Oklahoma has turn into the most recent in a sequence of states which have applied laws to ban on-line sweepstakes casinos. Invoice SB 1589, having handed the state Senate and Home, now heads to Governor Kevin Stitt (R). The governor has 5 days to both signal the invoice into legislation or veto it; ought to he take no motion throughout this timeframe, the invoice will turn into legislation with out his signature.
What Does SB 1589 Do?
There’s not a lot fluff included inside the textual content of SB 1589 – its whole size quantities to not more than three typewritten pages, and that features the house allotted for the signatures of the governor and different officers. The act will turn into efficient Nov. 1, 2026.
Definitions
The heavy lifting is finished by two definitions included within the invoice. The one that the majority instantly seems to check with sweepstakes casinos is:
“Consultant of worth” contains any and all forex used as a part of a dual-currency system of cost that permits an individual to change such forex for any prize, award, money, or money equal, or any probability to win any prize, award, money, or money equal.
This language appears designed particularly to take purpose at World Poker, Stake.us, and different comparable operators that try to make use of two types of forex to bypass anti-gambling legal guidelines. The legislature of Oklahoma has closed this loophole inside its definitions.
The opposite definition added to the lawbooks by SB 1589 is “on-line on line casino recreation,” which is as follows:
“On-line on line casino video games” means any playing recreation that permits an individual to entry the Web, World Extensive Internet, or any half thereof by means of a pc, pc system, pc community, pc software program, pc terminal, or comparable system together with, however not restricted to, a mobile or cellular phone, a wise or digital watch, or a pill that, upon risking any consultant of worth, simulates any playing recreation described on this part or some other type of playing together with, however not restricted to, a slot machine as outlined in Part 964 of this title, a lottery as outlined in subsection A of Part 1051 of this title, a bingo recreation or U-PIK-EM bingo recreation as outlined in paragraphs 1 and 22 of part 402 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma Statutes, or any prohibited recreation as described in ENR. S. B. NO. 1589 Web page 2 subsection H of Part 262 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma Statutes.
That is just about what we perceive on-line on line casino video games to be; there aren’t actually any surprises with this a part of the legislation.
Prohibited Actions and Penalties
The subsequent part of the invoice provides on-line on line casino gaming to Oklahoma’s fundamental pre-existing anti-gambling statute. It incorporates a carveout for gaming performed on Indian lands in compliance with the related federal legislation maybe paving the best way for future tribal i-gaming to look inside the state. It additionally topics to legal penalty not solely the homeowners and staff of corporations providing such video games but additionally associates, promoters, platform suppliers, and different suppliers.
Importantly, SB 1589 lumps conventional web casinos in along with sweepstakes casinos, and they’re each now towards the legislation. Poker is particularly listed as a prohibited recreation too.
Anybody convicted of an infraction of this legislation will likely be responsible of a Class C2 felony. They’re topic to a wonderful of between $500 and $2,000 in addition to imprisonment for as much as seven years. Underneath OK legislation, these convicted of a number of legal offenses can see the quantity of jail time improve as much as a most of 12 years for a C2 felony.
Extra About Sweepstakes Casinos
The unique on-line sweepstakes on line casino of the sort we’re discussing is Chumba On line casino. It makes use of a system of Gold Cash, that are the play cash that customers buy, and Sweeps, which is given without spending a dime with Gold Coin Purchases. Prospects can use Sweeps to play on line casino video games and doubtlessly win prizes.
As a result of people do not instantly pay for Sweeps however slightly obtain them without spending a dime with the acquisition of Gold Cash, enjoying video games for prizes with Sweeps quantities to a sort of sweepstakes slightly than playing. Or so the argument goes.
When Chumba On line casino originated this line of reasoning in 2012, it was an progressive argument that appeared to get round playing legal guidelines in all 50 states. Nevertheless, it has been copied by many different operators over time, and it has began to run afoul of the authorities. Even in some states that don’t explicitly ban sweepstakes casinos outright, officers contend that current playing statutes make them unlawful.
Moreover Chumba, different outstanding names in sweepstakes playing embrace World Poker (Chumba’s sister web site), Stake.us, McLuck, and Excessive 5 On line casino. They and their friends may all see their enterprise disrupted by the brand new Oklahoma legislation.
Legislative Historical past
SB 1589 had three sponsors within the Oklahoma Legislature: State Senator Todd Gollihare, State Consultant Kyle Hilbert, and State Consultant Scott Fetgatter, all Republicans. It was launched to the Senate Jan. 13, 2026 and had its first studying on Feb. 2. It then proceeded by varied committees earlier than passing with a unanimous 48 – 0 vote on March 2.
Then on March 3, the invoice began its progress by the Home. After a number of committee hearings, it reached its third studying, which handed 65 – 21 on Might 4. It then headed to the governor’s desk the next day.
Governor Stitt has 5 days from that day to behave on the invoice by both vetoing it or signing it into legislation. Ought to he fail to do both inside the prescribed period of time, SB 1589 will turn into legislation with out his signature.
Kevin Stitt, Governor of OklahomaDifferent States Cracking Down
Oklahoma is only one of a lot of states which have lately handed anti-sweepstakes laws. Tennessee’s SB 2136 does a lot the identical as Oklahoma’s invoice. Iowa’s invoice (Senate File 2289) not solely targets on-line sweepstakes casinos however empowers the Iowa Racing and Gaming Fee with broader powers to sort out unlawful playing of every kind. Louisiana has in the meantime handed HB53, which might deal with sweepstakes casinos as a kind of racketeering subjecting violators to penalties of as much as 50 years in jail and fines of as much as $1 million. All of those states are awaiting their governors’ signatures to show their anti-sweeps laws into the legislation of the land.
They thus hope to affix the handful of states which have already handed legal guidelines towards on-line sweepstakes casinos. This 12 months already, Maine and Indiana have made comparable strikes. In 2025, New York, New Jersey, and a number of other different states enacted laws to ban sweeps casinos.
On-line Poker Nonetheless Accessible in Oklahoma
No matter whether or not Governor Stitt indicators the brand new anti-sweepstakes legislation or vetoes it, there is a group of on-line poker websites that may stay unaffected. These are offshore poker rooms, positioned overseas, that neither fuss about with uncommon sweepstakes fashions nor concern themselves with the technicalities of Oklahoma legislation. Certainly they’re past the attain of the authorities in Oklahoma Metropolis and, for that matter, these in Washington, D.C. too.
We really feel that Ignition Poker is the very best of those web poker websites that settle for prospects from Oklahoma. It gives you a 150% as much as $1,500 poker bonus in your first deposit, and one other bonus for on line casino gaming. Click on the button beneath to get began:
To study extra about this on-line cardroom earlier than signing up, take a look at this complete Ignition On line casino Poker assessment. For different Oklahoma-friendly web poker suppliers, check out this information to OK on-line poker. For those who reside elsewhere within the nation, then maybe this web page dedicated to offshore poker within the USA could be extra your velocity.
Might 10, 2026 – by Max Golden, Editor-in-Chief
