Luttrell Says Sports Betting Bill Came Up Snake Eyes

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, today released the following statement after House Bill 1027, which would allow tribes to provide in-person and mobile sports betting, failed to advance in the Senate before last week’s committee deadline.

“While I’m disappointed we didn’t hit a jackpot this year on sports betting, I look forward to continued open dialogue with our tribal partners and the Governor’s office, which I plan to facilitate with Senator Coleman,” Luttrell said. “The 66-26 vote in the House demonstrates that legislators fully understand the economic impact, the need for improved regulation of the betting industry, the desire our citizens have for this and the importance of ensuring a level, competitive playing field for the tribes.”

HB1027, which was authored in the Senate by Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, would add in-person and mobile sports betting as a supplement to the state-tribal model gaming compact and create a sliding fee system for what percentage of gaming revenue goes to the state.

In its current form, tribes implementing sports betting would pay the state a 4% fee for the first $5 million dollars made in one month, a 5% fee on the next $5 million and a 6% fee for additional monies. The system would restart each month.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) estimated sports betting could bring in up to $9,350,000 a year, of 12% would enter the general revenue fund and 88% would go toward education.

HB1027 remains property of the Senate Rules Committee, where it was not heard ahead of the April 13 deadline to pass House bills from Senate committees. The bill remains eligible for hearing next session in the