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An Oklahoma Senate committee has approved a plan that could lead to the legalization of sports betting in the state. On Thursday, the Senate Business and Insurance Committee passed two sports betting bills, marking the first time such legislation has advanced out of a Senate committee. The main bill, House Bill 1047, would allow tribes to exclusively offer sports betting, with a 10% fee going to the state. This could potentially bring in between $14 million and $142 million in revenue, according to State Senator Bill Coleman, who authored the measures.
If Governor Kevin Stitt vetoes the bill or if it fails in the Legislature, a companion measure, House Bill 1101, would allow voters to decide on the issue at the ballot box. Governor Stitt has expressed opposition to any bill that grants exclusivity to tribes and indicated he would veto such measures.
The move to potentially legalize sports betting comes as other states, like Kansas, have successfully implemented similar systems. Last year, Kansas generated $165 million in revenue from sports betting, with the state receiving about 10%. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert acknowledged that Oklahomans are already engaging in sports betting and suggested working with tribal partners to create a regulatory framework.