The state has also had one of the most interesting relationships with online gambling in the United States. In fact, both the governor’s office and some of the Indian tribes were happy to offer the games at one point – only, bizarrely, they wouldn’t have been available in the Sooner State at all.
Late Start, But Lively Industry
While Oklahoma was clearly part of the “Old West” gambling tradition back in the 19th century, that industry died (at least in legal terms) once the state was officially admitted to the USA in 1890. After that, it would take nearly a full century before anyone successfully managed to bring gaming back here in even a limited form.
The first breakthrough would come in 1982, when gamblers Oklohomans finally gained the right to bet on horse races. Parimutuel betting proved to be quite popular, and three major tracks remain open to this day, albeit in a very different form than when they were first opened.
It wouldn’t be until 1992 that charity gambling (usually meaning bingo and raffles) would be legalized, again putting Oklahoma behind the curve when compared to most of the country. That, however, proved to be the beginning of a major expansion of the industry here, whether the government intended for this to be the case or not.
As soon as bingo began being played at churches and veteran’s halls, Indian tribes also started to host bingo on their lands, as was their right under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. Of course, the tribes wanted to do more, but they couldn’t forcefully do so, as slots, table games, and other traditional casino options weren’t available anywhere else in the state. They still could have negotiated compacts with the government; however, with the exception of compacts regulating horse racing, several governors refused to allow for any expansion of gaming.
The tribes continued to try to push the limits of their casinos, while also lobbying for the opportunity to offer full resorts to the public. Finally, in 2004, the state legislature passed a bill that would both allow electronic machine gaming at the three biggest racetracks in the state, while also providing a model for compacts that tribes could agree too in order to offer full gambling on their lands. The measure did have to survive a vote from the general public, but voters approved it by a nearly 60-40 margin.
Within years, gambling exploded here. Thirty different tribes agreed to Class III compacts, and an incredible 94 casinos were operating, the highest number in the country. While that number appears to have come down a bit over the past few years, there are still more than 50 different Native American establishments operating here today, the highest number anywhere in the US, followed by California and Florida. This is hardly surprising, as Oklahoma is home to nearly a third of the United States’ Native American population, but it is still an impressive number. Three “racinos” are also in operation, including Will Rogers Downs and Remington Park.
You may have noticed that we’ve yet to mention a lottery. Though there is one here, it was a rather late arrival to the party: it was only created in 2004, after voters overwhelmingly approved its creation following the passage of a bill the previous year. The lottery began operating soon thereafter, and today, both local lotteries and multistate draws are offered to players here.
