Oklahoma is a governor’s signature away from becoming the latest U.S. market to ban the operation of online casino games and sweepstakes, or dual-currency, platforms.
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma House advanced Senate Bill 1589 by a 65-21 vote, sending the legislation to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk for a potential signature or veto. SB 1589 is heading to Stitt after House approval and favorable support in the Senate.
The legislative chamber passed SB 1589 unanimously in March with a 48-0 vote.
The governor has five days to decide whether to sign, veto, or take no action on a bill once it is formally placed on his desk. Lawmakers have until May 29 to decide whether to override a potential veto by Stitt. If Stitt takes no action, SB 1589 will be enacted into law.
If the bill becomes law, an online sweepstakes-style casino ban goes into effect on Nov. 1.
Oklahoma governor undecided on proposed ban
There is no clear indication of what Stitt will do SB 1589 reaches his desk, despite the governor being outspoken about other gambling-related matters impacting Oklahoma’s regulated market.
Earlier this year, Stitt vowed to only sign a measure that creates a regulated sports betting market in Oklahoma without tribal partnerships. A tribe-backed measure died in the Senate last week.
SB 1589 was drafted with input from Oklahoma tribes, with a provision crafted exclusively for the tribes. The provision was included in the piece of legislation as an amendment.
How would an Oklahoma sweeps ban work?
Sponsors said the bill was introduced to protect Oklahoma residents and visitors from a lack of consumer protections offered by offshore and unlicensed online casino game operators.
The legislation defines online casino games as any online gambling game that allows a user to risk “any representative of value” to participate in a game or contest that simulates slot machine gaming, lottery, bingo or prohibited games.
In Oklahoma, all of those offerings are currently banned under state gambling law.
SB 1589 takes aim at dual-currency casino platforms with a representative of value, including “any and all currency used as part of a dual-currency system of payment that allows a person to exchange such currency for any prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent.”
Under the Oklahoma sweeps bill, the delivery and promotion of online casino games and dual-currency systems of payment is a Class C2 felony. A person who violates is subject to a fine that ranges between $500 and $2,000. Jail time is also on the table, with terms of up to 30 days.
SB 1589 also extends a ban on online casino games and dual-currency systems to owners of geolocation providers, gaming suppliers, platform providers, promoters and affiliates.
The measure includes a provision that provides an exception for tribes that facilitate online gaming in Oklahoma. SB 1589 ensures that online games offered “on Indian lands in compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act” will continue to be available.
The bill also protects gaming under the purview of the Oklahoma Charity Games Act.
Growing legislative trend against sweeps
If Stitt allows a ban to be enacted in Oklahoma, the Sooner State would add to a growing list of states that explicitly ban sweepstakes casinos.
U.S. markets that outlaw online sweepstakes casinos and dual-currency platforms include:
- California
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New York
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia introduced legislation in 2026 aimed at banning online sweepstakes casinos.
Virginia’s legislative effort died, but the state plans to revisit the issue next year. The legislative effort in Mississippi suffered the same fate.
