There may not have been any legal sports betting in the state of Oregon since 2006 but all of that changed in late August of 2019, thanks to recent changes in the sports betting laws in the United States.
The Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018, ruling the 1992 federal ban on sports betting in most states violated their rights, paving a way for Oregon to once again offer legal sports betting in the state.
It was the Oregon Lottery, which pulls in $1 billion a year in revenues for the state, that introduced Sports Action in 1989. Gamblers could place wagers on an NFL parlay card, with NBA added the following year in 1990. This move caused huge controversy among the sports league, particularly basketball with the NCAA stopping tournaments in Oregon even though it was not possible to bet on NCAA games.
The NBA cards only lasted 12 months because the NBA filed a lawsuit and the lottery settled. The NFL parlay cards were discontinued in 2006 and Sports Action ended in 2007, despite Oregon being one of the four states grandfathered in under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act; Nevada, Delaware and Montana are the other three.
How Legal Sports Betting In Oregon Came In August 2019
The repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act has resulted in some major developments in regards to sports betting returning to Oregon. Oregon’s lottery officials were of the understanding that the lottery has broad authority to reintroduce sports betting to the Beaver State.
Matthew Shelby, a spokesperson for the Oregon Lottery, went on record to say “We are working internally through various options, but we still have a goal of rolling something out to Oregonians in time for the 2019 NFL season; the 2019 NFL season commences on September 5.”
In June 2019, the Oregon Lottery partnered with sports betting technology supplier, SBTech, in order for them to power the state’s retail sports betting kiosks and statewide mobile sports wagering app.
Officials for the Oregon Lottery estimated that legalized sports betting in the state could generate $35.5 million of revenue in its first year, rising to more than $120 million once the industry becomes fully established.
However, because of the way the state’s tribal compact is set up, tribal casinos can offer the same games that the Oregon Lottery can. It is because of this rule that Chinook Winds Casino Resort opened its own OR sportsbook in late August 2019 before the state Lottery could launch its own sports betting platform in mid-October of 2019.
When Did Mobile Sports Betting In Oregon Launch?
As mentioned before, the Oregon Lottery originally planned to launch a mobile sports betting app before the start of the 2019 NFL season. However, the launch was delayed due to the necessary further testing of the platform.
A little over a month passed after the expected date, but an Oregon sports betting app finally became available to the public on October 17, 2019. The app is known as Scoreboard and the online version of the sportsbook is also available on the Lottery’s website.
Oregon Sports Betting In 2021
In January of 2021, House Bill 2127 was introduced to the state legislature with the backing of Oregon Governor Kate Brown. The goal of the bill was to expand the state’s online sports betting marketplace to other companies besides SBTech.
In the first six months of Scoreboard’s operation, the state of Oregon lost millions of dollars. While they are profitable in 2021, it is still not to the extent of other states.
The new bill would put no cap on the number of online sportsbooks in Oregon. The Oregon Racing Commission would also be put in charge of regulating the industry instead of the Oregon Lottery.
Other rules include the allowance of online sportsbooks offering betting odds on college sports including settings for the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers. Sportsbooks with live betting would also have to use official league data.
The bill still has a way to go before being signed into law so sports bettors in Oregon will have to keep a close eye on this piece of legislation.
Oregon Sports Betting FAQs
How old do I have to be to bet on sports in Oregon?
Anyone that is 18 years old or older can bet on sports in Oregon. This is the case no matter if you’re betting on sports inside a land-based location or online through the state’s sports betting app.
Can I use Scoreboard if I travel outside of Oregon?
No. The app and the website are geo-fenced, meaning Scoreboard will not accept wagers if you happen to travel outside of the state’s borders. You can still view Scoreboard’s odds, you just can’t put any money down on them.
Are there any retail sportsbooks in Oregon?
Besides the sportsbook at Chinook Winds Casino Resort and the Mill Casino, the answer is no. However, this won’t always be the case. More tribal casinos are expected to open sportsbooks in Oregon in the near future. At the same time, the Oregon Lottery plans to allow retail lottery partners to offer sports betting inside their establishments as well.
Can I bet on the Oregon Ducks in OR?
Yes, but for the moment, you can only bet on the Oregon Ducks at tribal casino sportsbooks. That goes for any collegiate sports betting in Oregon. The app Scoreboard does not yet offer odds for the Ducks or college sports but that could very well change in the future.
Why is SBTech Suing the Oregon Lottery?
SBTech sued the Oregon lottery along with the state’s attorney general and other state officials on the grounds that they believed the contract that they signed with the state should prevent the lottery from releasing the financial terms of their deal. The Lottery is a public agency which is why they believe Oregon citizens should know where their tax dollars are going.
Will the SBTech lawsuit Shutdown Online Sports Betting in OR?
A circuit judge ruled that SBTech had to disclose their contract to the public. At this time there is no indication that the lawsuit will affect the operations of the sole Oregon sports betting app.