Oklahoma Gambling
FAQ / Q&A -- History -- Regulation -- Land Based Casinos -- Fun Facts
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Oklahoma Online Casinos
Regulation and legality of online gambling
Oklahoma’s criminal code includes vague language when it comes to addressing gambling over the internet. Like in many other cases, the laws and statutes were established before the internet even existed, which now poses the question should they be applied to internet-based activities. Section 21-964 (A) (2) refers to electronic devices used in gaming, but the act of making online casino deposits with a computer or smartphone enters a legal grey area. Residents of the Sooner State do not renounce their habits such as playing at offshore casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks, as the chances of any legal repercussions are slim to none.
Online gambling is neither legal nor illegal in Oklahoma. This is due to the fact that the state government hasn’t really invested any kind of effort into drafting bills that would legalize or regulate this activity. As you probably know, this is a common situation in about ⅓ of all US states.
While there are iGaming hotspots like Pennsylvania, NJ, or Nevada, the reality is that a majority of lawmakers don’t really care about following the latest developments in the gambling industry. The only problem is that playing casino games online is far from a novel concept. Once one realizes that, it becomes clear that other factors are in play here.
One reason why Oklahomans still don’t have access to online casinos is a pretty common one in the US - the eternal online vs. brick and mortar debate. Many casino owners and lobbyists fear that their revenue will be effectively cannibalized by the rise of casino sites. Believe it or not, this supposed phenomenon has never been scientifically proven. Therefore, it’s dubious to make such claims.
Oklahoma is a bit of an extreme case, as there is a total of 102 casinos, all run by the 38 federally recognized Native American tribes. When you take into consideration that there are 3,957,000 people currently living in OK, we arrive at a number of one casino per ~38,000 people, which is an astonishing number.
While the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA) was incredibly beneficial to tribal reservations, some experts believe that it resulted in Oklahoma’s casino scene becoming oversaturated. As a result, it is believed that online activities would dilute the market even further.
The second probable reason for this situation is Oklahoma’s previous history with online gambling. Yes, you read that right. In 2016, the state government gave the green light for the launch of pokertribe.com, the first online poker site. It was developed jointly by the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma and Universal Entertainment Group.
Unfortunately, the thing turned out to be a disaster. UEG missed several deadlines to launch the real-money version of the site. Believe it or not, if you look at the writings on the site (it’s available in free-play mode), it still cites ‘Winter 16/17’ as the target launch date. Even the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) launched an investigation into UEG’s financial endeavors.
As of mid-2020, there are no concrete signs or indications that Oklahoman lawmakers will legalize online gambling any time soon. Thankfully, you can still play casino games at offshore sites. There are no legal hurdles preventing you from doing this, as no laws pertaining to iGaming exist in the state of Oklahoma. Just make sure you pick a safe site with a strong license.
Gambling history in Oklahoma
Located in the Midwest, Oklahoma does not boast a large population. What Oklahoma has in abundance are tribal casinos. But let’s go back to the beginning. Oklahoma territory was not the most desirable area for white settlers during the early 1800’s. The ones who did come brought their gambling habits along, so Oklahoma first saw gambling in its poorly regulated format - poker games in saloons and gunfights. Little did anyone know that the migration of the Native American tribes from the east would change the gambling scene in Oklahoma in the future.
Native Americans east of the Mississippi River were given reservations within Oklahoma limits: the Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced the Five Civilized Tribes group (the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Creek Indians) to relocate west, and most of them ended up in Oklahoma. The descendants of these tribes now run the entire Oklahoma gambling industry on reservation land.
There are other forms of gambling in OK, but some would call them less entertaining. Pooled (pari-mutuel) betting was made legal in 1982, and now it is available in the few racinos in the state. A decade later, bingo and raffle type games were legalized, introducing charity gambling into the Sooner State. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, the State of Oklahoma was mandated to allow Class II game machines in tribal casinos, should the compacts with any tribes be negotiated. The tribes fought legally to offer Class III games and in 2002 Vegas-style gaming like baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette, three-card poker, and slot machines were finally allowed.
The Oklahomans are not the only ones to enjoy their thriving tribal gaming market, as Texans and other neighboring gamers swarm to visit huge resorts and even smaller regional casinos in OK. The state lottery was also established in the early 2000s. It sells scratch-off and lotto tickets, offering also major interstate lotto pools like Powerball and Mega Millions.
Oklahoma is home to over one hundred brick and mortar casinos, all run by the Native American tribes. The venues must be located on Native American lands, which they are, and pay exclusivity fees to the state from their Class III earnings. Class III games draw more players thanks to increased variety, and the fees earned help the state direct money to education-related funds. It’s a win-win situation.
Specific venues are backed by major casino corporations, like Harrah’s and Caesars, but still managed by the tribes (Cherokee and Choctaw tribes are the main operators of Oklahoma casinos). Some of the hot locations are Miami, Norman, Tulsa, Shawnee, Red Rock and Wyandotte.
WinStar World Casino & Resort is the largest gaming complex in Oklahoma, offering 7,400 slot machines, 96 table games, and a huge poker room. It is owned by the Chickasaw Nation, and includes spa, golf club and a plethora if dining possibilities. Riverwind, also owned by the Chickasaw Nation, is the second largest land-based casino in OK. Covering more than 200,000 square feet, Riverwind has approximately 2,700 electronic games, off-track betting options and more than 90 poker and blackjack tables.
Riverwind is home to Oklahoma's largest buffet, and it also hosts live bands and concerts regularly. River Sprint Casino in Tulsa is the closest to Riverwind with 2,600 slots on its floors. It has a dedicated gaming area for non-smoking guests, and patrons can enjoy poker and other table games here.
More notable venues in OK include Comanche Red River Casino in Devol with 1,000 slots, Fire Lake Grand Casino in Shawnee with roughly 2,000 gaming machines and Choctaw Casino in Grant with 1,200 electronic gaming terminals.
The three existing racinos with pari-mutuel betting, off-track wagers and some gaming machines are Will Rogers Downs and Cherokee Casino in Claremore, Rivermist Casino and Racetrack in Konawa, and Remington Park in Oklahoma City.
Neighbouring States: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas
What’s the minimum age at which you can play at Oklahoma online casinos?
21. Even though some casinos that don’t serve alcohol let 18-year-olds partake in gambling activities, we believe that this is the safest threshold to comply with. It’s your best bet to avoid attracting the attention of both federal and state authorities.
Which games are available to Oklahoman players?
Literally all of them. Unlike states with only a few legal casino sites, Oklahomans can choose from a number of different offshore ones, which results in a gargantuan amount of games to choose from.
Does this include live dealer games, too?
Yes, Oklahomans love to experience that iconic casino atmosphere. Thus, casino sites welcoming players from OK make sure that they have stacked live dealer sections.
What about payment methods? Can you deposit money at Oklahoma online casinos using platforms popular in the US?
Yes, of course. Credit cards still reign supreme, but more and more people are resorting to eWallets such as PayPal, Klarna, Skrill, and Neteller. Those that prefer secure platforms usually use Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, or some other virtual currency. Cryptos offer transactions that can’t be tampered with, which leads many experts to believe that they are indeed the future of iGaming.
Do Oklahoman casino sites pay withdrawals fast? What do waiting times depend on?
In most cases, yes. Offshore sites sometimes have special verification protocols upon requesting a withdrawal, which usually increases the waiting time for 1-2 days. If there aren’t such measures being imposed, you can expect to receive the money in the following time windows:
1. Credit/debit cards: 3-5 business days
2. eWallets: Instant
3. Cryptos: 15-90 minutes
4. Wire transfers: 5-7 days
5. ACH: 4-6 days
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Fun Facts about Oklahoma
- Sylvan Goldman, owner of the Humpty Dumpty Stores and Standard Food Markets supermarket chain in Oklahoma City, invented the shopping cart. He wanted to think of a way for customers to carry their groceries, so he created the "folding basket carrier" in 1937.
- In Oklahoma, it is against the law to take a bite out of another person’s hamburger, and also to carry a fishbowl full of fish on a public bus. Carrying tissues in the back of cars is illegal, as well as making an ugly face at a dog, or reading a comic book while driving a motor vehicle.
- The name Oklahoma comes from the Choctaw words ‘okla’, meaning ‘people’, and ‘homa’, which means ‘red’. The name translates to ‘land of the red people’.
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