Stake.us Leaves Oklahoma as Sweepstakes Gaming Ban Takes Effect
Three of the four main sweepstakes poker operators had withdrawn before SB 1589 took effect, while ClubWPT Gold still listed the state as eligible on Nov. 9.
- Oklahoma’s SB 1589 took effect Nov. 1 after Stake.us and Clubs Poker withdrew on Oct. 30.
- Stake.us customers can redeem existing Stake Cash, but regular Oklahoma gameplay has ended.
- Global Poker ended sweepstakes play while retaining Gold Coin games, and ClubWPT Gold remained listed as eligible on Nov. 9.
- The law covers dual-currency games, creates felony exposure and extends potential liability to service providers and affiliates.
- Oklahoma became the 10th state with an enacted sweepstakes casino ban.
Stake.us left Oklahoma on Oct. 30, two days before the state’s new ban on sweepstakes gaming took effect under Senate Bill 1589. Regular gameplay is no longer available to Oklahoma customers, although they can still redeem existing Stake Cash balances.
Clubs Poker also withdrew on Oct. 30. Global Poker ended sweepstakes play for Oklahoma players that day but continued to offer its Gold Coin games in the state, leaving three of the four main sweepstakes poker operators withdrawn before the law took effect.
ClubWPT Gold was the outlier in the group. It still listed Oklahoma as eligible for sweepstakes play when Poker Industry PRO checked on Nov. 9, according to Bonus.com, though that listing alone did not establish compliance with the new law.
SB 1589 puts dual-currency and virtual-token games within Oklahoma’s existing gambling offense, with no poker exemption. It targets casino-style games in which one currency is used for social play and another can be redeemed for prizes. The law defines a coin as a representative of value used for gambling, and violations are felony offenses.
The measure also reaches beyond operators. Suppliers, payment processors, geolocation providers and affiliates can face liability, a broad scope that Governor Kevin Stitt criticized when he vetoed the bill. Stitt said its language was “too broad,” but the Legislature overrode him May 14, voting 34-10 in the Senate and 68-19 in the House.
The ban does not affect tribal gaming conducted under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, so licensed Oklahoma tribal casinos remain unaffected. Oklahoma also has no regulated online casino market, leaving fewer legal online options for players affected by the sweepstakes restrictions.
PokerListings counted nine states with enacted sweepstakes casino bans as of October: California, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New York and Tennessee. Oklahoma became the 10th when SB 1589 took effect Nov. 1, while Idaho, Michigan, Nevada and Washington had already kept most sweepstakes casinos out through older gambling laws or enforcement.
