Online Gambling Legal In Oklahoma

Is Online Gambling Legal In Oklahoma
Is Online Betting Legal In Oklahoma
Is Online Gambling Legal In Oklahoma
Online Gambling Legal In Oklahoma

You’ve likely come across other pages like ours that proclaim things like “online gambling is completely legal in Oklahoma.” Those pages aren’t necessarily telling the absolute truth on the matter. The fact is that gambling law in every US state – Oklahoma included – is a complicated thing that requires professional guidance. Since online sports betting is not currently legal in Oklahoma, there are no sanctioned sportsbooks and therefore no deposit bonuses of any kind to speak of. However, in the event that online sports betting becomes legal, residents of Oklahoma can expect a similar approach to what sites in other states are currently offering. Oklahoma has a huge legal land based casino industry featuring over 100 casinos. 1992 saw the first style of casino, which included electronic games and bingo. It was not until 2004 that the casinos were allowed to provide table games with live dealers.

Home » US Poker Laws – State by State Reviews » Oklahoma Online Poker Sites & Laws

May 2nd, 2018 | Last updated on December 31st, 2018

Oklahoma Online Poker Sites & Laws
Last Updated December 31, 2018

Oklahoma and online poker have more in common than alphabetic proximity. The region has long been a proving ground for poker players, especially the road gamblers of the mid-1900s.

Today’s Oklahoma gamblers are still proving themselves at the tables, but most have swapped the long drives and backroom games for a simpler, safer proposition: Online poker. Learn more about the ins and outs of online poker in the state with our Oklahoma Guide to Playing Poker Online.

Oklahoma and Online Poker

Let’s play some online poker – easy, right? Except then you start trying to choose a site, and you notice that it’s impossible to tell if they even take players from Oklahoma. If you can figure that out, it’s impossible to really know what the differences between two given sites are – after all, online poker sites are tough to tell apart.

When you don’t know, you ask someone who has been there – and we’ve been there. After thousands of hours at online poker tables, we know what poker rooms are best for Oklahomans, and we’ve collected them into a simple list:

**Poker Sites Open to Players From Your State**
Bovada	$500 Bonus	3-4 Day Payouts	Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires
Ignition	$2000 Bonus	3-4 Day Payouts	Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires
Intertops	$600 Bonus	5 Day Payouts	Accepts Visa, Wires
BetOnline	$2500 Bonus	5-7 Day Payouts	Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Wires
Sportsbetting	$2500 Bonus	5-7 Day Payouts	Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Wires

Can Oklahoma Poker Players Play For Real Money?

Yes. All of the sites on our picks for the best Oklahoma poker sites obviously accept players from Oklahoma (there wouldn’t be much sense in putting them on the list if the opposite were true). While we strongly suggest that players from Oklahoma choose one of our suggested sites, there are several sites that didn’t make the list where poker-playing Oklahomans are also welcome.

Recent Updates Through 2019

As the law stands in Oklahoma, there is little to no chance that the state’s lawmakers will give serious consideration to legal online poker anytime soon.

However, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma fought for the right to offer internet poker and won its case in the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma several years ago. The ruling for the tribe and against the Oklahoma Gambling Compliance Unit gave the Iowa Tribe the right to offer some online gaming – with restrictions – per its gaming compact with the state.

The tribe then decided to establish PokerTribe, a website dedicated to online poker for international players and those in American states that had legalized online poker, as well as airline and cruise ship passengers. But software problems and licensing issues plagued their plans for years, leading up to a deal with Universal Entertainment Group and an online gaming license from the Isle of Man that was contingent upon meeting some unspecified terms.

In May of 2018, news emerged that the PokerTribe website had changed into Grey Snow Poker, a name more synonymous with the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s history and message. The site appeared to be in the beta-testing stage in early June, but it lacked players and any information about the software used or a potential launch date.

All of that changed before the year ended, though. Grey Snow Poker officially launched on November 5. The Oklahoma-based site offered real-money online poker for players outside of the United States. The original plan to offer games to people on airplanes and cruise ships has not come to fruition, but the site is running and offering bonuses, promotions, and daily and weekly tournaments, some with guaranteed prize pools.

Oklahoma Gambling & Poker Laws Summarized
Type/Code	Summary
State Code Section(s)	3A.200-282; 3A.401-735; 21.941-993; 21.1051
Definition of Gambling Prohibitions	Except as provided in the Oklahoma Charity Games Act, every person who opens, or causes to be opened, or who conducts, whether for hire or not, or carries on either poker, roulette, craps or any banking or percentage, or any gambling game played with dice, cards or any device, for money, checks, credits, or any representatives of value, or who either as owner or employee, whether for hire or not, deals for those engaged in any such game, shall be guilty of a felony. Any person who bets or plays at any of said prohibited games, or who shall bet or play at any games whatsoever, for money, property, checks, credits or other representatives of value with cards, dice or any other device which may be adapted to or used in playing any game of chance or in which chance is a material element, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Definition of Bet	A bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, or in which one of the parties to the transaction has valid reason to believe that it is dependent upon chance, one stands to win or lose something of value specified in the agreement.
Online Poker/Gambling	No serious efforts to legalize online poker or other casino games has been launched in the Oklahoma legislature.
Live Poker	Many of the tribal casinos in Oklahoma offer live poker, including cash games and tournaments.
Casinos	The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 authorized states and Native American tribes to form compacts for gambling on tribal lands. More than two dozen tribes did so, and there are more than 80 facilities open across the state.
Sports Betting	There is a pending bill in both houses of the legislature to allow tribal casinos to offer sports betting, but details remain unclear as compacts must be amended along with legislation passing.
DFS	A proposal to legalize daily fantasy sports in 2016 did not pass.
Other Forms of Gambling	Horse racing pari-mutuel wagering; charitable gambling, lottery.

Online Poker: It is Legal in Oklahoma?

That’s why we don’t pretend to offer an answer to the question of whether online poker is legal to play in Oklahoma. Instead, we’re going to provide you with some information that should serve as a starting point to finding an honest, accurate response to that query. We’ll start by listing some of the salient parts of Oklahoma gambling law, and then we’ll give you more information about how you can review Oklahoma statutes personally.

The definition of “bet” in Oklahoma law is unique in that it requires only the perception of chance on the part of one participant. As found in Section 21-981(1):

” A “bet” is a bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, or in which one of the parties to the transaction has valid reason to believe that it is dependent upon chance, one stands to win or lose something of value specified in the agreement.”

The de facto definition for “gambling” is found in the charge of Opening, conducting or carrying on gambling game (Section 21-941):

“Every person who opens, or causes to be opened, or who conducts, whether for hire or not, or carries on either poker, roulette, craps or any banking or percentage, or any gambling game played with dice, cards or any device, for money, checks, credits, or any representatives of value, or who either as owner or employee, whether for hire or not, deals for those engaged in any such game, shall be guilty of a felony”

Oklahoma law reserves a lesser charge for those who are just playing in the game. That’s a misdemeanor, although by the letter of the law you could still spend up to 30 days in jail (Section 21-941).

While that penalty sounds harsh, it pales in comparison to what Oklahoma has in store for those in the business of illegal gambling. There are nearly a dozen unique charges surrounding such activity, with Commercial gambling (Section 21-982) carrying perhaps the biggest stick:

“a felony charge that could bring up to 10 years in jail.”

It’s also a felony to spread “information to be used in making or settling bets” (Section 21-987), although the ultimate reach of this aspect of Oklahoma law in unclear.

To continue your research, here is a link to the online version of the Oklahoma state statutes.

Oklahoma Gambling Facts

There is a surprising amount of regulated gambling available in Oklahoma. Like nearly all US states, Oklahoma operates a state lottery. Oklahoma is also home to pari-mutuel wagering, and tracks in the state are also allowed to offer players a limited selection of casino-type offerings. If you’re looking for a more Vegas-style gambling experience, there are a number of tribal casinos providing the full range of popular gaming choices. Should your tastes run a bit tamer, the state’s flourishing charitable bingo games provide a lower-stakes, more casual way to bet a few bucks.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

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Oklahoma Gambling Research: Reliable Sources

Choctaw Casinos. Everything you need to know about the undisputed king of Oklahoma’s gambling industry. Operator of 8 in-state casinos, the Choctaw casino website provides access to information about all affiliated properties in one central location.

Oklahoma Gaming Compliance Unit. Explore tribal gambling from the other side of the fence with this set of resources concerning the state’s gambling compact with Oklahoma tribes.

OAPCG.org . A 24-hour hotline, links to a variety of related sites and resources, direct access to counselors and information about the responsibilities of operators to combat problem gambling are all available at the website for the Oklahoma Association for Problem and Compulsive Gambling.

Understanding Oklahoma’s Place in Poker History

There must be something in the water down in Oklahoma. How else to you explain the steadily remarkable stream of top-flight poker players coming from the state?

We’re talking about some of the biggest names of poker past, present and future here; start with “Oklahoma” Johnny Hale, who is always quick with an engaging story from poker games gone by. How about Bobby Baldwin, the man many believe to be largely responsible for the modern status of poker as a global game? He hails from Tulsa, as does young poker gun Ben Lamb who made his mark with a deep, deep run in the 2011 WSOP Main Event.

Sources & Citations For This Article on Oklahoma Online Poker

There is a fine line between legal and illegal when it comes to online gambling in Oklahoma. Currently, domestic online pari-mutuel bets are accepted on-site at terminals, and Daily Fantasy sports games are permitted. However, OK does not offer any domestic state-licensed online gambling services for poker, casino games, bingo, or sports betting.

This page provides a breakdown of how licensed offshore gambling sites fit into Oklahoma’s online gambling laws, as well as, information on Federal laws in play, and reliable resources for legal online gaming.

Other Oklahoma Gambling Pages

Oklahoma’s Gambling Legislation

Oklahoma’s current legislation has provisions for brick-and-mortar gambling through tribal-run outfits. The tribal-state compacts dictate the types of gambling available in each venue and how revenue is paid back to the state. Residents can walk into a land-based tribal-run casino destination and find slots, table games, and poker due to Class III game licensing permission. However, sports betting has not yet been legalized at the state level or authorized to be offered by tribal casinos.

Federal Gambling Laws

Only 2 USA federal gambling laws exist which apply to online gambling. These are known as the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful internet gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The Wire Act currently bans interstate betting on sports through domestically based online sportsbooks. The UIGEA is a federal banking regulation dealing with banking institutions who process financial transactions between users and gambling sites. However, neither law prohibits licensed offshore gambling operators.

The Rise And Fall Of PASPA

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) banned state-regulated sports betting in 46 states (including Oklahoma) for over 25 years since its inception in 1992. The law was repealed by the Supreme Court in May of 2018. This did not legalize nationwide sports betting, but it gave states the opportunity to vote in legislation introducing new domestic betting options.

Has Oklahoma Passed Any Sports Betting Legislation?

There were two bills that surfaced during the 2018 legislative session. These were H3375 and S1175. The bills aimed to legalize sports gambling as part of a new tribal gambling package. There was language in the bills regarding “sports pools,” but this was removed via an amendment. The two bills were never officially signed into law. However, they may be reintroduced in the 2019 legislative session. In the meantime, state bettors can use licensed offshore online OK sportsbooks.

What About Online Casino And Poker Legislation?

Oklahoma’s Iowa tribe launched an online poker site in 2013, much to the chagrin of the local government. After a legal battle that ran all the way to 2016, it was determined that the tribe could offer legal free play online poker to USA players and real money games to international players. The site’s rights were sold to Monster Products Worldwide.

Oklahoma has had the option of legalizing domestic online casino and poker platforms since 2011 when the DOJ reinterpreted the Federal Wire Act. But the state has yet to move on this opportunity, therefore, players can use licensed offshore online OK casinos and OK poker rooms in the meantime.

Navigating Tribal Compacts

Is Online Gambling Legal In Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state with preexisting state-tribal compacts. This means any new gambling legislation must include provisions for the tribes, otherwise, they will lobby against the legislation and make it a nightmare to pass. Tribal gambling establishments want a piece of any online action whether it be casino games, poker, or sports betting. If a resolution can be reached that appeases both parties, the legislation will pass.

What About Mobile Offshore Gambling?

Is Online Betting Legal In Oklahoma

In today’s day and age, licensed offshore online providers like online OK bingo sites have made their desktop sites responsive to mobile devices using HTML5. This technology allows the seamless and perfect translation of a desktop site onto any mobile screen size, no matter the device or operating system. No functions are lost and nearly every game is available to play on a mobile phone or tablet.

Official Oklahoma Gambling Laws & Statutes

Is Online Gambling Legal In Oklahoma

Anyone who is interested in reviewing Oklahoma gambling laws and statutes in their entirety, you can visit the State of Oklahoma Government Website where you will find the official documents in their original context.