California’s effort to shut down sweepstakes casinos took another step forward this week, as Assembly Bill 831 advanced to the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. The legislation, which would ban casino-style sweepstakes games operating under promotional currency models, has already passed two Senate committees with unanimous support.
AB 831 is designed to outlaw platforms that use dual-currency systems—typically Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins—to simulate real-money gambling. If passed, it would make California one of the strictest states in the country in terms of sweepstakes enforcement, joining jurisdictions like Connecticut, Montana, and Washington.
The next public hearing is set for August 18, where fiscal impacts and implementation logistics will be debated. While the bill continues to enjoy bipartisan support, mounting opposition from marketing associations and civil liberties groups may complicate its path to full passage.
For now, California appears poised to become the next major battleground in the national crackdown on unregulated online gaming. Operators, affiliates, and advertisers are watching closely—because if AB 831 becomes law, the ripple effects will extend far beyond the Golden State.