Sports Betting Bills Remain Unvoted, Future Hangs in Balance
Delay in Consideration of Oklahoma Sports Betting Legislation as 2025 House Session Concludes
By: Michael Savio 05/09/2025 03:46 Sports Betting Photo by Oklahoma Legislative Services Bureau, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The curtains may have closed on the 2025 legislative session for Oklahoma, but the dream of legalized sports betting remains flickering like a stubborn ember. This week, a pair of sports betting bills failed to garner a Senate vote, sending them into limbo until the 2026 session kicks off.
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The two bills, House Bill 1047 and House Bill 1101, were destined to face a Senate vote but were hindered by Governor Kevin Stitt's unwavering opposition. In a bold move, the governor threatened to veto any sports betting legislation if it came his way this year. The bills had managed to sail through the House but were left adrift before a Senate vote, with the legislature adjourning on May 8, 2025.
Governor Stitt's opposition is rooted in a tangled web of tribal affairs, with his stance against tribal exclusivity for sports betting fueling the fire. In 2020, efforts to legalize sports betting via tribal compacts hit a dead end due to disagreements among tribes and court denials. Since then, the chilly relationship between Governor Stitt and the tribes has persisted, with the governor advocating for a commercial sports betting plan over exclusive tribal rights.
As the bills failed to gain a Senate vote before the session ended, they now languish in the legislative graveyard of the 2025 session. Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton hinted at further study of the issue over the summer, keeping the door open for potential reconsideration in the 2026 legislative session.
In essence:
- The bills did not make it to a Senate vote, thanks to Governor Stitt's veto threat and ongoing tribal compact issues.
- The issue will be analyzed further over the summer, providing an opportunity for reevaluation in the 2026 legislative session.
[1] Sports betting bills die in Oklahoma Legislature[2] Oklahoma Bill veto would 'destroy' tribes' relationships with state[4] Oklahoma's sports betting future uncertain as bills stall in Legislature
- The sports betting bills, House Bill 1047 and House Bill 1101, failed to secure a vote in the Oklahoma Senate during the 2025 legislative session, leaving them in limbo until the 2026 session.
- Governor Kevin Stitt, who threatened to veto any sports betting legislation in 2025, hindered the bills' progress due to his opposition and ongoing tribal affairs disputes.
- Despite the current setback, Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton has indicated that the issue will be studied further over the summer, keeping open the possibility of reconsideration during the 2026 legislative session.
- Michael Savio, an expert in the online casino industry, offers insights on online casinos, sports betting, and other industry news, making him a top authority in the evolving betting landscape.
- The 2026 legislative session, which begins in Oklahoma, will be a pivotal moment for sports betting in the state, as the future of legalized sports betting remains hanging in the balance.
