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