Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioThe Oklahoma City Thunder wants to be directly involved in any future sports-betting framework in the state. The NBA franchise has pitched a plan that would allow it to share revenue from sports betting if Oklahoma legalizes it.
The team proposed a plan to lawmakers on October 23 to receive 0.25% of wagers placed in certain parts of the state. The idea involves a one-license framework, in which revenue would primarily flow to the state’s tribal gaming operators.
The Thunder’s plan would align it with other states, such as Missouri, where sports franchises are part of the sports betting ecosystem. The proposal comes amid Oklahoma’s long-running debate over gambling. It arrives as lawmakers, tribal leaders, and the governor remain divided over how — and by whom — sports betting should be regulated.
Oklahoma’s Sports Betting Deadlock
Oklahoma is one of the handful of states that have not legalized sports betting. Multiple legislative efforts have failed for the same reason. There’s no consensus on whether sports betting should be under tribal oversight or open to commercial participation.
This year, two tribal-exclusive bills advanced through the House but died in the Senate.
Governor Kevin Stitt has had a frosty relationship with tribes over compact renewals since 2019. He has warned that he would veto any proposal granting exclusive control to the tribes. Stitt has instead argued for a “fair and open system” that allows more participants. That could include entities like the Thunder.
Meanwhile, Matthew Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, says not involving tribal governments would breach established gaming compacts.
Senator Bill Coleman said the next phase of debate must be collaborative. “We have to understand all sides — tribes, pro sports, and state agencies — before we decide what a modern market looks like,” Coleman, who has led interim studies on the issue and sponsored a betting Senate bill this year, said in a statement after the October 23 meeting.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Lottery Commission, once floated as a possible sportsbook regulator, has signaled it isn’t interested in running betting operations directly. However, during the meeting, its leadership indicated openness to modernizing the lottery and pursuing the expansion of iLottery. It calls these moves a more natural fit with its statutory mission.
As the 2025 legislative session has concluded, discussions on sports betting are likely to continue in 2026. Coleman’s bill, which cleared the Senate but stalled in the House, and the two tribal-exclusive proposals are eligible for a hearing.
The Thunder’s Proposal
The Thunder is pitching a revenue-share model and positioning itself as part of the solution to illegal wagering and as a partner of the state’s tribal gaming industry.
The team proposes a single-state license system held by the team or a tribal consortium. The licensee could then offer sports betting to tribal and commercial operators, such as DraftKings and FanDuel.
Under the plan, operators would share a portion of revenues with the state’s tribes. Meanwhile, the Thunder would receive 0.25% of wagers placed within designated regions.
Will Syring, the Thunder’s vice president of corporate sponsorships, said the 0.25% is a fair way to ensure a healthy gaming market and allow the Thunder to remain competitive.
“In other markets, teams are getting direct licenses,” Syring said. “If they’re getting licenses, they are getting paid off of those bets. The league also only allows you to take a percentage off the top.”
The Thunder also aligns with the tribes. It argues that opening the market beyond the state’s tribal gaming compact would trigger lawsuits, thereby delaying legalization.
NBA Integrity Scandals Add Pressure
The Thunder’s pitch coincided with a wave of gambling-related scandals that have shaken the NBA.
That same day, the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced the arrest of more than 30 individuals in connection with illegal gambling operations. They included Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player and coach Damon Jones.
Billups was allegedly part of an underground poker operation with ties to organized crime figures. Meanwhile, the FBI arrested Rozier in a separate sports-betting probe. The incidents prompted members of Congress to summon NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for testimony on league oversight and gambling policies.
Among those charged was Marves Fairley. He’s a Mississippi bettor facing accusations of exploiting confidential NBA injury information through his tipping service, Vezino Locks.
For Oklahoma lawmakers, the wave of cases underscores the need for a state framework that includes strict compliance monitoring and integrity oversight. In theory, a professional team like the Thunder could play a valuable role in these areas.
