Published on: May 15, 2026, 08:18h.
Updated on: May 15, 2026, 08:18h.
- Oklahoma to outlaw online sweepstakes casinos by November
- The Oklahoma Legislature has overturned a veto from Governor Kevin Stitt
Oklahoma tribes achieved a significant triumph on Thursday as the state Legislature nullified Governor Kevin Stitt’s (R) veto concerning sweepstakes casinos.
Earlier in the week, Governor Stitt vetoed Senate Bill 1589, asserting that the legislation was overly ambiguous and could jeopardize the legality of free-to-play social gaming apps and promotional offerings from retailers.
Following his return to the State Capitol, Senate members decisively overrode Stitt’s veto with a vote of 34-10, which was later supported by the House at 68-19. In Oklahoma, a three-fifths majority in both chambers is required to override a governor’s veto.
With this override, effective from November 1, 2026, anyone facilitating online casino games that involve any “representative of value” will face a Class C2 felony charge. This law influences online gaming and sweepstakes casino operators, geolocation service providers, gaming suppliers, promoters, and media affiliates.
SB1589 provides exemptions for games sanctioned by the Oklahoma Charity Games Act or those compliant with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Tribal Authority Maintained
Oklahoma tribes hold exclusive rights to casino gaming within the state, making it one of the largest Native gaming markets in the nation thanks to their Class III gaming compacts.
In the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2025, Oklahoma tribes reported gross gaming revenue (GGR) exceeding $3.6 billion, resulting in $221 million in revenue for the state through compacts requiring tribes to share 4% to 10% of their earnings in exchange for regulatory privileges.
Many Native communities rely heavily on gaming revenues, perceiving online sweepstakes casinos as a substantial threat to their economic sovereignty.
“Oklahoma tribal gaming is facing challenges. These platforms evade tribal-state compacts and directly compete with our physical establishments, undermining revenues that support education, elder services, and economic initiatives,” stated Margo Gray, executive director of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma.
“Safeguarding tribal gaming is crucial for preserving the vital services our citizens rely upon,” Gray further emphasized.
Sweepstakes casinos employ a disputed dual-currency model.
Players can engage in online slots and table games for free using virtual currency, while their accounts also allow the purchase of a secondary digital currency known as sweeps coins. These sweeps coins can be used for wagering, or as the platforms assert, to participate in online promotions influenced by the results of slot spins and dealt cards.
Once gambled, sweeps coins can be redeemed for cash.
Ongoing Operations of Sweepstakes Casinos… Temporarily
As SB1589 won’t take effect until November, online sweepstakes casinos are still operational in Oklahoma. Reports indicate that several platforms, including Chumba Casino, Stake, and FunzCity, remain active.
It is estimated that unregulated online sweepstakes casinos in the U.S. generated upwards of $4 billion in gross gaming revenue last year.