Key Takeaways:
- California banned traditional sweepstakes casinos effective Jan 1, 2025
- Some operators have transitioned to Gold Coin only play
- Sweeps Coins are no longer available in the state
Sweepstakes casinos in California look a little different now thanks to Bill 831, which took effect in the state on January 1st of this year.
The bill was passed by Senator Gavin Newsom in October 2025, to protect California against operators not licensed in the state. When the bill passed, California became the ninth U.S. state to effectively ban sweepstakes casinos.
The bill was a hotly contested issue, with groups that both supported and protested AB 831. Some casinos like High 5 and Ruby Sweeps decided to leave California before the bill took effect, while others like McLuck Casino remained in operation until January 1 to give players time to adjust to the change.
While many sweeps casinos have now stopped operating in the state entirely, others have adapted to the new regulations. They’ve done this by converting to a single virtual coin currency, avoiding the two-currency model that is a defining factor of sweepstakes casinos.
Is Chumba Casino Available in California?
Yes, Chumba Casino is one platform that has changed to a single currency in the state of California. Residents can still sign up and play at Chumba using Gold Coins, which are available for purchase and cannot be exchanged or redeemed for real money prizes.
Sweeps Coins, a free currency used by social casinos to be redeemed for rewards like gift cards, are no longer available in CA. Players had until December 31, 2025 to redeem any Sweeps Coins in their account.
What Other Sweepstakes Casino Have Gold Coins Only in CA?
There are several other social casinos that have switched to a single currency model in California include Modo Casino, Casino.Click, Funrize Casino, NoLimitCoins, Fortune Wheelz, Storm Rush, Betrivers.net, Gambino Slots, and LuckyLand Casino. Players can access the same game libraries as before, but can only play with Gold Coins.
For players in states that allow sweepstakes casinos, both Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins will continue to be used as before on these platforms. Real-money online casinos are also prohibited in California, so platforms like Chumba provide a way for residents to play casino-style games online.
This new model for California’s sweepstakes casinos allows some operators to maintain a presence in the state, focusing more on entertainment and putting the “social” back into social casinos.
