Oklahoma is on the brink of instituting stricter regulations on online sweepstakes casinos with just one signature required. Senate Bill 1589 has been passed on to Governor Kevin Stitt after it garnered approval from the House with a 65-21 vote on May 4.

The bill was subsequently enrolled and signed on May 5 before reaching the governor’s desk, as reported by Complete iGaming. Authored by Senator Todd Gollihare, this legislation was introduced in February and has smoothly navigated its way through the legislative process. It received unanimous backing from the Business and Insurance Committee on March 2 and later gained significant support in the House.

The legislation specifically addresses online sweepstakes casinos and updates the definition of “representative of value” to incorporate virtual currency used in dual-currency systems, which can be traded for cash, prizes, or their equivalents.

This is a crucial point, given that sweepstakes casino operators frequently utilize virtual coins or credits in lieu of traditional cash bets. SB 1589 also clarifies that all current and future online gaming in Oklahoma must be limited to tribal lands.

Oklahoma joins a growing list of states taking action against sweepstakes casinos, as Louisiana lawmakers have recently endorsed a bill that categorizes activities related to sweepstakes casinos as racketeering offenses, while maintaining the prohibition on sports betting in the state.