California governor signs AB 831 banning online sweepstakes gambling from 2026
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 831 into law, prohibiting online sweepstakes and dual-currency gambling systems from 1 January 2026. The law also covers entities that knowingly support or promote such activity, with violations punishable by fines of up to $25,000, up to one year in county jail, or both; licensed operators, the state lottery and qualifying promotional sweepstakes are exempt.
Operators and service providers must assess whether their activities fall within the law’s prohibitions before it takes effect.