California Calls It: No More Sweepstakes
By Natasa Milojevic, Last updated Oct 14, 2025
Sweepstakes casinos just got banned for good in California. California governor Gavin Newsom just signed Assembly Bill 831, a document that’ll shut down online sweepstakes casinos in the Golden State as of January 1, 2026.
The efforts towards outlawing sweepstakes didn’t begin yesterday, though. Back in 2015, the California Legislature enacted Business and Professions Code section 17539.1(a)(12), which essentially banned all land-based sweepstakes casinos.
Over time, sweepstakes successfully shifted to the online world and continued to operate entirely legally there. That’s because California’s ban applied only to “business establishments,” so online sweepstakes casinos slipped through the cracks.
But as of 2025, the tables have turned. Californian lawmakers have proposed Assembly Bill 831— a document that pulls the plug on online sweepstakes the same way brick-and-mortar sweepstakes casinos were banned. The Bill passed the Senate Governmental Organization Committee in July unanimously, and on Saturday, October 11, Newsom signed the bill into law.
What this means in practice is that offenders could face up to $25,000 per violation, jail time, or misdemeanor charges.
With California being the leading US state in population size with zero legal gambling options, this could land a major blow, especially for operators.
But will this entirely deter iGaming enthusiasts from reveling in gambling activities, or will we just see them scutter to offshore platforms? Let’s see how things unravel after January 1.
Natasa has been writing and editing for four years, dipping her toes in different industries to polish her craft.
When she’s not quenching her thirst for shaping sentences, Natasa is often seen dissecting online gambling platforms — looking in every nook and cranny to ensure players always know what they’re signing up for before they give a casino a spin.
An introvert by nature, she prefers the quiet company of her cacti, often staring at them to ensure they thrive — just like the content she produces.
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