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California Anti-Sweeps Bill AB 831 Passed Another Key Committee

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Publish Date: Jul 16, 2025

Fact checked by: Sara Jane Gamelli

California's AB 831, an anti-sweepstakes casino bill sponsored by Assemblyman Avelino Valencia, passed in the Senate's Public Safety Committee following a unanimous 6-0 vote on Tuesday.

This comes one week after a bill to ban Sweeps Casinos in California passed unanimously in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee.

Next up is the Appropriations Committee, which is scheduled to meet on August 18. There, it's expected that more amendments will be proposed following discussions with card room stakeholders.

office of the attorney general in california

District Attorney of the County of San Bernardino Speaks

According to the Latest News, alongside Valencia was Johnny Hernandez of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. He was joined by Jason Anderson, the district attorney of the County of San Bernardino.

“Teens and underage adults have a difficult time going into a casino unnoticed, but they have very easy access to a variety of the betting and gambling options online," Anderson said.

Anderson also discussed the amendments Valencia made, including narrowing the focus of who can be liable. Now, it's “only intended to penalize the companies … which are the source of this illegal gambling who are operating these dual currency model games illegally in the state.”

“Assemblymember Valencia has presented the legislature with an opportune bill at an appropriate time, and I strongly urge the committee to support to move this bill through the process so that California can take a step forward in joining other states in protecting our children," Anderson also added.

Conversely, Jeff Duncan, a former U.S. Congressman who's now the Executive Director of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, took issue with the amendments.

“We heard the bill author admit substantial amendments are needed to prevent unintended consequences but has failed to produce them,” he said.

“Lawmakers are being asked to vote on legislation that even its author acknowledges is incomplete and inadequate. We urge California lawmakers to listen to the thousands of constituents that have contacted their offices and work with the industry to keep this established form of entertainment legal and properly regulated.”

SGLA Brings Sweepstakes Casino Operator to Speak Before Committee

Bill Gantz spoke up against the bill on behalf of the SGLA. He was joined by David Jumper, the Chief Marketing Officer of ARB Interactive.

ARB Interactive owns Modo Casino. It also recently purchased Publishers Clearing House.

Jumper told the committee that Modo provides “ongoing access to free gold coins and maintains robust alternate method of entry, ensuring no purchase is ever required.”

He also added that Modo utilizes tools like age verification, spending limits, ID checks, and self-exclusion tools.

Jumper emphasized that sweeps “are not gambling,” but rather “promotions governed by established consumer protection laws, not gaming laws.” He echoed Gantz’s calls for a regulatory framework that would lead to potential tax revenue and called for AB 831 to be put on a two-year timeline to allow “stakeholders to develop a thoughtful regulatory framework.”

States Clamping Down on Sweepstakes Casinos

Sweepstakes casinos have been a hot topic around the country.

States like Montana, Nevada, and Connecticut have passed and signed legislation into law banning them.

New York and New Jersey are a mere governor's signature away.

Additionally, Louisiana passed legislation. It was vetoed, but Governor Jeff Landry said the Louisiana Gaming Control Board had the authority to go after such sites. Since then, 42 cease-and-desist letters have been sent.

We'll see what happens with this California anti-sweeps bill next, when the Appropriations Committee meets in August.

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