California Assembly Bill 831 (AB831) cleared another significant hurdle toward becoming law. At the same time, the voices opposing the bill are growing.
The state's Senate Appropriations Committee voted unanimously (7-0) to pass AB831. If passed into law, the bill would result in California banning all sweepstakes casino operations in the state.
The next step for the bill is to be placed on the schedule for a full vote in the State Senate.
All that is needed for passage is a simple majority of 21 of the 40 members of the State Senate. However, even if AB831 is passed, several steps need to be taken before the bill can be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. If he signs it, the bill becomes law.
The language of AB831 underwent amendment while being considered by the State Senate. Under California law, the bill must be returned to its place of origin for reapproval. That would be the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. From there, AB831 would move to the full Assembly.
In each instance, a simple majority is all that's required for passage. AB831 would need 41 of 80 votes to pass through the full Assembly and move on to the Governor's desk.
The current session of the California Assembly will conclude on September 12, leaving time for the voting to take place.
However, even if that step isn't completed, the bill wouldn't die. The California legislature operates on a two-year cycle. State lawmakers could resume debate of AB831 when the next session begins in January 2026.
A third California tribe has come out in opposition to the passage of AB831. The Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians is the latest tribe to step forward and oppose the bill.
The difference in this instance is that the tribe is a member of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. The Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians owns Sherwood Valley Casino. The tribe also announced that it was forming a digital partnership with B-Two Operations. That company operates Hello Millions and McLuck sweepstakes casinos.
In a letter to California's Senate Appropriations Committee, Buffey W. Bourassa, secretary of the tribe, wrote that AB831 "lacks the alleged unanimous support among California tribes." Bourassa also noted that the bill, "has advanced without meaningful consultation of broader tribal interests, and threatens our inherent right to create legitimate revenue streams to support our people.
“Digital platforms offer vital opportunities for tribes to diversify revenue sources beyond traditional gaming and fund essential services.”
Another section of California's legal and regulated gambling sector is also stating its opposition to the passage of AB831: card rooms. Three California cities, Colma, Gardena, and Inglewood, operate legal cardrooms and have come out to oppose the bill. Alongside their opposition is the California Cities Gaming Authority, a group that represents cardrooms in those three cities, as well as Bell and San Jose.
These cardrooms want a section in the bill that guarantees them exemption from any criminalization resulting from the bill's passing into law. There are 80 cardrooms operating legally in the state.
These new voices join other groups in opposition to AB831, including the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), which believes that the state is redefining what gambling is without any public debate on the issue.
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