Exits from Sweepstakes Casinos Gather Pace in Oklahoma

In October, a new wave of restrictions hit the sweepstakes casino sector. Most of this activity was seen in Oklahoma, ahead of the dual-currency gaming ban taking effect on November 1. Some major platforms withdrew from the state entirely, while others chose to offer only the free Gold Coin mode.

In May, the Oklahoma Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1589 despite a veto from Governor Kevin Stitt. The law targets online casino-style games where virtual currencies can be converted into cash or prizes. It also holds businesses that support such activities liable.

Casinos that have closed access in Oklahoma include ACE Casino, Baba Casino, Chanced, Punt and Spree. Lavish Luck also withdrew from Illinois and Utah, while Wow Vegas restricted access in Iowa.

Platform closures are also continuing. Coin Wizard Wins closed on October 28, while GiddyUp announced a temporary wind-down on October 19 and gave customers until November 2 to request payouts. Cazino and Cosmo Slots are displaying maintenance notices.

Wyoming, meanwhile, has become the newest state to consider legal action on the sector. The Legislature's Gaming Selection Committee reviewed proposals at its October 5 and 6 meeting that would either ban the sector or regulate it. The proposal under consideration aims to classify online casino and sweepstakes games as illegal professional gambling.