Gambling Laws in Oklahoma

Oklahoma laws permit a few forms of gambling as long as the state approves and licenses them. Unlicensed gambling is not allowed and most types of online gambling are illegal.

What Types of Gambling Activities Are Legal in Oklahoma?

Gambling laws are contained within the Oklahoma Statutes, Title 21 section 941: Gambling and Title 3A section 200. In general, all unlicensed gambling activities are illegal. However, many licensed types are available to Oklahomans, including casinos, bingo, lottery and parimutuel horse race betting. Online gambling is illegal for the most part.

The Gaming Compliance Unit oversees tribal gambling and the Oklahoma Lottery Commission regulates lottery gambling.

Casino Games

Casino gambling is legal in Oklahoma, with the state home to 65 venues run by numerous resident Native American tribes. Tribal casinos are the only types allowed to operate in the state. Residents have plenty to choose from including the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Catoosa, and the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant.

Dice and wheel-based games are not permitted in Oklahoma according to state laws, so games such as craps and roulette operate using cards instead.

When it comes down to playing casino games at online gambling sites - this is illegal. Surprisingly enough but easy to understand why when the state wishes to protect its thriving land-based casino industry.

Playing Poker

Poker gambling is legal and most of the bigger casinos offer gameplay in well-furnished poker rooms. Residents have around 20 of these to choose from, where they can play No Limit Hold'em and Limit Omaha cash games and participate in tournaments. None of the existing operators are permitted to offer poker games online, and there is no way for foreign operators to set up shop in the state.

Bingo Gambling

Bingo gambling is permitted and numerous halls are operating in the state. Charitable organisations usually offer games to generate much-needed funds for their causes and venues are quite popular in Oklahoma. Commercial bingo operators are not allowed in the state.

Online bingo is illegal due to the definition of gambling in existing laws. While online gambling isn't specifically mentioned, games of chance are illegal.

Lotteries, Keno, Scratch Cards and Instant Win Games

The Oklahoma Lottery offers residents the opportunity to buy tickets for various games such as Powerball and Mega Millions, plus scratch cards, keno and instant wins.

Purchasing tickets online is classed as an illegal activity and even the state lotto isn't even allowed to offer this service.

Social Gambling and Online Crypto Casinos

Modern gambling activities such as loot boxes and skins gambling haven't yet been defined in the law and remain unregulated. Social casinos that allow players to enjoy free slots using play chips are legal in Oklahoma. However, home-based poker games are prohibited, even if no rake or fees are taken.

Oklahoma recognises cryptocurrencies as a form of monetary value and encourages mining operations within its borders via tax breaks. However, none of the existing gambling venues in the state accept virtual coins as payment. Oklahomans can choose to play at offshore crypto gambling sites but they do this at their own risk of course.

Sports Betting in Oklahoma - Is It Legal?

Due to the many tribal casinos' inability to agree - sports betting remains illegal. A few attempts have been made to pass legislation, but failure to negotiate terms has stopped bills from progressing. Online sports betting is illegal in Oklahoma.

The only form of legal sports betting is parimutuel horse racing, which is offered via live and off-track betting at three tracks. Online betting is also permitted on horse racing via TwinSpires.

Oklahoma's laws focus on the definition of gambling, which refers to games of chance. Many argue that DFS falls under the definition of games of skill though. However, due to pushback from the tribes in the state, proposed bills legalising this in 2016 were rejected. That said, top providers such as FanDuel and DraftKings continue to offer DFS betting to Oklahomans, with state authorities showing little interest in stopping this.

Minimum Gambling Age Restrictions

The legal gambling age in Oklahoma varies depending on the activities involved. Those aged at least 18 can take part in bingo games, parimutuel horse race betting and lottery games. However, many casinos (i.e. those holding an alcohol licence) restrict entry to those aged 21 or over.

Tax Regulations on Gambling in Oklahoma

Current regulations mean that tribal casinos pay an increasing tax rate depending on their revenue, with 4% charged for the first $10 million, 5% for the next and 6% charged for $20 million+.

Oklahomans' gambling winnings are regarded as supplementary wages and are charged at the state rate of 0.25%. This is in addition to the 24% withholding tax that's charged at the federal level.

Oklahoma History of Gambling Laws

The earliest gambling laws in the state date back to 1916, when all forms were banned. Parimutuel horse race betting was then first to be legalised in 1982 with the passing of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988 permitted native tribes to operate casinos on their land. Still, it took another 15 years before the first tribal casino was approved for construction. This was due to the state refusing to sign compacts for anything beyond parimutuel horse racing and bingo.

In the meantime, gambling on charitable bingo and raffles was legalised in 1992 and lottery gambling was permitted in 2004, with the Oklahoma Lottery launched in 2005.

Legislation was finally approved for tribal casinos to offer limited casino-style games in 2004, with compacts agreed with most tribes within the four years that followed.

Key Facts

• Casino gambling is legal in Oklahoma, with more than 60 tribal casinos operating in the state.

• Online casino gambling is illegal.

• Poker gambling is legal and available at most of the larger casino venues.

• Online poker gambling is illegal.

• Bingo gambling is legally permitted to be offered by charitable organisations.

• Online bingo gambling is illegal.

• Lottery gambling is legal via the Oklahoma Lottery.

• Online lottery gambling is illegal.

• Sports betting is illegal in both offline and online forms.