A Senate committee passed three bills that would allow sports betting to be considered in state-tribal negotiations

Oklahoma lawmakers are considering several plans to legalize sports betting, including tribal and state-run options.

In the coming weeks, meetings with all three stakeholders will take place. The bills will be cleaned up and in theory, by the end of May, a grand bargain to legalize sports betting in Oklahoma after two years of debate will be a touchdown and not a strike.

Bills that would legalize sports betting, including one that would allow the Oklahoma City Thunder to obtain a gaming license, advanced Thursday from a Senate committee despite concerns that at least one measure could violate existing compacts with the state’s tribes.

Sports betting bills moved forward in Texas and Oklahoma this week, but both have a long way to go before becoming law.

Two bills that could bring legal sports betting to Oklahoma have been nudged ahead by House lawmakers, including legislation that proposes a referendum on event wagering if efforts in the state capitol fall short. Oklahoma House Bills 1047 and 1101 were both passed by an appropriations and budget subcommittee on Monday by 5-0 votes in their favor.

Two bills aimed at legalizing sports betting in Oklahoma advanced from a House subcommittee this week, marking a step forward in the state’s long-debated push for regulated wagering. However, the legislation still faces significant obstacles, including tribal consent and potential opposition from Governor Kevin Stitt.

The future of what would be the largest expansion of gambling in decades is uncertain, after a setback during a Senate committee on Thursday.

Until recently, the biggest hurdle for legalization was a disagreement over tribal exclusivity. The conversation has shifted to the potential dangers of online sports betting.

With its first swing of the bat in 2025, sports betting legislation appears to have whiffed. A new bill that purports to solve conflict among key betting stakeholders stalled out in its first committee hearing of the year on Thursday.