Written by :
Published on :
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Gambling911.com) - Chumba Casino is reportedly phasing out promotional Sweeps Coin play in Oklahoma with that state's sweepstakes casino ban going into effect today, but the sweepstakes casino seem intent on sticking around.
Chumba has emailed players about Chumba Spins, a separate horse-racing-based real-money gaming product.
The new promotion is said to offer a 100% match on a first purchase for invited Oklahoma players through a closed beta, with a waitlist for others. This represents a different operating structure involving Game Play Network rather than Chumba Casino's usual VGW sweepstakes model.
Many of the sweepstakes casinos have now exited the state with Oklahoma's new sweepstakes casino law, Senate Bill 1589 (SB 1589), going into effect Sunday November 1.
Importantly, the legislation goes beyond targeting casino operators. It also creates potential felony liability for promoters, media affiliates and technology providers supporting prohibited games. Both paid and unpaid social media influencers promoting a particular sweepstakes casino brand directly to Oklahoma residents could face Class C2 felony charges. As of October 30, a number of top affiliate websites were still promoting sweepstakes casinos specifically to Oklahoma residents.
Unlike a real money online casino, sweepstakes - or social casinos - is an online platform that allows users to play casino-style games, including slots, bingo, table games, and even live casino games, using virtual currency instead of real money. These types of online casinos rely on additional real money purchases once the free play component is exhausted. In contrast, real money online casinos require a small deposit that can be increased through wins. Free play and cash bonuses are typically offered as well.
The legislation goes after the dual currency model as well as prohibiting online games simulating slot machines, lotteries, bingo and other prohibited gambling.
Violations are classified as Class C2 felonies, with fines ranging from $500 to $2,000 and imprisonment under Oklahoma's sentencing statutes.
Chumba Spins is a new real-money, casino-style gaming platform powered by horse racing wagers, rather than the traditional sweepstakes model used by Chumba Casino.
It operates under an advance deposit wagering (ADW) and pari-mutuel framework.
Here's how it works:
1. A player funds an account with real money.
2. A wager is placed into an underlying horse racing pool.
3. A slot-style game displays the result of that wager.
4. Any winnings are credited as cash, subject to the platform's terms.
Unlike Chumba Casino's traditional model, Chumba Spins doesn't depend on Gold Coins and redeemable Sweeps Coins.
The game is also listed as "authorized" in California.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
