TLDR
- Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed Senate Bill 1589, which would have banned online sweepstakes casinos in the state
- The bill had passed the Senate 48-0 and the House 65-21 before being struck down on May 7
- The vetoed bill targeted dual-currency sweepstakes platforms and would have held geolocation providers, affiliates, and promoters liable
- Lawmakers have until May 29 to override the veto, or sweepstakes operators will remain unregulated in Oklahoma
- A separate sports betting bill also failed in the Senate in April, leaving Oklahoma without progress on either gambling measure
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has vetoed a bill that would have banned sweepstakes casinos in the state. Senate Bill 1589 was struck down on May 7 along with several other measures.
The bill had passed through the Legislature with strong support. The Senate approved it unanimously in March with a 48-0 vote.
The House followed in early May, passing it 65-21. Despite this broad backing, the governor chose to block it.
Stitt has not publicly explained his reasons for the veto. That silence has left lawmakers and industry watchers guessing about his thinking.
SB 1589 was designed to bring online sweepstakes casinos under Oklahoma’s existing gambling laws. It specifically targeted the dual-currency model these platforms use.
What the Bill Would Have Done
Under that model, one type of virtual coin is used for play while another can be redeemed for real prizes. The bill aimed to close what supporters saw as a legal gap.
The proposal went beyond just the casino operators themselves. It would have made geolocation providers, platform suppliers, promoters, and affiliates liable if they were involved with sweepstakes operations.
At the same time, the bill included carve-outs for tribal gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Charity games already permitted under state law were also protected.
With the veto now in place, the measure is stalled. The Legislature has until May 29 to override the governor’s decision.
If lawmakers do not act by that deadline, Oklahoma will remain outside the growing list of states that have moved to ban sweepstakes casino models. Operators would continue to face no state-level restrictions from this bill.
Sports Betting Effort Also Falls Short
The sweepstakes veto was not the only gambling-related setback in Oklahoma this session. A separate bill to legalize sports betting through tribal operators also failed.
House Bill 1047 was sponsored by Sen. Bill Coleman and Rep. Ken Luttrell of Ponca City. It had support from the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association.
The bill would have given tribes exclusive control over both retail and mobile sports betting. The state would have collected 8% of the revenue generated.
Money from NBA and WNBA wagers was specifically earmarked for the Strong Readers Act Fund. Supporters said the plan offered a regulated alternative to betting already happening through unregulated channels.
Despite those arguments, the Senate rejected the measure on April 22 by a 21-27 vote. Opponents cited concerns about gambling addiction.
Governor Stitt’s office had also resisted expanding the existing tribal gaming compact. That resistance added another obstacle for the bill’s backers.
With both measures now dead, Oklahoma has no clear path forward on sweepstakes regulation or sports betting this year. Lawmakers face a May 29 deadline to attempt a veto override on the sweepstakes bill.
