California Sweepstakes Casino Ban Bill Headed to Senate Floor
The California legislature is one step closer to putting the kibosh on sweepstakes casino gambling in the state.
Assemblymember Avelino Valencia’s A.B. 831 was advanced without commentary on Friday by the California Senate’s Appropriations Committee. The vote to approve the bill was unanimous, 7-0.
The appropriations committee was meeting fora so-called "suspense” hearing, where it quickly disposes of legislation, either nudging it forward for a floor vote or holding it back to die.
A.B. 831, which would ban sweepstakes casinos in California, is moving forward.
Break out the brooms
If it becomes law, A.B. 831 would prohibit operating online sweepstakes that use a "dual currency” model for casino-like wagering, sports betting included.
The bill would put penalties in place for those who run and offer online sweepstakes casinos, by creating a misdemeanor violation that can result in up to a year of jail time and fines of $1,000 to $25,000 for offenders.
A.B. 831 was amended in the Senate in June to become an anti-sweeps bill. It was then referred to several committees in the chamber before Friday’s suspense hearing. Now, it must be passed by the Senate and agreed to by the House before it can become law.
There is no guarantee it becomes law, either. The last day for either house of the California legislature to pass bills this year is Sept. 12.
"The fact that any of us vote for an item in committee today does not mean that particular member is necessarily going to vote for the item on the floor," Committee chair Sen. Anna Caballero said, adding that Friday's vote was just a "process vote."
"Many of us may have different opinions by the time it gets to the floor," Caballero said.
Big BFFs
California is not alone in trying to crack down on sweeps. Several other state legislatures have taken action against sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks this year, such as New Jersey, where anti-sweeps legislation became law earlier this month.
But a California sweepstakes ban would be a bigger blow for operators. That is clear from the opposition voiced by the sweeps industry, as well as the support from California’s major gaming operators, Native American tribes.