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Oklahoma Senate unanimously advances bill to ban online sweepstakes casinos
Lawmakers in Oklahoma sent a Senate bill to the House by a sweeping 48-0 vote that would ban online sweepstakes casinos.
There was nothing but agreement on an Oklahoma Senate bill that would prohibit operators from offering online casino games using dual-currency systems – otherwise known as online sweepstakes casinos – as lawmakers unanimously passed Senate Bill 1589 by a 48-0 vote. The bill now moves to the House for further consideration and is one step closer to making the Sooner State the latest jurisdiction to formally ban sweeps casinos.
Oklahoma lawmakers define what constitutes as illegal online gambling
There was no opposition in the passage of SB1589, which aims to outlaw specific online casino gaming in Oklahoma. That includes the offering of casino games online as part of a dual-currency system of payment that users can exchange for prizes, cash or cash equivalents.
When discussing his bill, Sen. Todd Gollihare emphasized that these unlicensed and offshore platforms cost the state millions of dollars in lost revenue. The legislation was introduced as a way to protect residents and visitors in Oklahoma, where real money online casino apps remain illegal, from a lack of consumer protection offered by these unlicensed operators.
The bill makes the offering and promotion of online casino games a Class C2 felony, defining an online casino game as any content that lets users risk any "representative of value," which includes a dual-currency system, to play a game or contest that represents real money online slots, lottery, bingo or other prohibited games.
As a result of the 48-0 vote, SB1589 moves to the House for discussion. If approved and signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, the law would take effect on Nov. 1. Those in violation of the bill, should it become law, would face fines ranging from $500 to $2,000 and could also face jail time of up to 30 days.
Oklahoma has actively attempted to crack down on illegal online gambling
Rep. Scott Fetgatter, a co-sponsor of SB1589, noted that he and Gollihare sought input from tribes in Oklahoma for the bill. As a result, the proposal was amended to include an exception for tribes that have their own online social casinos, so long as they occur on tribal lands.
The Senate bill also has a companion piece of legislation, House Bill 4140, that was approved by a subcommittee in the House and awaits further consideration.
A year ago, the National Association of Attorneys General and the Oklahoma attorney general penned a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice looking for assistance in curbing the "rampant spread" of illegal gaming operations in the state.
Now, Oklahoma is on the threshold of becoming the latest state to formally ban online sweepstakes casinos, with other jurisdictions – including nearby Mississippi and Tennessee – also considering bills to prohibit sweeps operators.
