Tennessee, Oklahoma Push Bills to Restrict Sweepstakes
HighlightsÂ
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Lawmakers of Tennessee and Oklahoma move to classify sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling.
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The action in these two states is a part of the nationwide effort to ban sweepstakes models.
Recently, the Tennessee and Oklahoma senators passed a bill specifically targeting dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. These significant measures mark the latest escalation in the nationwide crackdown on these gaming models.
Legislators in Tennessee aim to strengthen consumer protection with Senate Bill 2136, which amends the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. The proposal clearly mentions “online sweepstakes games” as gambling conducted through the internet.
This is what Tennessee state law suggests: “Utilizes a virtual-currency system allowing a player to… Exchange the currency for a prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent, or the chance to win a prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent”.
The state has already pushed the most sweepstakes operators to exit, with Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issuing cease-and-desist letters to nearly 40 sweepstakes companies.
Oklahoma’s Senate Bill 1589 moves to the House. The bill widens its definition of online casino games.
It defines online casino games as “Any gambling game that allows a person to access the Internet… that, upon risking any representative of value, simulates any gambling game described in this section or any other form of gambling, including… a slot machine…”
If the Senate Bill 1589 is passed, the law is said to take effect on Nov. 1, 2026.
 Violations would constitute Class C2 felonies, with fines of $500 to $2,000 and potential imprisonment.
These measures in Tennessee and Oklahoma reflect a multi-state trend, including Indiana, Mississippi, and Virginia, to outlaw dual-currency sweepstakes casinos.Â
For the full news story, Read Here!
Legislators in Tennessee aim to strengthen consumer protection with Senate Bill 2136, which amends the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. The proposal clearly mentions “online sweepstakes games” as gambling conducted through the internet.
This is what Tennessee state law suggests: “Utilizes a virtual-currency system allowing a player to… Exchange the currency for a prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent, or the chance to win a prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent”.
The state has already pushed the most sweepstakes operators to exit, with Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issuing cease-and-desist letters to nearly 40 sweepstakes companies.
Oklahoma’s Senate Bill 1589 moves to the House. The bill widens its definition of online casino games.
It defines online casino games as “Any gambling game that allows a person to access the Internet… that, upon risking any representative of value, simulates any gambling game described in this section or any other form of gambling, including… a slot machine…”
If the Senate Bill 1589 is passed, the law is said to take effect on Nov. 1, 2026.
 Violations would constitute Class C2 felonies, with fines of $500 to $2,000 and potential imprisonment.
These measures in Tennessee and Oklahoma reflect a multi-state trend, including Indiana, Mississippi, and Virginia, to outlaw dual-currency sweepstakes casinos.Â
For the full news story, Read Here!
