Casinos in OK fill the gambling industry vacuum in Texas since casinos are illegal in the state. Dozens of Oklahoma’s tribal casinos are on the Texas-Oklahoma state line. The industry is quite a major contributor to the state’s economy, bringing in an estimated US$3.4 billion.
Not all casinos in Oklahoma are wholly owned and operated by Native American tribes. Major casino corporations like Harrah’s and Caesars back some tribal casinos in OK.
For those that are into online gambling and playing games at casino sites, they are free to do so in Oklahoma. While state-based casino sites aren’t permissible, exploring off-shore sites is completely legit. Let’s take a look at some key aspects about casinos in Oklahoma and what the laws around both offline and casino sites say.
Gambling in Oklahoma Casinos
State laws throughout the country vary greatly around casinos and gambling. Some have none, while others only allow them on tribal land, and others welcome the gambling industry.
- Casinos in OK pay a 10% tax on table games, 4% on slots on annual revenue under US$10 million while it’s 5% on the next US$10 million and 6% above that.
- The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission (OHRC) regulates horse racing in the state. This includes live races, off-track betting, advance deposit betting, and pari-mutuel pools.
- There’s a state lottery that sells instant game tickets and lottos. They are sold through licensed retailers and not over the internet.
- The minimum gambling age in Oklahoma is 18 years.
Let’s take a look at what the state of gambling laws is in Oklahoma.
How Oklahoma Defines Gambling
The state of Oklahoma’s Gambling Act defines gambling as “betting or bargaining that, dependent upon chance, one stands to lose or win something of value specified in an agreement between parties”.
Which Types of Gambling are Legal at Casinos in Oklahoma?
There are a number of forms of gambling that are legal in OK. These are:
- Licensed horse racing
- Sports betting
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Poker
- Craps
- Roulette
- State lottery and scratch-offs
- Charity bingo and raffles
Which Types of Gambling are Illegal?
While it looks like casinos in Oklahoma are allowed to host a variety of casino games, dog racing is illegal in the state.
Online Gambling in Oklahoma
Establishing a casino site in the state is illegal. The one form of online gambling that’s legal in Oklahoma is off-track horse racing betting. TwinSpires, which is a subsidiary of Churchill Downs, has a monopoly on off-track betting in OK.
Another form is daily fantasy sports (DFS). DraftKings, FanDuel, CBS Sports, and Yahoo! are allowed to operate in the state. However, there are some calling for Oklahoma to challenge why it’s allowed in the state as it’s skill gaming.
However, Oklahomans can play at offshore casino sites. There aren’t any laws or statutes that ban online gambling by individual players. Furthermore, if you’re looking for more sports betting options outside of horses and DFS, it’s not illegal for Oklahomans to bet at offshore sports betting sites.
Casinos in Oklahoma
As we’ve mentioned, there are 60 brick-and-mortar casinos in Oklahoma. They’re all on Native tribal lands. They are allowed to offer both Class I and Class II gaming. There are some casinos that offer Class III slots.
Regardless of class, gaming machines aren’t allowed to accept or payout in coins. All of them must be done either with a printed receipt or via electronic debit card.
Looking for the largest casino in Oklahoma? Then head on over to WinStar World Casino. The other two that make the top three largest casinos in Oklahoma are Riverwind Casino and Choctaw Casino Resort.
| Casino | Games | Other Features | Contacts |
| WinStar World Casino | 8,500 electronic games including 55 poker tables, 100 table games, off-track betting | Golf course, spa, resort pool and cabanas, boutiques, restaurants, live music and entertainment | 777 Casino Drive, Thackerville, OK
Local number: 1-800-622-6317 |
| Choctaw Casino Resort | 4,300 slot machines, 26 poker tables, 8 table games, off-track betting | Spa, pools, boutiques, arcade, cinema, restaurants, live music and entertainment | 4216 S. Hwy 69/75 Durant, OK
Local number: 1-888-652-4628 |
| Riverwind Casino | 2,700 slot machines, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, bingo, off-track betting | Hotel, Showplace Theatre, River Lounge, Beats & Bites Stage, gift shop, restaurants | 1544 S. Hwy 9 Norman, OK
Local number: 1-405-322-6000 |
Oklahoma Racetracks
Fans of horse racing will find three top-notch racetracks:
| Racetrack | Simulcast for Off-Track Betting? | Contact |
| Fair Meadows | Yes | 4705 East 21st Street, Tulsa, OK
Local number: 1-918-744-1113 |
| Remington Park | Yes | One Remington Place, Oklahoma City, OK
Local number: 1-405-424-1000 |
| Will Rogers Down | Yes | 20900 South 4200 Road, Claremore, OK
Local number: 1-918-283-8800 |
History of Casinos
In 1982, Oklahoma set up horse racing as its first legal gambling enterprise. With it both off-track and live betting were allowed. Then in 1992, charity bingo and raffles were first approved by the state.
Oklahoma’s legislature then approved the creation of a state lottery in 2003 and after a referendum, it sold its first lottery ticket in 2005. Finally, during the same state referendum that approved a state lottery, Oklahomans approved the creation and operation of casinos in Oklahoma by its Native nations.
Learn more about casinos
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