OAPGG Supports Tribal Sovereignty and Exclusivity Rights for Gambling Operations in Oklahoma

‍Values and Principles

As a gambling-neutral organization, OAPGG does not advocate for or against any form of gambling. OAPGG promotes awareness, prevention, harm reduction, and treatment for gambling disorder, regardless of the legal status of gambling.

With regard to prediction markets and sweepstakes casinos, OAPGG advocates for legal clarity and regulation, which are essential for gambling safety.

Statement of Support

The Oklahoma Association on Problem Gambling and Gaming (OAPGG) supports tribal casino operators, who have an exclusive right to operate gambling activities in Oklahoma. While prediction markets and sweepstakes casinos are not currently legally recognized as gambling entities, engagement with them can cause gambling disorder, just as it would with recognized forms of gambling.

Rationale

Prediction markets and sweepstakes casinos mimic gambling in key ways. In the case of prediction markets, the uncertainty of the outcome adds risk to the investment, at a level beyond that of traditional investments. Sweepstakes casinos offer the same games as online casinos but with in-game currencies that can be redeemed for real money.

Those who invest in prediction markets or play sweepstakes casinos can develop the same problems as those that gamble at casinos or bet on sports. These problems include:

• Becoming preoccupied with the next investment or play

• Needing to invest or play with increasing amounts of money

• Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back or stop

• Using investing or play as a way to escape from problems or relieve difficult emotions

• Chasing losses by continuing to invest or play as a way to recoup losses

• Lying about the extent of the investments or level of play

• Jeopardizing relationships, work, or school

• Asking for bailouts to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by investing or playing

• Failing to control, cut back, or stop investing or playing

As prediction markets and sweepstakes casinos enter into Oklahoma, they compete with tribal gambling but do not abide by the same regulations that promote responsible gambling. This puts individual players at risk.

Call to Action

OAPGG calls on legislators and regulators to follow current federal laws, including the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and state laws, including the tribal compact, to promote gambling fairness and safety across the state. OAPGG also calls on legislators to consider responsible gambling policies in any future legislation. Responsible gambling policies should include:

• Financial support for treatment, prevention, and awareness

• Accurate advertising

• Protection of vulnerable populations

• Helpline promotion

• Participation in OAPGG statewide self-exclusion

• Allowing customers to set limits on their gambling

• Collecting and sharing data

• Training employees and educating youth

Attribution ‍

The Board of Directors of OAPGG

Signed by Cynthia Stober, President of the Board of OAPGG

For more information, contact:

Cynthia Stober at bikerlulu@yahoo.com

Wiley D. Harwell, Executive Director of OAPGG, at wharwell@oapgg.org