The head of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association said Thursday that tribes shouldn’t rush into a “bad deal” with the state when it comes to sports betting.

His remarks came after a panel on the future of sports betting in Oklahoma at a meeting of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma in Catoosa. 

Balancing tribal priorities and relationships with state leaders was another major topic of conversation for tribal leaders.  

With 31 of Oklahoma’s tribal nations represented at the meeting, speakers at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa included Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. of the Cherokee Nation, Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe, and Margo Gray, executive director of UINO. 

When discussions turned to sports betting and tribal compacts with the state, Gov. Kevin Stitt was repeatedly mentioned. Stitt recently said he would veto any sports betting legislation sent to his desk that gave tribes exclusivity and has previously had conflicts with Oklahoma’s tribes. 

Matthew Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said these comments want to bring gaming in Oklahoma back to 2004, when the state offered a gaming compact to the tribes with exclusivity rights for class three gaming, which includes sports betting. Going back is not realistic, Morgan said.

“I don’t think the odds are in our favor of seeing something move even through both chambers to (Stitt),” Morgan said. “Now, there’s always a chance and we have always advised our members that we need to be ready if there is a chance to move forward because they’ll probably move quickly. But you know, we, as tribal governments, members of OIGA, we’re not in a rush to have a deal on this, especially if it’s a bad deal. So if the right situation presented itself, I think you would see tribes get on board and really engage in the conversation, but we’re not gonna make a bad deal.”

Chief Billy Friend of the Wyandotte Nation said there are three sports betting bills still “alive” at the state Capitol, two of which are more likely to receive the support of tribal nations. He said a few of Oklahoma’s neighboring states have recently legalized sports betting, including Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. 

“We’re very unique in the fact that we have 38 tribes in the state,” he said. “And it’s much different than a lot of other states that currently have sports betting with tribes, where they don’t have as many tribes to get together (in agreement).”

Friend said he does not think the tribal nations have enough votes at the state Legislature to overturn a veto from Stitt this session.