in the bills regarding “sports pools,” but this was removed via an amendment. The two bills were never officially signed into law. However, they may be reintroduced in the 2019 legislative session. In the meantime, state bettors can use licensed offshore online OK sportsbooks.

What About Online Casino And Poker Legislation?

Oklahoma’s Iowa tribe launched an online poker site in 2013, much to the chagrin of the local government. After a legal battle that ran all the way to 2016, it was determined that the tribe could offer legal free play online poker to USA players and real money games to international players. The site’s rights were sold to Monster Products Worldwide.

Oklahoma has had the option of legalizing domestic online casino and poker platforms since 2011 when the DOJ reinterpreted the Federal Wire Act. But the state has yet to move on this opportunity, therefore, players can use licensed offshore online OK casinos and OK poker rooms in the meantime.

Navigating Tribal Compacts

Oklahoma is a state with preexisting state-tribal compacts. This means any new gambling legislation must include provisions for the tribes, otherwise, they will lobby against the legislation and make it a nightmare to pass. Tribal gambling establishments want a piece of any online action whether it be casino games, poker, or sports betting. If a resolution can be reached that appeases both parties, the legislation will pass.

What About Mobile Offshore Gambling?

In today’s day and age, licensed offshore online providers like online OK bingo sites have made their desktop sites responsive to mobile devices using HTML5. This technology allows the seamless and perfect translation of a desktop site onto any mobile screen size, no matter the device or operating system. No functions are lost and nearly every game is available to play on a mobile phone or tablet.

Oklahoma

Official Oklahoma Gambling Laws & Statutes

Anyone who is interested in reviewing Oklahoma gambling laws and statutes in their entirety, you can visit the State of Oklahoma Government Website where you will find the official documents in their original context.

**This page is intended for informational purposes only and is not designed to serve as or replace any type of professional legal services, advice or interpretation of a law or statute. If you are seeking professional legal services, then we recommend you contact an attorney.