Oregon Online Sports Betting

Online Sports Betting Operators in Oregon

This page will guide you through:

• The different sports betting options in Oregon and what they offer.
• The legal status of Oregon sports betting, including what you can and can’t bet on.
• Bonuses and banking options available now and possibly in the future.
• Educated speculation of what the market might look like in the next years.
• A comprehensive history of online sports betting in the Beaver State.

Scoreboard is the Oregon State Lottery’s sports betting operation. It features a modern, easy-to-use website and a mobile app for both Android and iOS users.

It launched in 2019 after six long months of delays and frustration.

You can use Scoreboard to bet on nearly all US-based sports, plus many more from around the globe. You can place almost any bet type, including:

• Parlay bets
• Line bets
• Futures bets
• Handicap bets
• Proposition bets (props)

The only things you can’t wager on through Scoreboard are college sports and non-sporting markets like politics or entertainment.

Potential Future of Sports Betting in Oregon

Any of Oregon’s 12 tribal casinos can currently apply for a license to launch an online sportsbook.

Their case would be helped by clauses in their contracts with the state that give them the right to host the same games as the state-run operator at any time.

So far, none of them have taken the opportunity.

However, Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City recently became the first casino in Oregon to open a land-based sportsbook. This makes it the prime candidate to launch an online sports betting operation in the near future.

Oregon Land-Based Operators

The 12 land-based casinos in the Beaver State are all Native American tribal casinos. Several out-of-state investors have applied for non-tribal gaming licenses in Oregon over the years, but they have all been denied.

A few of Oregon’s tribal operators are:

• Indian Head Casino
• Old Camp Casino
• Three Rivers Casino
• Wildhorse Resort & Casino

Many of these tribal casinos are located in remote locations away from Oregon’s biggest population centers. Therefore, online sports betting could be a big boon for them if they choose to invest.

National Partners

Oregon was grandfathered into online gambling laws because of SportsAction (read the history section below for more information).

This means there’s currently no requirement for national or even international operators to partner with an in-state venue if they want to apply for a license in Oregon.

However, they would be unlikely to obtain a license on their own right now.

Most states require operators to have a regional partner to keep more money (and taxes) in the local area. Given the current economic climate under the coronavirus pandemic, it’s unlikely things will be different in Oregon any time soon.

Some of the major sports betting operators in other legal states are listed below. These operators may show interest in opening up online sportsbooks in Oregon over the next few years, although nothing is certain.

• FanDuel
• DraftKings
• William Hill

What Sports Can You Bet on in Oregon?

You can bet on almost any international sport of significant size at Scoreboard – from Aussie Rules football to Snooker. However, no e-sports are available at the moment.

Below, we take a look at some of the most popular sports to bet on.

NFL Football

The National Football League is the premier sports betting option across the US. Unfortunately, Oregon is in a strange spot with this ever-popular sport.

The Beaver State doesn’t currently house a professional football team. The Oregon Ducks college team from the University of Oregon in Eugene is relatively successful at its level.

However, due to Oregon’s fractious history with college sports and betting, you can’t wager on the Ducks or any of their games at Scoreboard.

Basketball

National Basketball Association games are also popular for sports betting wagers among American bettors.

You can bet on the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon’s NBA team. They are the only NBA team in the Pacific Northwest states, and they’re not bad – they have won two NBA Championships.

They’re also extremely popular with supporters here, boasting the second-longest home game sellout streak of any NBA team.

Of course, you can bet on the Blazers through Scoreboard, and you’ll probably also be able to do so at other sports betting sites when they arrive.

Soccer

Oregon’s biggest sports team is probably the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. They have won the biggest trophy in North American soccer, the MLS Cup, twice since 2007.

You can put a bet on the Timbers online from Oregon via Scoreboard. Also available are dozens of other soccer leagues from around the world, including the English Premier League.

One unique futures bet you can make on the Timbers is on the winner of the Cascadia Cup – an unofficial supporters’ trophy contested each year between regional rivals the Timbers, the Seattle Sounders, and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Don’t be quick to bet on the Timbers, though – their Seattle rivals from Washington State have been among the best teams in MLS in recent years.

Baseball

Oregon doesn’t house a Major League Baseball team. However, you can still bet on MLB games from Oregon via Scoreboard – only without the excitement of rooting for your home team.

You can even bet on the Japanese Baseball League or the Korean Baseball League during the American offseason.

Legal Matters: Taxes and What You Aren’t Allowed to Wager On

There are only two betting options that aren’t allowed in Oregon:

• College sports betting
• Non-sports, such as politics or entertainment

Per federal law, you are responsible for declaring your gambling net wins each year and pay any relevant taxes.

According to Scoreboard’s T&Cs, the company withholds 8% for state taxes on any single win above $1500. Further, the federal government withholds a 24% tax on any single win above $5000.

Oregon Sports Betting Bonuses

Currently, Oregon sports bettors don’t enjoy many bonuses.

Solitary operator Scoreboard provides no welcome offer or bonus cash offer. Instead, it features a special promotions page that gives enhanced odds during major sporting events or matches.

However, Scoreboard grants you customized offers suiting your betting preferences once you’ve placed a few wagers.

If more online sportsbooks launch in Oregon, you can expect similar bonuses to those available in legal states today:

• Deposit-match bonus, where the sportsbook gives you bonus bets based on your initial deposit.
• Cashback on any losses you suffer within the signup period.
• Reward systems and VIP points.

Oregon Sports Betting History

Oregon features a long history with online sports betting.

From 1987, residents of the Pacific Northwest state could make a limited range of parlay bets on NFL games via a state-run telephone service SportsAction – one of only a few phone betting services in the USA.

By 1992, sports betting had been banned federally. However, Oregon was one of four states to see an exemption – mostly due to SportsAction.

SportsAction lasted until 2007 when national pressure forced Oregon legislatures to ban it. The National Collegiate Athletic Association also opposed sports betting and refused to host off-season games in Oregon while the service continued.

As a result, there were no more online sports betting options in Oregon for the next 11 years.

In 2018, The Supreme Court heard the case of Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Murphy in question was New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. He sought to overturn the national Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing the return of legal sports betting to his state.

The court filed 6-3 in favor of Murphy, paving the path for legal sports betting across the country. There are now 14 states with sports betting operations legally available online – including Oregon.

As of November 2020, operators in the state haven’t taken this new opportunity up. Only the state-backed Scoreboard is currently taking online bets.

However, one of Oregon’s 12 tribal casinos will likely partner up with a national operator to bring a new sports betting experience to Oregon players soon.

FAQ on Oregon Sports Betting