Known more for its coastline and wine regions, Oregon is a hotbed of gambling activity, which can be seen in the current legal climate in the state. With changes happening on a federal level when it comes to sports betting in 2018, it will be interesting to see where Oregon finds itself in the coming years. Here is a look at all the current gambling laws in Oregon.
Sports Betting in Oregon
Oregon has always marched to the beat of its own drum when it comes to gambling regulation, and this was evident when it set out to add sports betting into the mix. Befroe PASPA was repealed, the Oregon State lottery offered a sports betting alternative that was parlay-based, allowing the game to fall under the lottery category. When the opportunity arose to regulate the entire sports betting industry within the state, the government scrapped that game and replaced it with full-blown sports betting. Oregon did decide, however, to give the lottery a monopoly in the space, offering no other licenses. One tribal group has opened a live sportsbook on their lands so there is in fact one competitor to the lottery, which has yet to roll out its retail solution.
Online Sports Betting
In launhcing regulated sports betting in the state, the Oregon government decided to move in a different direction than other states before it. Rather than start with aseries of retail sports and then launch online and mobile betting after the fact, Oregon legislators chose instead to launch a betting app available to everyone in the state. This mobile-first approach is a refreshing change and gives all residents the chance to create accounts and make wagers without leaving their houses. While the state does plan to launch retail options via its lottery vendors, the expectation is that mobile betting will lead the way as it does in other states offering both channels.
Horse Betting in Oregon
Oregon has always been a state that is in favor of horse racing and pari-mutuel activities, although there is only one live track in the state. Horse racing enthusiasts are reliant on simulcast broadcasts from tracks across the continent. While there is only the one racetrack, there are many off-track betting facilities in Oregon that offer pari-mutuel betting to residents.
Online Horse Betting
Where Oregon seems to be the most gambling-friendly is in the area of online horse betting. Years ago, the state decided to take a very liberal stance on the online pari-mutuel world, offering licensing and an operator-friendly environment.
As a result, many operators have taken up residence in Oregon, and while they are licensed in that state, they are allowed to offer their services to residents of any state that does not explicitly have laws prohibiting pari-mutuel betting. Companies like DRF Bets, Twinspires, and Xpressbet, which are known across the country are all set up in Oregon, and for now they continue to operate in as many states as possible to give bettors a chance to put money down on their favorite horse or track from around the country.
Casino Gambling in Oregon
There is a very healthy land-based casino industry in Oregon, all of which is managed and controlled by the tribal nations in the state. Back in the 1990s the state entered a compact with the tribes to allow them to offer gaming on their land, and now there is everything from bingo halls to full-service casinos for Oregon residents to visit. There have been attempts to create a licensing structure for the private sector to get involved in the casino industry, but these have never made it through the voting process.
Online Casinos in Oregon
Despite the state’s move to make online sports betting legal, there has been no movement on online casino games also being available in a regulated environment to residents. This will come as a disappointment to many, as now you can wager on basically anything else via the state lottery and the horse racing vendors. Oregon does seem to have taken a progressive approach to sports betting, so that does give a little hope that legislators could add an amendment allowing the lottery or the land-based gaming operators the chance to offer slot machines and table games via online and mobile devices. For now, the only option for casino lovers in the state remains the offshore sites that continue to take action from Americans despite laws against such operations.
Lottery in Oregon
The Oregon Lottery is one of the oldest in the country, having been launched back in 1984. Since then, players in the state have been able to choose from many different games including daily draw games like Pick 3 which have become very popular. Oregon is part of the pooled group of states that offer jackpot games like Mega Millions, giving players the chance to change their lives with a prize that has creeped up into the ten-figure range!
Is sports betting legal in Oregon?
Yes! Sports betting has been legal in Oregon since August 2019 when a law was passed, giving the Oregon Lottery the opportunity to offer the product. The state launched an app in October 2019, and as a result anyone in the state can now make a bet on their favorite teams and leagues. Retail sports betting is available at one tribal casino and is expected to be rolled out into lottery retailers in 2020.
What is the best online sportsbook for residents of Oregon?
Truthfully, there is only one regulated, legal online sportsbook option for residents of Oregon. Yes, there are offshore options as well, but as we do not recommend playing with these companies that are outside the jurisdiction of Oregon state law, your best and safest bet is to play with the Oregon Lottery’s Scoreboard app.