California
Sweepstakes casinos are illegal in California as of January 1, 2026. This page documents the legal status, the operative statute, the enforcement authority, and what the position means in practice for residents of California. Last verified May 2026.
On this page
Sweepstakes casinos are illegal in California as of January 1, 2026. This page documents the legal status, the operative statute, the enforcement authority, and what the position means in practice for residents of California. Last verified May 2026.
Summary
California banned sweepstakes casinos through Assembly Bill 831, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 11, 2025. The law took effect January 1, 2026.
The law
- Operative statute
- Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831), codified into the California Penal Code and the California Gambling Control Act.
- Enforcement authority
- California Department of Justice; California Bureau of Gambling Control.
- Penalties
- Misdemeanor; fines of $1,000–$25,000 per violation; up to one year in county jail. Liability extends to operators, payment processors, geolocation providers, gaming content suppliers, and media affiliates.
- Legislative history
- Passed unanimously: 36–0 in the Senate, 63–0 in the Assembly. Signed October 11, 2025; effective January 1, 2026.
Operator status
All major sweepstakes operators — including McLuck, WOW Vegas, Hello Millions, Mega Bonanza, PlayFame, Pulsz, Stake.us, Chumba Casino — exited California by December 31, 2025.
We track which operators on our toplist serve this state and which do not. The list below reflects operator-level state availability as of our last verification — operator terms can change at any time, so always confirm directly with the operator before creating an account.
What this means if you live in California
California residents can no longer legally create accounts or play on sweepstakes casino platforms. Existing accounts have been closed and balances liquidated by operators.
Why the model is treated this way
A note on the social-gaming framework. Sweepstakes casinos operate under US promotional-sweepstakes law, not gambling law — the distinction is what allows them to function in most states. The legal test most courts apply asks whether an activity has consideration, chance, and prize together. Sweepstakes platforms argue the no-purchase entry method removes the consideration element. Where this argument holds, the platforms operate legally; where it does not, they do not. The position varies by state.
Legal alternatives in California
California residents who want regulated gaming have access to tribal casinos and the California State Lottery. Online casino gaming is not legally available in California in any regulated form.
Frequently asked
Can I use a sweepstakes casino in California?
Not legally. Sweepstakes casinos are illegal in California as of January 1, 2026, and operators have geoblocked the state.
What if I use a VPN?
Using a VPN to circumvent geographic restrictions violates the terms of service of every major sweepstakes platform we cover. Accounts created from a banned state via VPN are typically closed without redemption when discovered. In some states, using a VPN to access prohibited gaming can also carry independent legal risk under state law. We do not recommend it.
What happens to my balance if I’m in a state where the ban takes effect?
Operators generally provide a transition window before exit, during which existing balances can be redeemed. Specifics vary by operator. If you have a Sweeps Coin balance with a platform that has announced exit from your state, redeem promptly and document the redemption.
Are there any sweepstakes casino alternatives I can use?
Pure social casinos that offer only Gold Coin entertainment play — without any Sweeps Coin or prize-redemption component — may be available even in states that have banned dual-currency sweepstakes models. These are not sweepstakes casinos in the sense we cover on Ansvya because there is no prize redemption.