It doesn’t matter if you’re heading out to the Choctaw Casino for blackjack, or hosting some buddies for poker night. Whether you’re playing the ponies at Remington Park, or throwing $20 into your office March Madness pool hoping OU makes the Sweet Sixteen, gambling and gaming statutes cover a variety of activities in the Sooner State. Here is a quick introduction to gambling laws in Oklahoma.
Gaming Law in Oklahoma
Although some states have begun to relax their gambling statutes, permitting limited casinos and other gaming venues like card rooms, certain types of gaming and gambling remain illegal under state gaming statutes. Oklahoma’s gambling laws allow betting on horse racing and some full-fledged casinos under the Tribal-State Compact. Charitable games, bingo, and raffle prizes are also allowed.
Oklahoma Gambling Statutes
The following table lists the specifics of Oklahoma’s gambling statutes.
| Code Section | Oklahoma Statutes Title 21 §941 et seq.: Gambling; Oklahoma Statutes Title 3A §200 et seq.: Horse Racing Act |
| Gambling | Betting or bargaining that, dependent upon chance, one stands to lose or win something of value specified in an agreement between parties. |
| Horse Racing/Off-Track Betting | Licensed horse racing; pari-mutuel, off-track, interstate wagering legal. |
| Dog Racing/Off-Track Betting | -- |
| Casinos Allowed? | Tribal-State Compact governs casino gambling. |
| Other Kinds of Gambling-Related Activities Allowed or Banned | Bona fide business contracts; any charity game conducted pursuant to Oklahoma Charity Games Act; prizes offered to participants of public events such as rodeos, fairs, and athletic events legal. Pyramid schemes; dice games; three-card monte illegal. |
A state’s gambling and gaming laws cover everything from horse racing and Indian casinos to state lotteries and election wagers. State gaming statutes also set forth the government divisions or gaming commissions that regulate industry practices, such as licensing employees, game parameters, and finances. Additionally, states have created zoning ordinances that separate racetracks and casinos from schools and residential areas. Federal law also regulates gambling in the state, as all gaming establishments on Indian reservations must adhere to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Nearly every one of Oklahoma’s casinos are Native American-operated.
Oklahoma Gambling Laws: Related Resources
Gambling and gaming law varies from state to state and regulates a multitude of activities. If you would like legal advice regarding a gaming matter, you can contact an Oklahoma gaming law attorney in your area. You can also find more information and resources on this topic in FindLaw’s section on Gaming Law.
