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As gaming industry changes in Oklahoma, tribes ‘should be the ones driving it,’ their leaders say

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As gaming industry changes in Oklahoma, tribes ‘should be the ones driving it,’ their leaders say


Years in the past, whereas he was serving within the navy, Jon Peters heard a drill sergeant say there have been three forms of Marines: ‘One who makes issues occur, one who waits for issues to occur, and one who says ‘what occurred?’”

“We must be the correct of Marine,” mentioned Peters, now the chief working officer of the Kiowa On line casino and Resort.

In different phrases, Oklahoma tribes must drive modifications within the state’s gaming business and never merely wait to react to modifications, Peters mentioned this week on the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Affiliation Convention and Commerce Present.

One particularly large change will contain the legalization of sports activities betting within the state, in accordance with a number of members on the convention, which ended Thursday on the Cox Enterprise Conference Middle in downtown Tulsa.

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“It’s not ‘if’ however ‘when’ this alteration comes,” mentioned Kelly Carpino, CEO of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma.

Persons are additionally studying…

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Greater than half the states have legalized sports activities betting since a 2018 U.S. Supreme Courtroom choice struck down a federal ban, audio system mentioned. And People have since guess greater than $143 billion on sporting occasions.

Bringing it to Oklahoma would generate income not just for tribes however for the state authorities, mentioned Janie Dillard, senior govt director of commerce for the Choctaw Nation.

”We ought to be those driving it,” Dillard agreed throughout a panel dialogue on the “state of gaming” in Oklahoma. “Sports activities betting is the subsequent large prize.”

Legalizing it in Oklahoma would probably embrace technological modifications for tribal gaming, with bets made on-line as a substitute of at brick-and-mortar casinos, audio system mentioned. And it could in all probability require amendments to the state’s gaming compact, which provides tribes unique rights to supply gaming whereas the state receives a share of income, audio system mentioned. The present compacts don’t embrace sports activities betting.

Renegotiating the compacts, nonetheless, will include dangers, mentioned Invoice Lance, the secretary of state for the Chickasaw Nation.

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“It might probably’t be a dramatic, all-out change,” Lance mentioned, noting that the tribes had efficiently fought Gov. Kevin Stitt’s effort to pressure them to barter a completely new compact.

“Something that we do, going ahead, we should shield the integrity of the present state compact,” Lance mentioned.

Native American tribes contributed $15.6 billion to the Oklahoma financial system in 2019, the latest 12 months with obtainable knowledge, making them a “high 10 business within the state,” mentioned Victor Flores, president of the Oklahoma Tribal Finance Consortium.

The tribes created greater than 113,000 jobs, with the bulk held by nontribal residents, price greater than $5.4 billion in wages and advantages, Flores mentioned.

“Tribes are an financial driver in addition to a continuing and dependable companion,” Flores mentioned. “Not like companies that transfer based mostly on financial situations, our tribes are right here to remain.”

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Whereas bullish on the continued progress of gaming in Oklahoma, specialists on the convention urged tribes to variety with investments in different industries.

As one speaker famous, Oklahoma tribes needed to increase past bingo into on line casino gaming to generate sufficient income for well being care, housing and different wants. Likewise, tribes might want to increase past gaming to maintain up with future wants, Dillard mentioned.

“Gaming has set our basis. It is constructed us. It is made us what we’re right this moment,” she mentioned. “However we have to start out wanting exterior of the gaming field at different alternatives. Diversification is essential to all of us.”



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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: December 22

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Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: December 22


Join News 9 Sports Director Dean Blevins, News On 6 Sports Director John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland for this week’s edition of the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz.

Sunday, December 22nd 2024, 11:25 pm

By:

News On 6,

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News 9

This week on the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz, Dean Blevins, John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland begin the show with their opening takes.

Toby’s Top 3

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OU, OSU, TU Recap

Viewer Question

Thunder Update: Caruso 4-Year Contract Extension, No Christmas Game

OU, OSU, TU, ORU Basketball Recap

OSU Wrestling Beats Virginia Tech

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Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska

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Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska


Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska

Oklahoma transfer linebacker Dasan McCullough has committed to Nebraska, he confirmed on Instagram Sunday afternoon.

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The 6-foot-5, 235-pound McCullough spent the past two seasons in Norman with the Sooners. He began his college football career in 2022 at Indiana, where he earned Freshman All-American status.

McCullough will come to Nebraska with one season of eligibility remaining.

McCullough, who played Oklahoma’s versatile hybrid linebacker/safety position called the Cheetah, suffered an injury before the start of Oklahoma’s fall camp this season and missed the first five games. He returned to the field in October and played in the final seven games, the last five of which he started. He recorded 17 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2024.

In 2023 at Oklahoma, McCullough played in 10 games and started seven while making 30 tackles with 3.5 TFLs and three pass deflections.

McCullough, who was a star recruit and ranked No. 61 nationally in the 2022 class, comes from a football family. His dad, Deland McCullough, played running back in the NFL and is currently Notre Dame’s associate head coach and running backs coach.

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While Deland spent three seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs’ running backs coach from 2018-20, Dasan played his high school ball at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. Deland became Indiana’s associate head coach and running backs coach in 2021, and Dasan, then an Ohio State verbal commit, flipped to Indiana not long after.

Dasan followed his father to Bloomington and made an impact right away. He played in all 12 games with four starts and racked up 51 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, four sacks and four pass deflections. He gained Freshman All-American honors and a Big Ten honorable mention selection.

— Steve Marik, Inside Nebraska staff writer,

Analysis

McCullough is a versatile backend defender that can play a variety of roles in Nebraska’s defense.

A rare blend of size and athleticism at 6-5, McCullough shows good speed and change-of-direction ability for his size. Has high-end instincts and IQ, which shows up in zone coverage and reacting against the run. Has had some intriguing flashes as a pass-rusher, but largely relies on athleticism to get into the backfield, still developing consistent pass rush moves.

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Technically sound tackler, though lean he’s got wiry body strength. Consistent aggression could improve as could hip fluidity. Athletic enough to hold his own in man coverage, technique can continue to improve, better in zone at this point in his career.

In Nebraska’s scheme, McCullough can play all three linebacker positions, rover or even safety if needed. He’s likely best at inside linebacker with a few pass-rush opportunities.

This addition provides Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler something of a chess piece to move around his defense.

— Tim Verghese, Inside Nebraska recruiting analyst

Additional analysis

McCullough is a versatile and sizable defender who played both a traditional linebacker position and Oklahoma’s “cheetah” spot, which is roughly equivalent to the nickel. He also saw some periodic snaps as an edge rusher for the Sooners during his two years in Norman.

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McCullough at his best against the run, as he takes good pursuit angles, fills gaps responsibly and is a reliable tackler. That said, he’s intelligent and instinctive in zone coverage and can generally be trusted to hold his own in man-to-man matchups against tight ends and running backs.

McCullough ought to be quite the chess piece in John Butler’s defense, and could truly thrive in Lincoln depending on the Huskers’ specific vision for his diverse skill set.

— OUInsider writer Parker Thune

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Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas

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Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas


Associated Press

Central Arkansas Bears (3-8) at Oklahoma Sooners (11-0)

Norman, Oklahoma; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sooners -28.5; over/under is 145.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 14 Oklahoma hosts Central Arkansas after Jeremiah Fears scored 30 points in Oklahoma’s 87-86 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.

The Sooners have gone 6-0 at home. Oklahoma has a 2-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Bears are 0-6 on the road. Central Arkansas ranks fourth in the ASUN with 23.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Brayden Fagbemi averaging 4.6.

Oklahoma averages 82.0 points, 5.2 more per game than the 76.8 Central Arkansas allows. Central Arkansas averages 9.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 6.5 per game Oklahoma allows.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Fears is scoring 17.9 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Sooners.

Layne Taylor is scoring 17.0 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Bears.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sooners: 10-0, averaging 80.9 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 10.1 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.5 points per game.

Bears: 3-7, averaging 73.0 points, 34.3 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 38.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.7 points.

___

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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