Oklahoma legislators are advancing Senate Bill 1589 (SB 1589) as part of a broader national effort to restrict sweepstakes gambling establishments. The costs, introduced by Sen. Todd Gollihare and Rep. Scott Fetgatter, passed the Senate unanimously, 48-0, previously in March. On April 7, it cleared the House Criminal Judiciary Committee by a 6-0 margin and now heads to your house Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee.

- Oklahoma lawmakers have actually advanced SB 1589 from the House Criminal Judiciary Committee with a 6-0 vote.

- The bill expands betting meanings to include virtual currencies and multiple market participants.

- It proceeds to your home Judiciary and Public Oversight Committee.

The proposal would broaden Oklahoma betting law to cover online sweepstakes gambling establishments and virtual currencies tied to cash-equivalent rewards by specifying what constitutes casino-style gaming.

In this regard, SB 1589 supplies that an online casino video game implies any gambling brought out online that duplicates slots, lotto games, bingo, or any other prohibited games if anything of worth is involved.

Another change made under this bill is a change to the meaning of a "agent of worth" to also cover virtual currency utilized in a dual-currency system, provided it can be transformed into cash, products, or other possessions.

Under the measure, the shipment or marketing of online casino games would therefore be classified as a class C2 felony, punishable by a fine between $500 to $2,000.

The bill does consist of an exception that permits tribal operators to run online social casinos on tribal lands, following consultation during preparing. Lawmakers have actually previously stated that overseas platforms have actually cost the state millions in lost revenue.

If approved by the House and signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, the procedure would work on Nov. 1. Oklahoma's legislative session runs through May 29, leaving time for further review. The effort follows a more comprehensive pattern, with six states passing similar restrictions given that in 2015. Most recently, Indiana and Maine have presented bills to prohibit sweepstakes casinos.

Tennessee costs targets wider virtual-currency systems

Tennessee legislators are likewise advancing House Bill 1885 (HB 1885), which takes a various method to managing sweepstakes gambling establishments. The expense has actually been put on the calendar for the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee after previously passing your house State and Local Government Committee on March 31.

HB 1885 varies from numerous other proposals by avoiding particular referrals to dual-currency systems. Rather, it is framed in wider terms, targeted at gambling-type games based upon any virtual currency system. This will include both the traditional two-token system and the new one-token systems.

This distinction can be credited to recent advancements within the market. Some operators, including Card Crush and ClubWPT Gold, have shifted to single-currency systems to browse laws targeting dual-currency structures.

A companion measure, Senate Bill 2136, has not advanced since passing the Senate on March 3.

HB 1885 remains the primary costs under consideration, but it must still pass its chamber before advancing. Tennessee's legislative session is set up to end on April 24, leaving minimal time for the bill to finish the procedure and reach the Governor.