The state of Oklahoma is one conservative place when it comes to legalizing online betting. Nevertheless, there are tribal casinos that offer in-person betting in their retail casino outlets. Apart from being able to wager on horse racing at the tribal-controlled racecourses, you can also legally bet on Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in the state. While locals are looking forward to the arrival of online casinos in Oklahoma, there are undue legislative delays.

The history of casino legislation in Oklahoma is long and convoluted. The latest brave attempt to introduce online betting came in 2020. That year, the state Governor tried to introduce legislation to allow online gambling. This attempt was short-lived, however, as the Supreme Court overruled the attempt on the grounds that the governor had no mandate to introduce such legislation. Since then, there has been no further serious attempt to legalize the practice. This review gives you information on how the process of online gambling has been in the state. Read on to find out more.

Best online casinos in Oklahoma

When online gambling in Oklahoma eventually arrives, the following casinos will be among the best to go to for bettors. The casinos have established a reputation for reliable services, high-quality user interfaces, quick payouts, and a wide variety of games to bet on.

DraftKings casino Oklahoma

You can currently bet on DFS on this site in Oklahoma without breaking any law. The casino employs the latest technology to provide you with high-quality displays and smooth operation. There are also numerous games, some of which offer progressive jackpots, that you can play. The many payment options on offer will enable you to withdraw your money without breaking a sweat. Apart from casino games, this online platform also has a wide collection of sports to bet on.

 BetRivers casino Oklahoma

This casino provides an array of impressive promotions on a regular basis. So, apart from the many casino games, you will get there, you can also benefit from these promotions. BetRivers is one of the most modern online casinos you will get.

 FanDuel casino Oklahoma

This is another platform on which you can play DFS. It also has a wide collection of casino games with the high-definition presentation. FanDuel has established a reputation for swift payouts and a decent variety of methods.

PointsBet casino Oklahoma

Known for its huge collection of games, PointsBet casino also offers sports betting with a unique sports betting option. This type of betting allows you to predict the point difference that will be there between two competing teams. It significantly increases the odds of sports bets.

How to start playing at online casinos in Oklahoma

When it comes to playing at online casinos in Oklahoma, it is a very straightforward process that will only take a few minutes. Just go through the following steps and you will be done.

  1. Find an online casino in Oklahoma from our list. Remember that this list gives you only the best casinos with proven track records. So, you can trust any casino you find on our list.
  2. Visit the casino’s website. You will easily find the site by conducting a search on the internet. You also have the option of downloading the casino app to your phone. The casinos listed here all have mobile apps. Once you download it, you can proceed to open it.
  3. Sign up for an account. Open the casino app and go straight to the registration tab and click on it. Here you need to enter your personal details.
  4. Give yourself a name. Choose a username that you will use on the site. Also enter a password, your email address, and all the other required details. If you have a promo code, this will be a good time to enter it so as to benefit from the bonus on offer. Once you have completed it, you can submit it.
  5. Depending on your needs, you can choose from a variety of payment options. Choose a payment method you have used before if it is available on the site. This will make it easier for you to make deposits and withdrawals once you sign up.
  6. Get started playing casino games. You will need to make your first deposit using your chosen payment method, in order to begin playing. The minimum amount required will be clearly indicated on the site. Once you have done so, you can then begin your gambling journey.

Online casinos are not legal in Oklahoma. Therefore, you are not allowed to play at online casinos or OK sportsbooks from within the precincts of the state. However, if you are a lover of DFS, you can play on the FanDuel and DraftKings casinos without breaking any laws. There are no existing laws preventing such an endeavor. However, the best way is to play at physical casinos operated by the tribes in the state.

Tribal casinos in Oklahoma

In 1987, the Chocktaw Tribe officially started offering bingo games with high stakes on their lands. This set in motion the establishment of several Tribal Casinos in Oklahoma. Though online casinos in Oklahoma remain illegal, these tribal establishments have enabled locals to participate in in-person gambling. Below are some of the leading tribal casinos in OK.

  • Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes: These two tribes are classified together even though they started off as individually. They operate the Lucky Star Casinos which are located in Canton, Clinton, Concho, Concho Travel Center, Hammon Travel Plaza, and Watonga. The casinos operate between 10 pm and 2 am every day. They offer a number of games that include blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, Video Poker and Keno. These Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal casinos are among the most successful in the Oklahoma gaming industry.
  • Ioway Tribal Casino: Existing since 2013, the Ioway Tribal Casino is some 6 miles west of Chandler. Its owners are the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. Besides offering casino games, it is a cool resort that provides hearty meals as well. The casino generally operates from 9 am, but most customers generally stream in from around noon.
  • Seminole Nation Casino: Located some 45 miles east of Oklahoma City, the establishment operates 3 casinos with over 700 slot machines. You can enjoy card games of different types as well. The 3 casinos are I-40, Wewoka, and Konawa. The operating time of the casinos is between 10 am and 2 am.
  • Sac and Fox Nation Casino: Situated in Stroud the casino operates between 10 am and 2 am. However, during the weekend, working hours extend up to 4 am. The variety of games at the casino is impressive ranging from slots to card games and more. It also provides meals and refreshments in a serene environment.
  • Golden Eagle Casino: This is the premier casino of the Apache Tribe in Oklahoma. Its location is 115 West Evans Avenue and is open between 2 pm and midnight on most days. At the weekend, opening hours extend up to 2 am.

Who can play at online casinos in Oklahoma?

No one can play at online casinos or at betting apps in Oklahoma, no matter how old they are. The state expressly prohibits this kind of gambling. Even DFS lovers only play because there is no law that expressly bans DFS in the state.

However, it is important to note that the legal age for gambling in tribal casinos is 18. This goes up to 21 years if the gambling establishment is selling alcohol. When online casinos do become legal in Oklahoma, these age-limit regulations are likely to continue applying.

When will Oklahoma legalize online casinos?

It is unknown when Oklahoma will legalize online casinos. The state has been very sluggish in allowing any form of gambling to take place. The authorities grudgingly allowed live racing and pari-mutuel betting on horse racing in 1982. However, this only happened after a lot of pushing by pro-betting activists. The arrival of Tribal Casinos 5 years later also involved a lot of cajoling. Even the arrival of a state Lottery did not come easy. However, since all these gambling activities can now happen legally in the state, it is only a matter of time before online betting will follow suit.

Timeline of online casino legalization in Oklahoma

The endless struggle by pro-gambling groups to have online casinos legalized in Oklahoma has been long and convoluted. Since Oklahoma banned all forms of gambling in 1916, the state authorities have not been in a hurry to allow back the practice. Below is the timeline of activities on the legalization process.

  • 1916: Oklahoma bans all types of gambling in the state. This law stays unchanged all the way to the 1980s. The ban includes gambling on horse racing, which had gone on for some time before that. Horse racing gambling enthusiasts throng to illegal dens where they continue their practice.
  • 1982: Betting on horse racing makes a return. Gambling is legislated in the form of pari-mutuel betting and legislation doesn’t become a law until the following year, after it is endorsed by 12 of the 15 counties in Oklahoma. Later on, off-site betting and gaming machines on the racetracks are accepted as well. These additions effectively make the horse racing tracks to evolve into casinos. This paves way for the emergence of tribal casinos.
  • 1987: Gambling in tribal casinos becomes legal. The Choctaw Tribe hosts the first high-stakes bingo games in a land casino and is soon followed by other tribes. That was the beginning of in-person betting spreading around in the state. However, it is not until much later that a compact guiding the conduct of the casino business is reached between the state and tribal casino operators.
  • 1992: A gaming compact is signed between the state and the tribes to allow Class 2 types of gambling. This sees the arrival of electronic machines in the casinos. Games operated by computers, but controlled by a live dealer, also got the nod through this agreement. That same year, the Charitable Games Act was passed allowing more games under the license of the Alcoholic Beverage Law Enforcement Commission. The commission, therefore, gets the mandate to oversee gambling activities in the state. It also set a minimum age of 21 for gambling in alcohol-selling outlets.
  • 2004: The state agrees on a new compact with the tribes, which allows Class 3 gambling. This is followed by a boom of tribal casinos in the state. More tribes sense that casinos are potentially profitable for them. Therefore, they immediately set up many casinos for the residents. A referendum approves the formation of a lottery after a two-year legislative process with the lottery taking off in the state the following year. The successful establishment of the lottery provides hope for pro-gambling groups in the state that there will eventually be online betting in the state.
  • 2020: The state Governor attempts to bring legislation to allow online gambling. However, this effort is short-lived as his attempt is overruled by the Supreme Court of the state. The Court states that the Governor cannot initiate the process. This move by the Governor signals online casinos may become a reality in Oklahoma soon.

When online casinos in Oklahoma finally take off, you can play the following interesting online games on them. These are the most popular games in online casinos that are currently available.

  • Slots: These are the most common games in online casinos. They involve pressing a button to spin three or five wheels. The wheels display symbols and when it stops spinning, the symbols determine whether you have a winning line. Slots are not based on skill and are fun. However, they can be addictive, so remember to play responsibly.
  • Blackjack: One of the classic card games, blackjack involves having cards in your hand whose total value adds up to 21, or is as close to that number as possible. The total value of your cards should be more than that of the dealer, but not exceed 21. Though there are a number of players who play the game at the same time, each individually competes against the dealer. The numbered cards in blackjack represent their own value, while the letter cards have specific numerical values. It is these values that are added to reach a total of 21.
  • Roulette: This is a spinning wheel with 37 numbered divisions. A croupier spins a ball in the opposite direction to the wheel that will eventually land in one of the divisions. Before the wheel stops spinning, players need to place a bet on a table correlating to the slot on which the ball might land. After you place the bet, you can only wait to see where the ball will land. Roulette completely depends on luck, that is why it is such a popular game.
  • Bingo: In this game, each player has a card with numbers on it. The player marks off the numbers which are called out at random by the game host known as a caller. You can only mark off the called number if it is on your card. The first player to mark off all the numbers on his card shouts Bingo and wins.
  • Video poker: This is a casino game based on a five-card draw. It is quite similar to poker. Once you press deal, the computer gives you 5 random cards. You then discard as many cards as you want and replace them with a similar number from the dealer. The aim is to get cards similar to those preset at the beginning of the game to win.

FAQ

Does Oklahoma have any land-based casinos?

Yes, there are land-based casinos in Oklahoma that are operated by local tribes. Oklahoma has very many of these casinos in which locals can bet in person. You can gamble physically in these casinos. Another thing is that in land-based casinos, you will find almost the same games as online casinos.

How old do you need to be to gamble at an online casino in Oklahoma?

There is no minimum age for betting in online casinos in Oklahoma because such casinos are illegal in the state. Until online casinos become legal in OK, this situation will remain the same. Your only option is to bet in physical retail casinos where the minimum age is 18 years.

Is it safe to play at offshore casinos in Oklahoma?

No, it is not. Online casinos are illegal in Oklahoma, so you will not have any legal backing for your gambling. You are likely to lose your money to an online scammer if you take a risk of playing in such casinos. Moreover, you will be breaking the laws of the state by such participation.

What will happen if I gamble online as an Oklahoman resident?

You may face legal action if you are caught gambling online in Oklahoma. However, even if that does not happen, you run the risk of losing your money to online scammers. That is because online casinos are not legal in the state, so their activities are not subject to any regulation.