Why You Can't Bet on College Sports in Oregon
Oregon has the most restrictive college sports betting policy in the United States. The DraftKings app and all four tribal retail sportsbooks block every NCAA market — no Oregon Ducks, no Oregon State Beavers, no March Madness, no College Football Playoff, no other school's games either.
The Conflict-of-Interest Rationale
Oregon Lottery proceeds are constitutionally directed to fund state universities and public education. Allowing the Oregon Lottery's contracted sportsbook (DraftKings) to take wagers on those same universities' athletic programs was deemed an unacceptable conflict of interest — the state would effectively be profiting from gambling on the institutions it funds.
Tribal sportsbooks adopted the same restriction at the state's request, ensuring a uniform statewide policy.
SB 1503 and the Push to Allow College Betting
In 2022, Oregon's Senate Bill 1503 proposed lifting the college sports betting ban. The bill was supported by some Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers fan groups frustrated at being unable to wager on their teams. The bill failed to pass.
Periodic legislative interest has continued — there are whispers of reintroducing similar legislation in 2026 or beyond — but as of this writing, no concrete bill is moving forward.
What Bettors Are Missing
Oregon bettors cannot wager on:
- NCAA football regular season, bowls, or the College Football Playoff
- March Madness (NCAA basketball tournament)
- Oregon Ducks vs. Oregon State Beavers Civil War / rivalry games
- College baseball, soccer, or any other NCAA sport
- College futures (Heisman, national championship)
- College player props of any kind
The Alternative
Some Oregon residents travel to Washington (where college betting is permitted at tribal sportsbooks) for major NCAA events. Others use free contests or bracket pools that don't involve real-money wagering. Daily fantasy sports (DFS) in Oregon does allow college contests at most operators.