Oklahoma

OKC Thunder pitches plan to legalize sports betting in Oklahoma, earn share of wagers

Published

3 months ago

October 24, 2025

OKC Thunder pitches plan to legalize sports betting in Oklahoma, earn share of wagers

As lawmakers in Oklahoma continue to debate how to legalize sports betting, the Oklahoma City Thunder wants to play a primary role in the potential new industry.

Oklahoma remains one of 11 states without legal sports betting as legislators, the governor, tribal governments and other industry insiders like the Thunder have failed to reach an agreement.

Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt has promised to veto any bill that is “exclusively giving a monopoly to the tribes,” while Matthew Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, contends that failing to include tribal governments in legalized sports betting would breach established gaming compacts.

The Thunder’s push to join the industry comes amid increased scrutiny of sports betting in the NBA after former and current coaches and players were charged Thursday, Oct. 23 with conspiring to commit fraud, money laundering, illegal gambling and extortion.

The FBI secured multiple indictments for more than 30 people related to their alleged role in the scandal, including Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. The NBA placed Billups and Rozier on “immediate leave” after they were indicted.

A Thunder-Lakers game in January 2024 is also part of the investigation after a federal grand jury alleged in one indictment that defendant Marves Fairley placed a $100,000 bet against the Lakers after getting inside information from former NBA player Damon Jones that “one of the Lakers’ best players” was injured.

OKC Thunder would earn 0.25% of total handle under proposed model

Lawmakers in Oklahoma were already planning to discuss the future of sports betting in the state on Thursday, before details of the federal indictments came to light and immediately raised questions about the influence of gambling in the NBA and in other sports leagues.

No one who spoke at Thursday’s hearing mentioned the federal indictments.

Speaking to lawmakers, a representative for the OKC Thunder suggested authorizing the Thunder or a tribal consortium the ability to offer a single retail and mobile sports betting license to tribal and state approved operators, such as DraftKings or FanDuel.

Will Syring, vice president of corporate sponsorships for the Thunder, said any license would require all revenues generated from bets placed on the platform to be shared with the collective tribes, and 0.25% of total handle would be provided to the Thunder.

“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.”

Syring said the Thunder believes allocating 0.25% is an equitable way to ensure a healthy gaming market and allow the Thunder to remain competitive.

Every state that borders Oklahoma, except for Texas, has legalized sports betting, including Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Missouri and Arkansas.

But Morgan said the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association doesn’t believe any license can go through a non-tribal operator under terms of the State-Tribal Gaming Act.

“If we can find a way forward and work with the Oklahoma City Thunder, that’s what we want to keep in mind as we move forward,” Morgan said. “They’re a big part of the discussion and someone we want to ensure that we listen to their voice and their thoughts.”

Under the proposal outlined by Syring, the consortium or NBA team license would be geofenced to non-tribal territory in Oklahoma, and each tribal territory would be governed by any individual tribe and operator agreement where tribes could choose to operate a sports betting product within their territory.

But Morgan said lands eligible for sports betting under the Indian Gaming Regulation Act would be limited based on differing legal and treaty histories between tribes. Some tribes in Oklahoma have reservation statuses while others do not.

Under the Thunder’s model, exclusivity fees would be paid to the state under the existing compact structure, which grants the state a share of revenue generated by certain types of tribal gaming. The deal net Oklahoma more than $210 million last year, with most of the money going to education.

“At the end of the day, all Oklahomans will now have the ability to safely place bets on their phones or at retail locations anywhere in Oklahoma,” Syring said. “We would be thrilled to support the solutions moving forward.”

Oklahoma Lottery wants to sell products online

During the hearing, Jay Finks, executive director of the Oklahoma Lottery Commission, said participating in mobile sports betting doesn’t make sense for the commission, because it doesn’t fit the commission’s model on managing risk and maximizing revenue to the state.

But he said mobile sports betting could open the door for selling lottery tickets online.

“As we’re looking at this expansion into gaming and as we look at Oklahoma evolving that, don’t forget about us, because [with] the addition of sports betting, forgetting about the Oklahoma Lottery does have the opposite effect, and that could take away the revenue that we’re driving for Oklahoma education.”

Source link

Click to comment

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal offensive lineman to the roster

Published

4 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal offensive lineman to the roster

The Oklahoma Sooners made an under-the-radar transfer portal addition on Wednesday, bringing back a player who spent two seasons in Norman before transferring out last year.

Former Central Oklahoma offensive lineman Kenneth Wermy will be returning to play for OU out of the portal. Wermy played for the Sooners in 2023 and 2024 before spending 2025 at the NCAA Division II level with the Bronchos. He’ll add depth to an offensive line group that is in need of it after recent portal departures.

Wemry is a local product from Cache, Oklahoma, and he stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds. The Sooners have been busy adding big names in the transfer market, but with a week and a half left until the portal closes, the focus may soon turn to retention and building back depth on the roster.

Oklahoma had a busy portal day on Wednesday, adding Wermy and former Michigan linebacker Cole Sullivan. However, Oklahoma also lost three players to the portal, in linebacker Sammy Omosigho, defensive back Jaydan Hardy, and wide receiver Zion Ragins.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.

Source link

Oklahoma

Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries

Published

16 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries

A local lawmaker is introducing a bill to prohibit obscene materials in Oklahoma public school libraries.

Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, filed legislation this week, House Bill 2978, that would update state law and prohibit the acquisition of materials that meet Oklahoma’s legal definition of obscenity.

The bill removes references to subjective community standards and relies on established statute, according to Banning.

“This legislation provides a straightforward statewide rule that helps ensure school libraries stay within the definition of education,” Banning said. “According to Black’s Law Dictionary, education is defined as providing proper moral, intellectual and physical instruction.”

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Source link

Oklahoma

How to watch Oklahoma Sooners: Live stream info, TV channel, game time | Jan. 7

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

How to watch Oklahoma Sooners: Live stream info, TV channel, game time | Jan. 7

The Mississippi State Bulldogs (9-5, 1-0 SEC) will host Xzayvier Brown and the Oklahoma Sooners (11-3, 1-0 SEC) at Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The game tips at 7 p.m. ET.

In the article below, we’ll give you all the info you need to watch this matchup on TV.

As college hoops matchups continue, prepare for the contest with everything you need to know about Wednesday’s game.

Mississippi State vs. Oklahoma: How to watch on TV or live stream

Game day: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Game time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Starkville, Mississippi
Arena: Humphrey Coliseum
TV Channel: SEC Network
Live stream: Fubo – Watch NOW (Regional restrictions may apply)

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Watch college basketball on Fubo!

Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State stats and trends

On offense, Oklahoma is averaging 87.3 points per game (29th-ranked in college basketball). It is surrendering 72.2 points per contest at the other end (153rd-ranked).
The Sooners are averaging 34.8 boards per game (99th-ranked in college basketball) this year, while allowing 29.1 rebounds per contest (85th-ranked).
Oklahoma is delivering 16.7 assists per game, which ranks them 67th in college basketball in 2025-26.
The Sooners are forcing 11.1 turnovers per game this year (240th-ranked in college basketball), but they’ve averaged only 8.9 turnovers per game (eighth-best).
Oklahoma is draining 10.5 threes per game (28th-ranked in college basketball). It has a 35.6% shooting percentage (94th-ranked) from three-point land.
The Sooners rank 283rd in college basketball with 8.6 treys allowed per game this year. Meanwhile, they rank 317th with a 36.1% shooting percentage allowed from three-point land.
In terms of shot breakdown, Oklahoma has taken 53.1% two-pointers (accounting for 65.7% of the team’s baskets) and 46.9% three-pointers (34.3%).

Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State Odds and Spread

Spread Favorite: Sooners (-1.5)
Moneyline: Oklahoma (-116), Mississippi State (-104)
Total: 159.5 points

NCAA Basketball odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Wednesday at 3:47 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Watch college basketball on Fubo!

Follow the latest college sports coverage at College Sports Wire.

Source link