Despite a 2025 ban on dual-currency sweepstakes sites, players can access social casinos in California. The question is whether the player can win rewards or play purely for fun or entertainment.
The distinction between sweepstakes casinos and social casino sites can be confusing for many newcomers. With that in mind, here is a legal breakdown of laws involving promotional sweepstakes in California. Keep reading to learn how to access a social casino in the Golden State.
Is playing at a social casino in California legal?
Yes. Signing up at a free-play casino site in California is both possible and legal. When players create a new account, they receive a default amount of Gold Coins. They can collect more through completing missions or other giveaways. Players can even purchase more coins if they temporarily run out.
The same players will never receive rewards, gift cards, or cash considerations, though. As the saying goes, you play for the fun of the game.
Assembly Bill 831: Why sweepstakes casinos are illegal in CA
On February 19, 2025, Assemblyman Avalino Valencia introduced Assembly Bill 831 to the California Assembly. The bill made steady progress through committee through the early part of 2025. On September 8, 2025, the Assembly voted 36-0 to pass the bill.
On September 15, the California Senate also voted unanimously in favor of the bill. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill on October 11, 2025, and it went into law on January 1, 2026.
AB 831 bans dual-currency online sweepstakes games
Assembly Bill 831 amended the sections of the California Business and Professions Code, while adding Section 337o to the Penal Code. Its goal was to ban dual-currency online sweepstakes.
AB 831’s key clause starts with, “This bill would make it unlawful for any person or entity to operate, conduct, or offer an online sweepstakes game, as defined, in this state.”
Expanded liability under AB 831’s provisions
The sweepstakes ban targets more than operators. It extends liability to any third-party associates that provide technology, technical support, or promotional assistance to sweepstakes casinos. Even celebrity endorsers who promote online sweepstakes casinos face liability concerns.
The preamble to AB 831 states it is “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.”
While the violations are classified as misdemeanors, violators can be fined no less than $1,000 and up to $25,000 per offense and spend 1 year in county jail.
Banning Sweeps Coins in California
The bill specifically mentions dual-currency systems like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins are virtual credits and serve like a player’s score in a video game, but have no real-world value.
Sweeps Coins are a second currency system of promotional credits that can be redeemed for gift cards, cash, or promotional prizes.
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The difference between sweepstakes and social casinos in California
California law distinguishes between sweepstakes casinos — which have the aforementioned dual-currency system — and social casinos, which do not. Therefore, there are no legal Sweeps Coins in California.
Meanwhile, under California law, a social casino offers Gold Coins or their equivalent but no Sweepstakes Coins. When a player signs up at a social casino, they play for fun or entertainment. They might buy credits to keep the game going, but do not expect rewards for winning.
Sweepstakes casinos that have exited California
By the time the new law went into effect on New Year’s Day, all of the top operators had exited the market. Pulsz was one of the first to leave on November 17, 2025.
Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots left in mid-December 2025. Many top California sweepstakes casinos — such as Hello Millions, McLuck, and Stake.us — officially ceased operations on January 1.
Social casinos that still remain in California
Famous social casino sites still operate in California. For instance, Doubledown Casino, Slotomania, and Big Fish Games still accept players from the Golden State.
Jackpot Party and Heart of Vegas also remain in the state. The social poker site, Zynga Poker, also accepts players. The difference is that they use a single-currency system and do not offer real-world redemptions for winning plays.
Are there licensed real money casino sites in California?
Despite over ten attempts to license online gambling in California in the past 15 years, California still has no licensed online gambling. That means the regulated sites you might encounter in other states do not accept players.
Instead, sites like BetRivers.net or Hard Rock Jackpot Planet operate as free-to-play casinos for entertainment only. In effect, they operate as social casino sites in California.
For the operators, it acts as a promotional tool. They collect information from potential real-money players and then promote their out-of-state products to them via email and text alerts.
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Are promotional sweepstakes in California still legal?
In the same way, traditional promotional sweepstakes, such as Publishers Clearing House, still operate legally in California. So do sweepstakes contests at retail food chains like McDonald’s.
AB 831 explicitly exempted traditional marketing methods, such as promotional sweepstakes. It states, “These provisions do not make unlawful game promotions or sweepstakes conducted by for-profit commercial entities on a limited and occasional basis as an advertising and marketing tool.”
Traditional sweepstakes remain legal as long as the element of “consideration” is included in the rules. In effect, the organizer must have what California calls a “Free Alternative Method of Entry” or “AMOE” in their rules.
The law states that buying a burger or a magazine does not increase your odds of winning. Therefore, the next time you go to the McDonald’s drive-thru in California, you can play the Monopoly sweepstakes games.
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Despite a 2025 ban on dual-currency sweepstakes sites, players can access social casinos in California. The question is whether the player can win rewards or play purely for fun or entertainment.
