Oklahoma Legislature Overrides Veto on Sweepstakes Casino Ban

_{Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was overridden after vetoing Senate Bill 1589, which he thought too broad to be approved at this point. (Photo: Alan Kotok / Alamy)}

Oklahoma lawmakers overrode a veto on a bill that would have defined dual-currency systems as gambling under state law last Thursday, a move that would have prohibited sweepstakes casinos in the state.

Senate Bill 1589 initially passed through the Oklahoma Senate by a unanimous 48-0 vote in March, before passing the state House by a 65-21 margin.

Stitt: Bill Fails to be ‘Clear, Targeted, and Fair’

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued his veto on May 7. He expanded on his reasoning for sending the bill back to the state legislature this week when explaining his vetoes for the session.

“Oklahoma’s gaming laws must be clear, targeted, and fair. Senate Bill 1589 does not accomplish that end,” Stitt wrote in his veto message. “This bill is so broad that it criminalizes everyday apps people use for fun. It also unnecessarily creates a new felony and extends criminal liability to businesses and service providers. That kind of vague and overbroad approach creates uncertainty for businesses operating in good faith and discourages innovation and investment in our state.”

The bill treats offering or promoting sweepstakes-style games as a Class C2 felony. It also establishes penalties for partners such as payment processors, geolocation providers, and affiliate marketers. The bill includes exceptions for gaming that takes place on tribal lands, earning the support of Oklahoma tribes which said it would help them defend their gaming rights under their state compacts.

Given the margins by which the bill passed both houses of the state legislature, the only question was whether lawmakers were motivated to discuss the legislation again, as Stitt had issued 33 vetoes in this year’s legislative session.

On Thursday evening, legislators in both chambers took decisive action. The Oklahoma House voted 68-19 in favor of the veto, while the Senate passed its override by a 34-10 margin. Both were well clear of the two-thirds vote required to override a veto on non-emergency legislation.

The bill will now go into law in Oklahoma on Nov. 1, 2026.

Veto Cites Same Logic as Louisiana Governor

Stitt’s objection to the broad nature of the sweepstakes ban is reminiscent of a similar decision made by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry last year when he vetoed a similar prohibition.

“This bill attempts to criminalize certain secondary gambling activities on the internet that are already prohibited in Louisiana,” Landry said in a letter to the Louisiana Senate in June 2025. “As such, this bill is a solution in search of a problem that is already being solved by our current system, and some of the language in this bill is overly broad and could be interpreted in an adverse manner which may harm or impede our current enforcement actions taken against these bad actors.”

However, Louisiana lawmakers are taking a crack at outlawing sweepstakes casinos this year. They aren’t alone, either, as lawmakers in several other states have also considered legislation that would ban sweepstakes sites in 2026.