OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — What are the odds of sports betting coming to Oklahoma during the next legislative session?

One industry analyst told FOX 25 he isn’t expecting much.

State Sen. Dave Rader (R-Tulsa) is behind the most recent bill filed at the Oklahoma State Capitol to legalize sports betting through tribal compacts.

According to Ryan Butler, senior editor at Covers, strained state-tribal relations might stall the proposal.

While Oklahoma boasts dozens of casinos, efforts to legalize sports betting have failed in recent years.

“The big story with this is that it’s an interesting effort, it just, it’s going to be very difficult to get it done in Oklahoma,” asserted Butler.

He underscored how the tribes, which enjoy exclusive gaming rights in the state, would need to endorse Senate Bill 125 for the legislation to pass.

“Talking with some people who are very involved… in Indian Country in Oklahoma, they’re almost just kind of glad to wait out his term when [Gov. Kevin Stitt] leaves office,” Butler added.

Tribal leaders have voiced concerns over state-tribal relations and accused Gov. Stitt of aggravating them.

In Nov. 2023, the governor suggested his own sports betting plan but the proposal didn’t go far.

According to Butler, “It’s there. It’s a long shot. Texas could change things but Texas is probably not going to change things, so it’s still going to remain a long shot. We’re looking probably with the new administration, when there’s a new governor that takes office next, that’s probably much more likely [that] we’ll see something significant happen.”

Amid the possibility of raising state revenues, Sen. Rader said Oklahoma should legalize sports betting before Texas.

However, Butler doesn’t anticipate Texas budging any time soon either.

The head of the Oklahoma Association on Problem Gambling & Gaming previously told FOX 25 that expanding sports betting availability could worsen gambling addiction issues in the state.

On Monday, a spokeswoman from the governor’s office said Gov. Stitt would support a sports betting proposal that opens the industry to all commercial actors.

Sen. Rader’s bill would maintain a tribal compact framework for the industry.

Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association was unable to immediately provide FOX 25 a statement regarding Sen. Rader’s legislation.