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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!