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State record

Sweepstakes casinos are banned in California

A California statute closes the dual-currency sweepstakes model. We list no operators for this state and we do not link players here to any sweepstakes casino.

Legality verified
Banned by lawCode CA0 operators listedMinimum age: Varies by operatorNo purchase necessary.All jurisdictions

The ban on the record

Banned by law
Statute
AB 831
Effective
January 1, 2026
Operators listed
0
Source
Published bill text

What this means for players

  • Operators may not offer dual-currency sweepstakes play to California residents. The ones we track have withdrawn.
  • We list no sweepstakes casino for California and we will not link you to one from this page.
  • If you still hold a balance with an operator, contact its support directly about withdrawing it. We cannot do that for you.
Read the state regulations guide

The statute, on the record

What California actually enacted, read off the bill text rather than summarized from coverage.

Bill
AB 831 (Chapter 623, Statutes of 2025)
Codified at
Penal Code Section 337o, added; Business and Professions Code Section 17539.1, amended
How it became law
Approved by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State on October 11, 2025
Operative from
January 1, 2026
Reaches affiliates
Yes

What it covers

Section 337o(a) makes it unlawful "for any person or entity to operate, conduct, or offer an online sweepstakes game in this state." The section defines the game by its two-currency structure: "direct consideration" that a player buys or receives through a bonus, and "indirect consideration" that arrives free but can be exchanged for a prize, award, cash or cash equivalents.

Penalty

A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $25,000, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by both.

Reaches affiliates

Yes, in its own subsection. Section 337o(b) makes it unlawful for "any entity, financial institution, payment processor, geolocation provider, gaming content supplier, platform provider, or media affiliate to knowingly and willfully support directly or indirectly the operation, conduct, or promotion of an online sweepstakes game within this state."

How it moved

  1. June 23 to September 3, 2025Amended three times in the Senate, the last time on third reading
  2. September 8, 2025Passed the Senate on third reading, 36 ayes to 0 noes
  3. September 12, 2025Senate amendments concurred in by the Assembly, 79 ayes to 0 noes
  4. October 11, 2025Approved by the Governor and chaptered by the Secretary of State as Chapter 623, Statutes of 2025
  5. January 1, 2026Takes effect under the ordinary rule for a non-urgency statute; the bill carries no urgency clause and names no other operative date

Read from Chaptered text of AB 831, California Legislative Information

This is a summary of published law, not legal advice. Read the linked text before you rely on any of it.

Open jurisdictions near California

2 openOpen the full state tracker

Bordering jurisdictions where we have found no statutory ban. Residency and identity checks still apply at every operator.

How the model works

Sweepstakes casinos were sold to California players as promotions rather than gambling: Gold Coins for play, Sweeps Coins redeemable for prizes, no purchase necessary to enter. The statute on this page rejects that reading and treats the dual-currency model as gambling.

We keep this record online because the ban is the single most useful fact about the state. Removing the page would only send players to sites that will happily take them.