Oklahoma bans sweepstakes casino games
The Legislature overrode Governor Kevin Stitt’s veto of Senate Bill 1589.
US.- Online sweepstakes casinos have been banned in Oklahoma after the Legislature overrode Governor Kevin Stitt’s veto of Senate Bill 1589. The proposal passed both chambers earlier this year.
Stitt had argued that the was “so broad that it criminalizes everyday apps people use for fun” and “unnecessarily creates a new felony and extends criminal liability to businesses and service providers”. However, the Senate voted 34-10, and the House followed with a 68-19 vote, more than the two-thirds needed to override Stitt’s veto.
Authored by Senator Gollihare, the proposal broadens the definition of gambling in Oklahoma to include “online casino games” accessed through computers, mobile phones or tablets. The bill also amends the definition of a “representative of value” to contemplate dual-currency systems that can be exchanged for cash, prizes or a cash equivalent.
The bill states that anyone who opens, conducts, or supports such games, whether as an operator, employee, geolocation provider, platform supplier, promoter, or media affiliate, would be guilty of a Class C2 felony. Fines would range from $500 to $2,000.
