By State›California

Sweepstakes Casinos in California

LEGAL in CA39.0M residents

Banned since Jan 1, 2026 — AB 831 outlaws dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. Gold Coin-only social play remains legal.

Legal Status in California

California banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos effective January 1, 2026. AB 831, signed by Governor Newsom on October 11, 2025, makes it illegal to operate online sweepstakes casinos that award Sweeps Coins redeemable for cash prizes, and extends liability to payment processors and suppliers that support them. Every major operator we track ended California Sweeps Coins play before the deadline — VGW (Chumba, Global Poker) on December 30, 2025, Pulsz on December 15, McLuck on December 29, alongside Stake.us, Crown Coins, and the rest of the top brands.

What remains legal is free-to-play social gaming: Gold Coin-only modes with no cash redemption are outside AB 831's scope, and some brands still offer them to CA players. If you are in California, be wary of any site that still offers cash prizes on a sweepstakes model — compliant operators have left, so remaining offers are a red flag. For real-money alternatives, California has tribal casinos and licensed card rooms; online real-money casino play is still not legalized.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current requirements with your state before playing.

California FAQ

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in California?
No — not in their dual-currency form. AB 831 (effective Jan 1, 2026) bans sweepstakes casinos offering Sweeps Coins redeemable for cash. Major operators ended SC play for CA players before the deadline. Gold Coin-only social play (no cash redemption) remains legal.
Which sweepstakes casinos left California?
Effectively all major dual-currency brands: VGW (Chumba, Global Poker, LuckyLand) ended CA play Dec 30, 2025; Pulsz on Dec 15; McLuck on Dec 29; plus Stake.us, Crown Coins, WOW Vegas, RealPrize, and others. Some kept Gold Coin-only social modes running in CA.
Can Californians still play social casino games?
Yes. AB 831 targets cash-redeemable sweepstakes models, not free-to-play social gaming. Gold Coin-only play is still available from some operators — for fun, with no prize redemption.

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