SCOTUS decision could allow sports betting in Oklahoma
Hundreds of thousands of fans flock to Norman and Stillwater every weekend to watch the Sooners and Cowboys.
Now, instead of making fans cheer, the teams could soon make them money. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that states will now be allowed to decide whether to legalize sports betting, a lucrative, currently illegal hobby.
"It's long overdue for sure," said Jack Ross, an expert in sports gambling who has to travel to Las Vegas to place bets. "Going to be able to bet on college and pro sports."
The Chickasaw National said it's estimated that illegal sports gambling is a $1.6 billion industry in Oklahoma every year.
"People wanna do things legally, that's the truth," Ross said. "People don't wanna break the law."
Ross said he thinks Oklahoma will pass a bill legalizing sports gambling, but it won't happen overnight.
"If you're wondering if it's gonna be by football season, I don't think that's gonna happen," he said.
If it does pass, Oklahomans will be able to bet on more than football.
"You'd be able to walk into the arena and decide whether Russell Westbrook is going to have a triple-double or not," Ross said.