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Oklahoma will join the ranks of anti-Sweepstakes casino states this November. After state lawmakers reversed a veto from Gov. Kevin Stitt, operators have until November to shut down their sweepstakes casinos.
What Is Oklahoma SB 1589?
Oklahoma’s gambling laws now include Senate Bill 1589, a ban on sweepstakes casinos in the Sooner State. It was created by State Senator Todd Gollihare and carried in the House by State Reps. John George Hilbert and Scott Fetgatter.
Gollihare worked with tribal leaders in Oklahoma to craft the legislation.
The bills include two main changes that will affect casino players in Oklahoma:
- Expands the definition of gambling to include games at online casinos
- Defines “representative of value” as including dual currencies, such as tokens or credits, that can be exchanged for prizes.
The latter point closes the legal loophole that had allowed sweepstake casinos to operate in the Sooner State.
Violators, including media affiliates, employees, geolocator providers, and promoters, can be charged with a Class C2 felony. If convicted, violators could be fined between $500 and $2,000 and face prison time.
Initial Ban Passes Easily
Thanks to broad support in both houses, Gollihare’s SB 1589 easily passed its initial votes. The bill was approved 48-0 in the Senate, before passing 65-21 in the House. Its widespread support did not prevent Gov. Stitt from vetoing the bill, though.
Why Did Gov. Stitt Veto Oklahoma’s Sweepstakes Casino Ban?
Stitt vetoed SB 1589 because he felt the legislation was too vague and too broad. According to Stitt, the language of the bill would create uncertainty for operators who were following the law. Also, Stitt argued that the penalty, a Class C2 felony, was too harsh.
Oklahoma Pushes Through Sweepstakes Casino Ban
Despite the Governor’s concerns, Oklahoma lawmakers easily overturned Stitt’s veto. The bill easily passed in both houses, 34-10 in the Senate and 68-19 in the House, meeting the two-thirds majority needed to override Stitt’s veto.
With the veto defeated, SB 1589 will become law in Oklahoma on November 1st.
Other States with Recent Sweepstake Casino Bans
Oklahoma is not the only state to target sweepstakes casinos recently. Other states to ban sweepstakes casinos include:
- California
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Tennessee
- Washington
California, Indiana, Maine, Tennessee, and Louisiana all passed bans on sweepstakes casinos this year. Florida, Mississippi, and Minnesota all tried to pass legislation banning sweepstakes casinos in 2026, but were unsuccessful.
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