Sweepstakes Casino Ban Becomes Law in Oklahoma

The battle against sweepstakes casinos gained momentum in 2025. That's when six states (California, Connecticut, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York) all passed laws that banned such platforms from operating in their respective states. The battle has continued into 2026.

So far this year, Indiana and Maine have passed sweepstakes casino bans, with Louisiana and Maryland ready to follow suit. In fact, legislation banning such platforms is awaiting Gov. Bill Lee’s signature in Tennessee. If he doesn't sign by May 22, the bill will still become law. That brings us to the Sooner State of Oklahoma.

By votes of 68-19 and 34-10, the OK House and Senate, respectively, voted to override a veto of Bill SB 1589 that was issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt. The vote was held on the second-to-last day of the current legislative session. The Governor vetoed the bill because he felt it was not “clear, targeted, and fair.”

Here is what he issued through a memo:

"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."

Continuing, “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.”

The validity of his comment rests on the fact that he may have been confused about what the bill was intended to do. That is likely what prompted him to refuse to sign the bill. Some experts questioned his confusion based on the fact that the bill does speak directly to the use of a dual-currency system. That has time and again been the rallying point for opponents across the nation.

As a reminder, the bill was sponsored by Sen. Todd Gollihare and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert. Both members of Congress were able to drum up a lot of support in their respective chambers. It's also worth noting that Oklahoma has not yet passed any kind of legislation related to online gambling. Since online casino gambling is not yet legal, it makes sense that sweepstakes casinos would be treated the same way.

What is a Dual Cash System?

Given that sweepstakes casinos used a dual cash system, it's worth defining what that means.

At a basic level, said casinos offer "gold coins" for free. The coins can be used on casino games, with winnings coming back as more gold coins. Sometimes, players are gifted more gold coins to keep playing for free. At no point do the coins have redemption value.

At a higher level, customers can purchase and earn "sweepstakes coins." These coins can be earned via participation in gaming tournaments. What sets these coins apart from gold coins is that they can be redeemed for prizes, including gift cards, electronic devices, travel, and cash. It's this redemption feature that gives the appearance of real gambling, a current no-no in Oklahoma.