Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti sent cease-and-desist letters to 40 operators in December. "The only thing you can be sure about with an online sweepstakes casino is that it's going to take your money," Skrmetti said. "They work hard to make these sweepstakes casinos look legitimate, but at the end of the day, they are not. They avoid any oversight that could ensure honesty or fairness."
The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, aims to crack down on online sweepstakes casinos and certain fantasy sports operators that have long existed in a regulatory gray zone. Backed strongly by tribal nations and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), AB 831 signals a growing push to bring more clarity and control to how online gaming functions in the state.