While sports betting is legal in Oregon, there are limited betting options. Only one DraftKings online sportsbook is allowed to accept wagers, and there are only a handful in-person options in the state.
In January 2022, DraftKings took over Oregon’s online sports betting market, there are only four locations where in-person wagers can be made in Oregon, but retail betting has not seen significant numbers. These are the four places where bettors can currently make in-person wagers in Oregon:
- Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City
- Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde
- Three Rivers Casino Resort in Florence
- The Mill Casino & Hotel in North Bend
Top Sports and Events to Bet On in Oregon
Perhaps it’s because of the lack of local teams in Oregon that sports betting activity has been comparably low in Oregorn. That said, basketball is popular for betting, with the Portland Trail Blazers an obvious team to put some money on.
Oregonians also like betting on soccer, and the Portland Timbers typically attract a large part of those bets in the MLS. For college sports fans, there are two major universities in Oregon: the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. In retail sportsbooks, you can bet on college basketball and football. As sports betting continues to grow in Oregon, it will be interesting to see if regulations expand to include online betting on collegiate events.
The History of Oregon Sports Betting
Sports betting in Oregon has a long history, dating back to 1990 when the state’s lottery introduced Sports Action. This was well before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed in 1992, exempting Oregon from its restrictions due to existing sports betting laws.
Despite this, the Oregon Lottery discontinued Sports Action in 2007 due to low profits. It wasn’t until the repeal of PASPA in 2018 that the state was forced to create a new sports betting law, which included unique language and regulations.
In response to these changes, Oregon made a major adjustment to its sports betting market. However, the results have not been as successful as initially hoped.
Oregon’s Unique Approach to Legalizing Sports Betting
Unlike many other states, Oregon did not need to pass a new law in order to launch sports betting due to existing legislation. This saved the state valuable time and resources, as other markets faced significant challenges before legalizing sports betting.
The Oregon Lottery was given control over the state’s sports betting market and quickly launched the Scoreboard App. However, after a lack of interest from bettors, the lottery teamed up with DraftKings Sportsbook to offer more options.
Although Native American tribes are also permitted to offer sports betting, all wagers must be made in person according to current regulations.
Regulations and Guidelines for Sports Betting in Oregon
The Oregon Lottery has been granted the authority to offer online sports betting in the state, creating a monopoly. Eligibility for sports betting is limited to individuals who are at least 21 years old, including visitors to the state.
Sportsbooks in Oregon can offer bets on a variety of sports, but there are different regulations for retail sportsbooks. While tribal casinos can offer betting on collegiate sporting events at their in-person locations, this is not allowed for online sportsbooks.
Even though Native American tribes have the ability to offer online sports betting, all bets must be placed from the physical location of the casino. Additionally, Oregon has the lowest sports betting revenue tax rate in the country, which is another advantage for DraftKings as the sole operator in the state.
