A bill to ban Oklahoma sweepstakes games will become law after state legislators again broke with Gov. Kevin Stitt on a gaming issue and overrode his veto.
Both chambers of the Oklahoma legislature voted overwhelmingly on Thursday’s final day of the 2026 session to bypass the governor and enact a ban on sweeps, or dual-currency, games. The Senate approved the override by a 34-10 vote, while the House backed it by a 68-19 margin.
Online casino games already violate Oklahoma law, but so-called sweepstakes games operate in a previously gray area because of their free-to-play aspect. SB 1589 explicitly prohibits “online casino games that risk any representatives of value as illegal gambling
games,” thereby banning tokens or similar items used in dual-currency models. There is a carveout in the bill for tribal gaming approved under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
The legislation criminalizes operating or facilitating sweepstakes games in Oklahoma as a Class C felony offense that carries a minimum fine of $500 and maximum fine of $2,000. Convictions could lead to jail time as well.
How Oklahoma sweepstakes ban moved this month
Sponsored by Sen. Todd Gollihare and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, the bill cleared the state Senate in March on a unanimous vote. The House did not move quickly with it, however, only approving the legislation May 4.
“These illegal offshore entities and foreign operators cost the state of Oklahoma millions of dollars in lost revenue,” Gollihare said during Senate discussion in March.
Stitt, though, rejected the measure on May 7 despite strong bipartisan backing in both chambers of the legislature.
“Oklahoma’s gaming laws must be clear, targeted, and fair. Senate Bill 1589 does not accomplish that end. This bill is so broad that it criminalizes everyday apps people use for fun. It also unnecessarily creates a new felony and extends criminal liability to businesses and service providers,” Stitt wrote in his veto letter.
“That kind of vague and overbroad approach creates uncertainty for businesses operating in good faith and discourages innovation and investment in our state. Oklahoma can protect consumers without adopting criminal penalties that reach beyond the problem they are intended to solve.”
Where else are sweeps games banned?
Oklahoma joins a number of jurisdictions in banning online sweepstakes-style games, which opponents say circumvent gaming laws and regulations banning online casino in most U.S. states.
These states also ban dual-currency sweeps games:
- California
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New York
The Tennessee state legislature passed a sweepstakes ban last month as well. That bill went to Gov. Bill Lee for review Monday and he remains undecided at the time of writing. Louisiana legislators also approved a bill that stiffens penalties for sweeps operators that awaits action by Gov. Jeff Landry.
Oklahoma sweeps not first gaming battle for Stitt, legislators
Stitt’s trials and travails with the legislative branch, as well as tribal gaming interests, over gaming issues date back years.
The highest-profile dispute involved sports betting in Oklahoma. Stitt attempted and end-run around legislators when he approved tribal gaming compacts with the Comanche Nation and Otoe-Missouria Tribe to allow sports betting.
Both tribes and fellow Republican state legislators opposed Stitt’s move. The governor ultimately found defeat at the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which ruled he exceeded his authority.
“From the start, this was about separation of powers, and the Supreme Court affirmed as much with a decisive ruling,” Speaker of the House Charles McCall said in a statement following the ruling at the time. “Oklahoma and its tribal nations can move forward from this together as partners, as we have done for decades with great success.”
