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Prominent California tribal nation opposes bill that would ban sweepstakes casinos

Sports Writer

Publish Date: Aug 26, 2025

Fact checked by: Sara Jane Gamelli

Key Points

Prominent Big Lagoon Rancheria tribe has sent letter explaining its opposition to Assembly Bill 831
Bill would ban sweepstakes casino apps in California
ACLU and other organizations are also in opposition to AB831, citing threat to "tribal sovereignty"

Yet another large California native tribal nation has expressed opposition to Assembly Bill 831. The Big Lagoon Rancheria sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday seeking a pause in the legislative action on AB831, which would ban sweepstakes casinos in California.

AB831 is set to be considered for reporting out of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, possibly as soon as August 29.

california state capitol building at night

Many members of the committee seem poised to support the measure, which would prohibit so-called sweepstakes casino apps in the largest state in the country.

The letter explains that the Big Lagoon Rancheria tribe hopes to "respectfully request that the Committee and the Legislature pause consideration of AB831 to allow for additional time for meaningful tribal consideration."

Unlike other opponents of the bill, which was sponsored by Assemblyman Avelino Valencia, Big Lagoon Rancheria is asking for the bill to be reconsidered and potentially altered to fix what it says are threats to "tribal sovereignty and self-determination."

Virgil Moorehead, the leader of the tribal nation, also claims that AB831 "does not have the unanimous support of California's Indian tribes."

The tribe explains in its letter dated August 25, that the bill would jeopardize possible revenue streams for tribal lands, while also impacting the legality of other types of sweepstakes activity in California.

Previously, both the American Civil Liberties Union and the economic arm of the powerful Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation have come out against Assembly Bill 831.

Both cited concerns over impacts on sovereign tribal gaming rights, and in the case of the ACLU there is concern over infringement on freedoms for economic activity.

A handful of California tribes currently offer legal sweepstakes casino products to consumers.

Such gaming platforms do not require real money to play slots and casino table games from a mobile application. Critics say the sweepstakes casinos exist in a gray area of the law, providing prizes in lieu of real money.

In some cases, consumers can redeem coins or tokens for cash when playing sweepstakes casinos.

According to the letter sent to the Senate Committee, Moorehead and the Big Lagoon Rancheria nation take issue with the many changes to AB831 as it has navigated through the labyrinth of the state lawmaking process in Sacramento.

Moorehead claims the bill is now little more than a "broad and blanket prohibition of various types of online gaming."

If AB831 is successfully reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, it could be taken up by the full body and eventually voted on before the end of the state legislative session in early December.

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