The first breakthrough would come in 1982, when gamblers Oklohomans finally gained the right to bet on horse races. After that, it would take nearly a full century before anyone successfully managed to bring gaming back here in even a limited form. While Oklahoma was clearly part of the “Old West” gambling tradition back in the 19th century, that industry died (at least in legal terms) once the state was officially admitted to the USA in 1890.
In fact, both the governor’s office and some of the Indian tribes were happy to offer the games at one point – only, bizarrely, they wouldn’t have been available in the Sooner State at all. The state has also had one of the most interesting relationships with online gambling in the United States.
