Mazzei Wins Gubernatorial Runoff, Potentially Affecting Oklahoma Sports Betting

Oklahoma sports betting advocates saw their fortunes slightly shift on Tuesday, as former state senator Mike Mazzei narrowly defeated attorney general and favorite Gentner Drummond in the Republican gubernatorial primary runoff. Drummond got the most votes in the initial primary election, but did not clear 50%, necessitating a runoff against second-place Mazzei.

Mazzei’s win can be seen as a positive development for sports betting in the Sooner State. The main obstacle to bringing legal sports betting to the state has been outgoing governor Kevin Stitt’s poor relationship with Oklahoma’s tribal leaders.

In April, Mazzei spoke glowingly about a meeting he’d had with Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton, one of the leaders of Oklahoma’s Five Tribes. During the campaign, both Mazzei and Drummond emphasized the need for cooperation with tribal leaders.

Decision Desk HQ called the race for Mazzei at 9:47 p.m. Central time. With 99% of precincts reporting, Mazzei held a lead of 2,047 votes, or 0.56%. Under Oklahoma law, there are no automatic recounts. Instead, Drummond’s campaign would have had to request and pay for any recounts. It would then be refunded if the recount had reversed the result.

Drummond did not challenge, instead conceding the race to Mazzei. Mazzei will now face Oklahoma House minority leader Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City) in November’s election to replace Stitt. No Democrat has won a gubernatorial race in Oklahoma since Brad Henry in 2006, making Mazzei the heavy favorite.

How Does This Impact Oklahoma Sports Betting?

Under Oklahoma law, gambling is only legal on tribal lands. Oklahoma is home to 39 Native American tribes, and brick-and-mortar casinos are common in the state. Because of the tribes’ strong presence in Oklahoma, any efforts to bring legal gambling to the Sooner State must include their interests.

Stitt discovered that the hard way. During his time as governor, Stitt tried multiple times to make Oklahoma sports betting legal. In 2023, he announced a plan that would have let tribes amalgamate sports betting into their frameworks, while opening the state for other sportsbooks. That plan went nowhere, destroying relations between Stitt and tribal leaders.

Relations deteriorated to the point that Stitt vowed to block any bills that placed sports betting power in the hands of the tribes. That led to yet another defeat for legalized sports betting earlier this year. In April, Sen. Bill Coleman (R-Ponca City) and Rep. Ken Luttrell (R-Ponca City) announced a deal with both the tribes and the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder to make Oklahoma sports betting legal.

But Stitt threatened a veto, and the bill failed in the Oklahoma Senate. Since then, it’s been accepted that sports betting would only have a chance if the next governor had better tribal relations.

Will Oklahoma Sports Betting Become a Campaign Topic?

Not likely. Munson and Mazzei both agree that stronger relationships with Oklahoma’s tribes are mandatory. Both have criticized Stitt for his approach, and both seek changes.

“I will not have this aggressive behavior against our tribes,” Munson told News9 in Oklahoma City. “Oklahomans want us working, want the state of Oklahoma to work in partnership with our tribes.”

While that fits with Munson’s profile in the state House, it leaves no daylight between her and Mazzei on this topic. That makes it unlikely to be a campaign issue.

“Our 39 Native American tribes are the crown jewel of Oklahoma, and we’ve got incredible opportunities to work on historic and economic growth,” Mazzei said.

What Are the Next Steps?

The general election takes place on Nov. 3. The most important election for Oklahoma sports betting is actually Coleman’s, as the Senate majority whip will likely re-introduce his sports betting bill if he is re-elected.

Given their relationships with the tribes, both Mazzei and Munson seem likely to sign Coleman’s bill if it gets through the legislature. The new legislative session in Oklahoma begins on Feb. 1.