Oklahoma has enacted SB 1589 after lawmakers overrode Gov. Kevin Stitt’s veto. The law bans sweepstakes-style casino apps and games in the state.
According to Golf Oklahoma, the measure targets online casino-style games built on token or dual-currency structures tied to redeemable prizes. Operators and businesses that assist them could face fines of up to $2,000 and Class C2 felony charges.
The Senate voted 34-10 to override the veto on May 14. The bill had already cleared third reading 48-0 on March 2 and committee 9-0 on Feb. 19. The House margin was 68-19.
Stitt argued that the bill was too broad. He said it would criminalize everyday apps used for fun, create a new felony and extend criminal liability to businesses and service providers. He also said the approach would create uncertainty for companies acting in good faith and discourage innovation and investment.
The statute leaves tribal gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act untouched. IGRA was enacted on Oct. 17, 1988, to regulate gaming on Indian lands and establish the National Indian Gaming Commission. The commission’s summary of the act says tribes have the exclusive right to regulate gaming activity on Indian lands when federal law does not specifically prohibit it and the state does not prohibit it as a matter of criminal law and public policy.
Oklahoma still does not license real-money online casino play, and only eight states do, with Maine becoming the eighth in 2026. The move sits within a wider wave of state legislation aimed at sweepstakes casinos and the commercial ecosystem around them. It takes effect on Nov. 1.
