Oklahoma Governor Vetoes Sweeps Ban Bill as Louisiana Passes Second Crackdown Measure
Oklahoma’s governor has vetoed SB 1589 despite strong legislative support. Meanwhile, Louisiana lawmakers passed HB 883 after previously advancing HB 53.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has vetoed SB 1589, a bill targeting sweepstakes casinos, while Louisiana lawmakers passed HB 883 after previously approving HB 53, potentially giving the state two separate enforcement tools against unregulated gaming operations.
Oklahoma SB 1589 Vetoed
According to the Oklahoma Legislature bill tracker, SB 1589 was “Vetoed 05/07/2026,” with the status update appearing on May 11.
A veto message obtained by Gambling Insider shows Stitt argued the bill 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.”
Stitt also wrote that the bill’s “vague and overbroad approach creates uncertainty for businesses operating in good faith and discourages innovation and investment in our state.”
The governor added: “Oklahoma can protect consumers without adopting criminal penalties that reach beyond the problem they are intended to solve.”
What SB 1589 Would Have Done
SB 1589 would have amended Oklahoma gambling law to explicitly prohibit “online casino games”. The bill defines the games as those that allow users to risk something of value via computers, mobile phones, or tablets, including slots, lottery-style products, and bingo.
The proposal directly targeted sweepstakes casinos by defining “representative of value” to include “any and all currency used as part of a dual-currency system of payment that allows a person to exchange such currency for any prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent.”
The bill also would have expanded liability to suppliers, platform providers, geolocation companies, affiliates, payment processors, and promoters supporting prohibited gambling operations.
Violations would have constituted a Class C2 felony under Oklahoma law.
Legislature Could Still Attempt Override
The Oklahoma Senate unanimously passed SB 1589, 48-0, before the measure cleared the Oklahoma House of Representatives, 65-21.
Under Oklahoma law, lawmakers can override a gubernatorial veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. While the Senate’s original vote exceeded that threshold, the House vote fell three votes short of the required 68 votes.
While historically uncommon, the Legislature overrode a record 47 of 68 gubernatorial vetoes during the 2025 session.
Louisiana Fully Passes HB 883
Meanwhile, the Louisiana Senate unanimously passed HB 883, 35-0, on May 12, after the measure previously cleared the House 99-0.
The Senate action returned the bill to the House for concurrence with the Senate’s changes. If the House concurs, the bill would advance to Gov. Jeff Landry’s desk.
HB 883 would amend the state’s “gambling by computer” statute to include online and mobile games simulating gambling activity that utilize dual-currency payment systems where players can exchange virtual currency for cash or prizes.
Louisiana lawmakers also previously passed HB 53. The bill amends Louisiana’s racketeering statute to add existing gambling crimes — including those commonly cited in sweepstakes enforcement — as predicate offenses. The bill now awaits Landry’s decision.
The dual approach by lawmakers to target unregulated gambling follows a push last year, when the Legislature passed a bill banning sweepstakes casinos. However, Landry vetoed it, stating it was unnecessary.
He said state enforcement actions and tools available at the time were sufficient to target illegal operations. This leaves the future of HB 53 and potentially HB 883 uncertain, as seen in Oklahoma.
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