Oklahoma Senator Bill Coleman (R-Ponca City) proposed sports betting legislation last year and plans to do it again when the session resumes after the holidays in 2025.

Oklahoma Sen. Bill Coleman hopes this will be the last football season without sports betting regulation

Coleman argues that Oklahoma is missing out on roughly $150 million in tax revenue, which would be tallied with legalized sports betting in the Sooner State.

“The figures I keep hearing is around $150 million in state revenue that would come out with sports betting in Oklahoma,” he said. “If you look at sports betting that’s going across the nation right now, it’s very popular and very lucrative in the states that have it.”

The Durant native believes the 2024 football season will be the last campaign without sports betting. Neighboring states like Arkansas and Colorado are accepting college football and NFL bets.

“There is a demand for sports betting in Oklahoma,” Coleman added. “It is entertainment, in my opinion. It’s not a way to make a living. [Sports wagering is] a little more interesting when you have skin in the game.”

Republican lawmaker says artificial intelligence helps problem gamblers

However, Coleman had concerns about problem gamblers engaging in sports betting at casinos and on apps like FanDuel. About 59.4% of Oklahomans have gambled in the past year, according to the Oklahoma Association on Problem Gambling & Gaming.

This percentage includes the players who are either non-problem, at-risk, or experiencing a problem. Approximately 1 in 16 (6.3%) Oklahomans meet criteria for gambling disorder, and 23.5% of Oklahomans are at-risk for problem gambling.

“I was concerned about people who have an addiction. … In talking with the sports betting companies, they monitor for problems electronically. Artificial intelligence helps them a lot. They’re looking out for problems,” Coleman said.

Coleman is asking Oklahomans for support

The Republican lawmaker insinuated that Oklahoma will regulate sports betting sooner rather than later with public support. He’s encouraging residents to contact their legislatures and let them know they want sports wagering.

Surrounding states have sports betting and Texas could be added to the list in the future. In the meantime, Oklahomans will have to cross over into neighboring states to place wagers.

Oklahoma would join 38 other states and Washington, D.C. to offer some form of sports betting. Offshore sports betting sites like BetOnline and BetUS are available to residents.