Is Being a Bookie in Stillwater Oklahoma Legal?

The great state of Oklahoma is yet to regulate online sports betting, thus making it grounds for what many would refer to as the "Wild West". 

Gambling on college football, and even college basketball, is among the favorite past times of Oklahomans.  Their beloved Sooners and Cowboys are perennial favorites in football each year.

Albeit, Oklahoma State is not living up to expectations in 2024.  Instilled early on as one of the favorites to make a post season run, The Cowboys entered Week 8 sitting at the .500 mark and having lost three straight prior to a bye week.

It wasn't expected to get any easier in on October 18 as Oklahoma State has the misfortune of playing a 6-0 BYU team.

Is Being a Bookie Legal in Stillwater, Oklahoma?

Stillwater is home to the Oklahoma State Cowboys.  The university is well placed an hour between both Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

AcePerHead.com, one of the premier pay per head sites in the world for those who currently are or want to be a bookie, says "follow the law".

Clearly, if you are operating a wire room, taking bets over the phone and exchanging cash at the Stillwater corner market as a bookie or agent, it would seem obvious you're breaking gambling laws in the state.

A pay per head offers a solution whereby gamblers are directed to a website based on a server outside the U.S. where gambling (sports betting in particular) is legal.  Customer service reps, likewise, are located in another country much like corporations in the States outsource to English speaking work forces worldwide as a means of lowering costs.  Costa Rica has long been a major hub for these types of businesses.

PPH solutions even offer payment options.  In this sense, bookies and agents only role would be to ensure their customers are happy.

From AcePerHead.com:

Even if you are lucky to be living in one of the states where it is legal to gamble and operate a gambling business, it would still be wise to contact your local attorney to make sure you are following the laws of your state correctly. Just because a state may allow gambling and bookmaking doesn’t always mean you can just start a bookie business overnight, because there might be certain licenses that you may need to operate legally. However, each state has its own specific rules and laws about this, so even if two states allow legal bookmaking, it does not mean that both states have the same laws regarding bookmaking.

In addition, the laws are constantly changing for each state, and even though a specific state may be illegal now for gambling and booking action, they may have plans shortly to change the laws and allow legal gambling. So again, the best course of action is to always check with your local attorney, who can help assist you with your specific state’s laws and regulations on gambling and being a bookie.

If you are located in one of the lucky states where being a bookie is legal, then the next step would be to get set up with your professional sportsbook website. These sites can quickly and easily be set up by getting started with one of the various pay-per-head companies. These companies allow people to start their bookie service at a very affordable price, and provide a fully inclusive website with thousands of sports betting options to offer players every day.

They add:

One thing you may be wondering is: what are the benefits of going this route? Well, for one thing, you do have a little more legal protection when you know that you are working with a partner who has a completely legal operation going on. The last thing you should want on your plate when you are first starting is more legal headaches for your company.

Also, you have the benefit of having a team behind you that may even be able to keep you out of other possible legal trouble in the online gambling industry. At a minimum, they will make sure that your online sportsbook and/or casino continue to function properly and legally.

How a Pay Per Head Works

A pay per head charges a small weekly fee per customer and you get everything from professional oddsmakers to the customized website to server hosting, reports, player monitoring and even a live dealer online casino and race book.

AcePerHead.com offers its PPH services as low as $3 per head.

Pay Per Head Features

1. User-Friendly Interface

Customers want to log on and instantly see everything they need on a neat and tidy interface. This not only makes them want to stay on your site but also makes it easier for them to place bets.

This is not something you can afford to get wrong and must be an essential factor in your choice of betting software.

2. Customization Options

The first things to look for in a PPH platform are customization options. You want to build a site that boosts your brand and differentiates you from competitors. Whether you choose a template-based sportsbook or build one from scratch, it’s important that your provider values your custom needs.

Customization also is essential for those creating lines, players, and limits. You want full control over your sportsbook so that you can make money your own way.

3. Automated Assistance 

Good PPH sites are fully-managed platforms. This means that they provide backups, updates, and upgrades automatically. You’ll never need to worry about changing your website with amateur knowledge and can instead contact experts when you need alterations.

As an independent bookie, you’ll want to give your customers a wide range of betting options, both for big events and smaller competitions. The more bets you can offer gamblers, the more money you can make. Having plenty of betting choices can also keep customers interested and keep them gambling for longer.

At Ace Per Head, our bookie software has a massive range of options for your clientele to choose from 24/7, 365 days a year.

4. Live Score Updates

Live score updates are one of the bookie software features that can massively increase your revenues. For example, if a customer stays on your site to watch the score, they may see other bets that also interest them. This could result in them placing more losing wagers that increase your profits.

This feature also shows customers that you are using state-of-the-art software to give them a superior gambling experience.

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