Sweeps Ban Becomes Law in OK after Legislature Overturns Governor’s Veto
Both houses of the Oklahoma Legislature voted to override the governor’s veto, making sweepstakes casinos illegal in the Sooner State
On the second-to-last day of the 2026 legislative session, the Oklahoma Legislature overturned Gov. Kevin Stitt’s veto of a bill that proposed banning sweepstakes casinos in the state.
The governor vetoed SB 1589 last week, arguing the measure was not “clear, targeted, and fair.”
In response, both chambers passed the bill again by the required two-thirds majority: 68-19 in the House and 34-10 in the Senate. The bill will become law on Nov. 1, giving sweepstakes operators in the state five-and-a-half months to exit.
Confusion over the legislation
Stitt argued that the proposed bans could discourage innovation and investment in the state. To this end, he issued the following memo when he vetoed SB 1589:
“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.
“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 memo reveals that there may be confusion about what SB 1589 bans, as the governor falsely claims that it “criminalizes everyday apps people use for fun.” Notably, every Legislature currently considering a ban on sweepstakes casinos has taken into account potential restrictions on popular games like Candy Crush.
And while people do play at sweepstakes casinos without spending real money, the bill targets games with dual-currency systems, which is how these platforms get around regular casino regulations.
Casting a wide net
While SB 1589 is careful not to ban unrelated games and apps, it does cast a wide net.
Suppliers will also be held accountable under the new law. This includes game developers supplying games to the sites, payment service providers, and anyone else working with the platforms.
Notably, suppliers would face the same felony charges as the platforms’ operators.
A nationwide trend
Oklahoma joins a growing list of states that have banned sweepstakes casinos or are in the process of doing so. Six states formally banned the platforms in 2025:
- California
- Connecticut
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
Oklahoma is the third state to sign a sweepstakes ban this year, after Indiana and Maine. Tennessee and Louisiana are also about to do the same.
In Tennessee, legislation banning the platforms is currently awaiting Gov. Bill Lee’s signature. The legislation will become law on May 22 with or without the governor’s signature. A similar bill in Louisiana became law on Saturday.
https://www.playusa.com/news/sweeps-ban-becomes-law-in-ok-after-legislature-overturns-governors-veto/