Sweepstakes Casino Ban in California Passes 63-0

This article was written prior to AB 831 being enacted into law, meaning some of the information may be outdated or inaccurate. From January 1, 2026 all sweepstakes sites are no longer legal in California.

California lawmakers have done their part to eradicate sweepstakes casinos in this state. On Friday, on the last day of this legislative session, the State Assembly passed AB 831, a ban on sweepstakes and social casino apps.

The bill previously passed the State Senate unanimously. Now it moves to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until the end of September to sign it into law. If Newsom chooses to not sign it, or he makes a decision to veto, the ban will be dead.

It's expected that Newsom will follow the will of lawmakers and sign AB 831 into law. If he does, the ban on sweepstakes casinos would not be in effect until early in 2026.

No debate occurred prior to the vote on the assembly floor. Limited comment was made, and the roll call of votes was recorded.

Ban on sweepstakes casinos passes despite opposition from some tribal nations

Four tribal nations and the ACLU opposed the bill, but otherwise, the large majority of native tribes in California were in support of a ban on these types of gaming products.

Amendments tacked onto the bill in recent weeks ensured that retail sweepstakes games and contests that are not related to casino activity would not be included in a ban.

Sweepstakes casino operators provide platforms where consumers can play casino-style games for free. The applications offer hundreds of slot tiles as well as a handful of casino table games. Users can quickly set up accounts without having to be verified or connect a funding source.

However, most sweepstakes and so-called "social casino" apps that will be banned under this measure allowed their customers to redeem coins or tokens they earned for cash. In many cases, users could purchase coins or tokens, play them, and if they won, redeem them for rewards, gifts, or cash. That made the de facto gaming apps, say critics.

California is largest state to pass prohibition of sweepstakes casinos

California is the sixth state to pass a ban on sweepstakes casinos. The issue has become a hot one in 2025, as the industry deals with the ramifications of the rapid legalization of gaming in the United States. More states have used cease-and-desist letters to shut down sweepstakes casinos.

Each of the five states to previously pass bans on sweepstakes casinos enacted the laws following signatures from the governor.

The passing of AB 831 today was part of a flurry of activity by the California State legislature on the last day of the session, with dozens of bills being rapidly moved through the process.