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SB 1589 would classify dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as a Class C22 felony with up to 30 days in jail and fines up to $2,000
Oklahoma joins Tennessee and Louisiana as states that have advanced sweepstakes prohibition bills
Without a whole lot of fanfare, the state of Oklahoma is on the verge of passing a sweepstakes casino ban. All that is needed is the governor's signature.
It appears likely that Gov. Kevin Stitt will sign SB 1589.
To date so far this year, Maine and Indiana have passed legislation banning sweepstakes casinos. Last year, several other states implemented bans, including California, New Jersey and New York. Louisiana and Tennessee also have sweepstakes casino prohibition bills in the pipeline.
The bill would classify dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as a Class C22 felony with up to 30 days in jail and fines up to $2,000, which is slightly less scary than the money laundering charges and multi-year prison possibilities that would come with Louisiana's sweepstakes casino measure.
Oklahoma's influential tribes provided input on that state's bill. A tribal-supported sports betting bill died in the Sooner State last week in part because of an ongoing riff between the tribes and Stitt.
Stitt has five days excluding Sundays to act on the sweepstakes ban bill.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
