Oregon became one of the states to offer legal sports betting and legal online sports betting in August 2019.
The first betting app to launch following this was the Scoreboard sports betting app, which launched in October that same year. Oregon residents could then wager on sports using their mobile phones. However, this is still the only available sports betting app because all sports betting in Oregon is controlled by the Oregon Lottery. Also, betting on college sports is not allowed in the state right now.
In terms of retail sports betting, the first one launched in September 2019 at Chinook Winds – a tribal gaming venue.
Legal Sports Betting in Oregon Now
The only way to enjoy Oregon sports betting right now is by using the lottery app, which became available in October 2019.
The Legal Oregon Sports Betting App
The one and only sports betting app in Oregon launched in October 2019. The Oregon Lottery signed a deal with the European company SBTech to offer the state’s only legal sports betting platform.
This Scoreboard app can be downloaded via the Oregon Lottery website as long as you have a compatible cell phone or device.
Oregon Casino Sportsbooks
The only people allowed to offer casinos in Oregon are the state tribes. The nature of their compacts allows them to provide gaming within the state and this would also include sports betting. Currently, sports betting is available at The Mill and Chinook Winds Casino – but here is the list of tribal casinos in the state:
- Chinook Winds Casino, Lincoln City
- Indian Head Casino, Warm Springs
- Kla-Mo-Ya Casino, Chiloquin
- Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort, Canyonville
- Spirit Mountain Casino, Grand Ronde
- Three Rivers Casino, Coos Bay
- Three Rivers Casino, Florence
- Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton
Sports Betting at Bars and Lottery Outlets
Any outlet that sells lottery tickets and games will be allowed to offer Oregon sports betting.
Indeed, there are literally thousands of retail outlets that offer video lottery terminals and nearly all convenience stores provide the traditional lottery games. It is still unclear how many of these will end up offering sports betting though.
Oregon Sports Betting History
1989:
way back in 1989, the Oregon Lottery introduced ‘Sports Action’ – which was a lottery game that would work as a sports parlay game. A player could bet on a number of NFL games and win (or lose) based on the outcomes of the game.
The list of games then expanded to also include NBA games. However, because of the inclusion of the state’s Portland Trail Blazers, the NBA protested its inclusion and the NBA section of the game was discontinued just one year later.
For some unknown reason, the NCAA also protested against Sports Action, although there was no clear link as NCAA games were not available.
1992
This was the year that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) became federal law – and, to the main extent, sports betting was made illegal throughout the US.
There were, however, a few exemptions given to those states that already offered existing sports betting opportunities – most notably in Nevada. The state ended up practically gaining a monopoly on sports betting in the United States for another 18+ years.
Another state to enjoy an exemption was Oregon – and PASPA allowed the state to continue offering Sports Action even under PASPA.
2005
Despite being allowed to continue after the introduction of PASPA, the Sports Action product finally bowed out after too much pressure from the NCAA. The state legislature then passed a bill to stop Sports Action trading by 2007
The last game was the 2007 Super Bowl. This pleased the NCAA and it almost immediately gave Portland a spot as an early-round tournament site as a reward for its discontinuation.
2018
2018 was the year that PASPA was overruled – and Oregon Lottery released its new sports betting app.
After PASPA was ruled unconstitutional, the Oregon Lottery launched its own app for mobile betting. This was originally launched for iOS but expanded to offer Android services.
In the first instances, the app allowed players to simply check whether their lottery tickets were winners or losers. However, they made no secret of the fact that this app could well support online gambling and sports betting in the future.
Oregon Sports Betting: The Pros and Cons
One of the main positives is the future arrival of DraftKings in the state. Up until recently, online and mobile sports betting had only been offered on the Scoreboard app – powered by the SBTech platform, owned by DraftKings. However, the upcoming takeover by DraftKings will mean an even better experience for Oregon sports bettors. Indeed, including the availability of same game parlays.
On the other hand, there is only one provider allowed by the state – the Oregon Lottery in partnership with DraftKings. This completely removes all competition. As a result, there is no real motivation for DraftKings to offer particularly generous odds or big promotions.
Pros
- Mobile and online betting with one of the top sites in the industry
- Remote registration allowed
- Same game parlays are now on offer
Cons
- There is just one online sportsbook allowed to operate in the state
- The retail sports betting locations are not convenient
- No betting on college games allowed
What You Are Not Allowed to Bet On in Oregon:
The great news is that same game parlays are now available in the state. However, there are several other areas that aren’t available for wagers – including college games. Here are some of the prohibited wagers in the state:
Political Bets
Betting on politics in Oregon is completely prohibited. This is the case throughout the whole of the United States,
Entertainment and Awards Ceremonies
Residents of Oregon don’t have the option of wagering on any entertainment or pop-culture events – including the Academy Awards or Emmys.
eSports
Another prohibited area is eSports betting. It may be the case that this is included at a future point in time.
Oregon College Sports
In addition, DraftKings also doesn’t offer college sports betting either, which remains prohibited. Oregon’s tribal casinos do offer college sports betting but not in-state teams or events.
Oregon Sports Betting FAQ
Here are the most commonly asked Oregon sports betting FAQs
Is Sports Betting Legal in Oregon?
Yes, you can wager in sports via the Scoreboard / DraftKings sportsbetting app. Furthermore, one of the state’s tribal casinos launched a retail sportsbook in August 2019 – with the app following just a while later in October that same year.
After the Supreme Court overturned PASPA, which banned sports betting across the US, in 2018, it then allowed each of the states to decide whether or not they would legalise sports betting. The Oregon Lottery, which oversees the state’s betting, said that it already possessed legal authority to offer sports wagering and launched it in the Beaver State.
Who Regulates Oregon Sports Betting?
Sports betting in Oregon is overseen and regulated by the Oregon Lottery. As such, it is responsible for running the Scoreboard app along with its sports betting partner, SBTech.
Where Can I Wager On Sports in Oregon?
You can bet on sports anywhere in the state using the Oregon Lottery’s Scoreboard / DraftKings app. It is also available at the tribal casino Chinook Winds.
The legislation declares that you physically need to be located within the state borders of Oregon to place a bet. However, you do not need to be a resident of the state. You must simply be located in the state when placing the bet, which will be determined using the app’s geolocation technology.
It may be that in the future, any retailer that offers lottery games also has the potential to offer a sports betting kiosk. It’s also probable that other tribal casinos will also start to offer sports betting.
Can I Bet on All Sports in Oregon?
Generally, you can wager in most sports. All professional sports are allowed, but there is not currently any in-state college team or events betting allowed. As such, any fans of the Oregon State University Beavers and University of Oregon Ducks are unable to bet on their teams for now. This ban seems to be linked to the fact that lottery proceeds go towards the state University, so there is a conflict of interest.
Who Can Apply for a Sports Betting License in Oregon?
At this moment in time, no one can. However, because the lottery has stated that it is committed to its retailers, it looks likely that any retailer that offers lottery products will also be able to offer sports betting kiosks as well – although these aren’t necessarily licenses as they will be under the lottery license.
This may change in the future, but for now, it is very much a lottery monopoly.
Can I Bet on Sports on My Phone in Oregon?
Yes, you can, but for now, you can only do so through the Oregon Lottery’s Scoreboard (DraftKings) app. You need to be physically located within Oregon to bet using the app.
Can Anyone Bet on Sports in Oregon?
As long as you are located in Oregon and aged over 21-years-old then you can wager on sports using the Oregon Lottery app.
Does Oregon Sports Betting Generate Much Revenue?
No, it doesn’t. However, the Lottery’s own commission report has stated that it believes sports betting revenues could eventually total more than $100 million after its third year.
This will certainly be something the state government will look at in the future. How well it goes will probably affect the future road that the state takes.
