Lawmakers in Oklahoma are considering the state’s first ever anti-sweepstakes proposal in the form of Senate Bill 1589.
OK has long been considered a safe state for the sweepstakes format with very few sweeps casinos choosing not to operate there, but SB 1589, filed this year, will now put the Sooner State on the radar of operators and other stakeholders.
The bill is a relatively compact one that amends current gaming law. SB 1589 looks to explicitly define “online casino games” as any internet or mobile game that simulates traditional gambling and involves risking “any representative of value”.
“2. ‘Representative of value’ includes 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, or any chance to win any prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent.”
This wording would apply to the dual-currency systems used by online sweepstakes casinos like McLuck, Pulsz, and Chumba, rendering the format clearly illegal in OK.
Like many other anti-sweepstakes bills, SB 1589 would also capture other members of the supply chain, including the following roles: “geolocation provider, gaming supplier, platform provider, promoter, or media affiliate”.
The wording also retains a Class C2 felony penalty, so that anyone caught running or aiding such games would face serious criminal consequences – specifically up to 4 years in prison plus fines of up to $5,000.
As of the latest update, SB 1589 has been referred to the Senate Business and Insurance Committee and is awaiting a committee vote, and we’ll be monitoring it for any further progress.
Author: Mike F.
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