California Tribal Gaming Leaders, Attorneys Confident They’ll Win Battle Against Sweepstakes Casinos

A group of tribal gaming leaders and attorneys are confident sweepstakes gaming operators will lose in California.

Key takeaways

• The Indian Gaming Association's conference chair believes sweepstakes operators don't have a case. 
• A state Senate committee unanimously passed an anti-sweepstakes bill, AB 831.
• State AG Rob Bonta found daily fantasy sports (DFS) illegal in California

With a bill to explicitly ban sweepstakes casinos moving through the Golden State’s Senate with success, Victor Rocha, conference chair of the Indian Gaming Association, said during his webcast "New Normal” it’s only a matter of time before the controversial dual currency form of gaming is eradicated. 

"California is the place this all ends,” Rocha said during Wednesday’s episode. "They just don’t have an argument.”

A state Senate committee unanimously passed Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831) Tuesday. California's Native American tribes sponsored the legislation. They're currently the only entities in the highly populous state that can offer gambling. 

California joined numerous states in a battle against companies that offer online casino slots and table games, as well as sports betting, through coins both given and purchased. Some can be exchanged for cash and prizes, which tribes and state regulators consider gambling and a violation of compacts and laws.     

"When you’re taking a step back and looking at this, this (sweepstakes) model threatens tribal exclusivity across the country,” said tribal litigator Joe Webster, a managing partner at Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP.

No clarity needed

While California’s legislature debates what bill sponsor and Assemblymember Avelino Valencia says would "close an existing loophole in law by prohibiting the use of sweepstakes casinos that utilize dual currency models,” the webcast’s panel said this form of gaming is already illegal. 

While the Senate committee took issue with some of the language and requested clarity on aspects of the bill, tribal advocacy lawyer Scott Crowell disagreed. 

https://www.covers.com/industry/california-tribal-gaming-leaders-attorneys-confident-they-win-battle-against-sweepstakes-casinos-july-9-2025