The bill that would ban sweepstakes casinos in California was passed unanimously in the Assembly’s Governmental Organization Committee meeting Thursday. Assembly Bill 831 now passes on to the full Assembly for debate and a vote.
A vote on the sweepstakes ban bill would need to take place on Friday, as that is the final day of this session. If it passes the full assembly vote, it will go to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom.
AB831 passed unanimously in the Senate earlier this week, following its three successful committee hearings in that chamber.
Also this week, members of four tribal nations picketed and protested outside the capitol building in Sacramento, in opposition to the ban. Those tribes criticize AB831 because they say it infringes on sovereign gaming rights and also does not serve the best economic interests of tribes that are faced with harsh problems in providing resources to members.
As it is written now, AB831 would not take effect until early 2026.
Was there any discussion?
Thursdays’ activity was brisk: The Governmental Organization Committee meeting had many agenda items. AB831 was quickly addressed without much debate. The purpose of “concurrence” by the Assembly is to discuss any issues the Assembly has with amendments to a bill after it returns from the Senate. AB831 was entirely gutted and amended to the current version in June, after the original version passed the Assembly in the spring, so the full Assembly must approve those wholesale changes.
On Friday, many bills will be on the agenda for the full Assembly to debate if they like, or to simply vote up or down.
Despite opposition from four California tribal nations — the Big Lagoon Rancheria, Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, and Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians — the bill has remained steady on its fast track. The California chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has also come out against the bill. But no lawmaker has yet gone on record to oppose a prohibition.
