Online Sports Betting in Oregon (2023)

Oregon Sports Betting Laws

Unlike other American states, sports betting has been legal in Oregon since 1989. In September 1989, Oregon introduced a sports betting platform known as Sports Action. The only type of betting Sports Action offered was the then-popular multi-game parlay system of bets. This, of course, was very limiting and did not allow players any flexibility. 

In October 1992, the federal government of the United States of America signed PASPA into the legislation, effectively placing a ban on all forms of sports betting in the country. However, due to a grandfather clause, the Beaver state was not affected by this law and was permitted to continue its sports betting operations.

As a result of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 's refusal to host an event in Oregon unless sports betting activities were shut down, the state abruptly concluded all sports gambling-related operations in June 2007. From that time up until May 2018, when PASPA was repealed, there was no sign that Oregon was ready to authorize sports betting again. 

The long-awaited dissolution of PASPA in 2018 meant that Oregon was free to commence legal sports betting activities, along with all other American states. In August 2019, the Beaver state kicked her sports wagering operations into high gear by opening a sports betting lounge in Chinook Winds Casino Resort. This lounge became the first in-person sportsbook in Oregon in 2007. 

Soon after this, the sports betting governing body in Oregon, the Oregon Lottery Commission, authorizes Scoreboard Tech for online sports wagering among Oregon residents. By January 2022, when Oregonians had warmed up to the idea of legal sports wagering in their state, DraftKings sportsbook acquired SBTech and took over online and mobile sports betting in the state.

This move was vetted by the Oregon Lottery Commission, as they perceived that DraftKings sportsbook was more likely to do better in an American market due to its popularity among Americans. 

Oregon Sports Betting Governing Body (Oregon Lottery Commission) 

The governing body regulating sports betting in Oregon is the Oregon Lottery Commission. A member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL).  The Oregon Lottery Commission was created in 1984 when Oregon voters voted for the Oregon Ballot Measure 5 to be passed into the constitution. The purpose of this measure was to amend the constitution of Oregon and provide room within the state's legislation for legal sports betting. 

The Oregon Lottery Commission is responsible for overseeing all online and in-person lottery operations that occur within Oregon. The first games to be launched by the Oregon Lottery Commission took off in 1985. The first game, Megabucks, was an in-house jackpot game. This game quickly gained popularity among Oregon residents and even among residents of other U.S states. In 1990, it became the first lottery game in America to offer gamblers the choice of lump sum or annuity.

Lotto America (now known as Powerball) was launched in 1988 with the help of the Oregon Lottery Commission. The game is popular worldwide for turning average Americans into millionaires. In addition, the Oregon Lottery Commission has launched other games, including Scratch-it games, Keno, video lottery, Win for Life, Mega Millions, Lucky Lines, and raffle drawing.

In 1989, much to the displeasure of the National Football League (NFL), the Oregon Lottery Commission began sports wagering operations through Sports Action. Sports Action was a parlay game that allowed Oregon residents to bet on football events. The National Basketball Association (NBA) games were made available to Oregonians in 1990 but were discontinued in the following year due to financial challenges.

Before 2005, when House Bill 3466 eliminating the operations of Sports Action was passed into law, the Oregon Lottery Commission made up to $2 million yearly from just football bets. The total revenue of the Oregon Lottery Commission, which often rises into the billions, is used to fund public education, natural resource programs, and economic development.

Where to Bet In-person in Oregon

There are currently two locations for sports bettors to wager in Oregon. Both are casinos that offer sports betting services within their premises alongside their casino gaming services. These locations are:

Chinook Winds Casino Resort 

Located in Lincoln City, Oregon, Chinook Winds is a beachfront resort with a hotel, indoor pool, and 24-hour casino. The resort is ideal for bettors who wish to enjoy a weekend getaway while playing some exciting casino games and wagering on their favorite sports.

The establishment launched the Chinook Winds wagering lounge back in August 2021 to offer visitors the opportunity to bet on almost all sporting events, including the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). Only in-person betting is permitted at the wagering lounge, so bettors will have to travel to the casino to place their wagers. In compliance with the state's betting laws, only people that are 21 years and above can bet on sports at this location.

Spirit Mountain Casino 

Spirit Mountain Casino is the state's largest non-smoking casino with over 90,000 square feet of gaming space, five full-service restaurants, a hotel, free RV parking, and an artisan gifts shop. Located in Grand Ronde, this native American casino is operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.

On account of a long-term partnership between the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and Roar Digital, BetMGM opened a sportsbook at the Spirit Mountain Casino in June 2021. Bettors can visit the casino to wager on all the BetMGM's sports offerings while enjoying the casino and hospitality services of Oregon's busiest tourist attraction. 

Why You Should Play on Legal Oregon Sportsbooks

A legal sportsbook holds a valid license(s) to operate within a state or country. When you gamble on such sites, you can be assured of their credibility and fairness since a legal gambling authority regulates them. For an online sportsbook to hold a license from a regulatory body like the Oregon Lottery, such sportsbooks must comply with the strict rules and standards of the gambling authority. Many of these rules protect gamblers by prohibiting online bookmakers from engaging in shady practices that'll be unfair to the customers.

On the other hand, offshore betting sites are typically unregulated. Most of them either do not have valid licenses or hold licenses from dubious online gambling authorities; therefore, you cannot trust that their activities are honest. They offer ridiculous promotions, and then set up unachievable withdrawal requirements so bettors can't withdraw their winnings. Since there is no credible legal body to hold them accountable, they engage in illicit activities, such as manipulation and theft of funds or banking information.

With legal Oregon sportsbooks, you don't have to worry about the safety of your funds or personal information. These online sportsbooks use various security protocols to ensure that your banking details are safe and secure. They only partner with reliable payment platforms that also prioritize customer safety. These betting sites offer competitive odds and generous bonuses, and they allow you to withdraw your winnings without any hassle. Should you run into any issues while online gambling in Oregon, the customer support team is available 24/7 to assist you in resolving them.