Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma to launch state's first online gaming sites

The planned websites, Pokertribe.com and Pokertribe.gov, will be available to players in states that have legalized online gambling, such as New Jersey and Nevada, and to the international marketplace. Players will additionally be able to access the website on some cruise ships and airline flights.

The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma operates two brick-and-mortar casinos in Perkins and Chandler, Oklahoma.

Following a ruling by the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma that certain online games will not violate the tribe's class III gaming compact with Oklahoma or current state or federal law, the tribe released a statement about its plans to pursue developing two sites.

"Business on the Internet is coming fast and furious to all of our lives and is taking over more and more of our daily activities, regardless of whether it’s business or personal. To this end The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma ("Tribe") is picking up on online gaming where others left off via the newly minted domain names of Pokertribe.com and Pokertribe.gov," Chairman Bobby Walkup said in a statement to The City Sentinel.

The arbitrator, retired judge Charles Chapel, wrote in his ruling that "use of the Internet is merely using technology to play covered games as a way to increase tribal revenues. It does not extend or restrict the scope of the games and does not amend the compact in any way."