Lawmakers in Oklahoma and Tennessee approved legislation that could ban sweepstakes casinos in their states. The bills both passed the Senate in their respective states and will now move to the House for consideration.
In Tennessee, the Senate passed SB2136 unanimously, 32-0, on Monday. This followed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee‘s approval of the legislation last month.
Senators in Oklahoma similarly all voted in favor of SB1589 in a 48-0 vote. The legislation aims to prohibit the dual-currency payment method operators use to bypass state laws that prohibit online casinos.
Oklahoma Could Implement Ban By November
If the bill in Oklahoma is approved by the House and Gov. Kevin Stitt, the law would take effect in November this year. The bill’s text widens its definition of online casino games, which are prohibited in the state.
It states that, “‘Online casino games’ means any gambling game that allows a person to access the Internet, World Wide Web, or any part thereof by way of a computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, computer terminal, or similar device including, but not limited to, a cellular or mobile telephone, a smart or electronic watch, or a tablet that, upon risking any representative of value,
simulates any gambling game.”
It goes on to define “representative of value” as “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.”
The sweeping definition would undoubtedly make sweepstakes casinos illegal in Oklahoma. Currently, no operators specifically exclude Oklahoma players from using their platforms. With few legal gambling options, sites that offer Oklahomans opportunities to play online casino games and place sports wagers have become popular.
There have been pushes to legalize sports betting in the state, but despite support from the Oklahoma City Thunder, efforts to do so through the state’s tribes have fallen flat.
The bill does not reference sports betting; instead, it is entirely focused on unregulated casino games. Violations of the new law would be punished as Class C2 felonies, with fines of $500 to $2,000 and potential imprisonment.
Tennessee Targets Unregulated Gambling
In Tennessee, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ferrell Haile, said he aims to tackle “growing concerns about illegal online gambling in our state.”
The state has already driven out the majority of sweepstakes operators, with Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issuing cease-and-desist letters to companies last year.
The legislation defines an online sweepstakes game as a platform that utilizes a virtual-currency system allowing players to engage in “gambling of any kind, including, but not limited to, casino-style gaming such as slot machines, video poker, table games, lottery games, bingo, or unlicensed sports wagering,” which can later be exchanged for “a prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent.”
In addition to Tennessee and Oklahoma, several other states are moving forward with bills targeting sweepstakes casinos. Indiana now needs only Gov. Mike Braun’s sign-off to become the latest state to explicitly ban the platforms, after lawmakers in both the House and the Senate voted in favor of a ban.
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Lawmakers in Oklahoma and Tennessee approved legislation that could ban sweepstakes casinos in their states. The bills both passed the Senate in their respective states and will now move to the House for consideration. In Tennessee, the Senate passed SB2136 unanimously, 32-0, on Monday. This followed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee‘s approval of the
The post Oklahoma & Tennessee Lawmakers Approve Bans on Sweepstakes Casinos appeared first on CasinoBeats.