Until now, all of the largest sweepstakes casino operators have either remained silent regarding their California exit timeline or released information stating they would stay in the state until close to Jan. 1, 2026, when sweeps gaming becomes illegal in California.
None of the biggest brands, though, had left the state early. So far, mostly smaller operators (with High 5 Casino arguably the most notable) have trickled out of California since Assembly Bill 831 was passed in September, way in advance of the Jan. 1 deadline.
Not anymore.
Pulsz, one of the oldest and most recognizable names among sweepstakes casinos, began its California exit process on Nov. 17. Owned by Yellow Social Interactive Ltd., both Pulsz properties — Pulsz Casino and Pulsz Bingo — are following the same exit timeline.
Timeline for Pulsz’s California exit
Pulsz alerted its California players to its exit timeline via email this week.
Here is that email:
As a resident of the State of California, we have important information about your account with Pulsz.com.
Unfortunately due to the passing of the legislation AB831 by the California State Legislature, we will no longer be able to offer Pulsz online social games and sweepstakes promotions to residents of California.
How will this impact you?
From November 17, 2025 mail-in requests for free Sweepstakes Coins will no longer be accepted by us and you will no longer be able to request free Sweepstakes coins on the website.
From December 1, 2025 you will not be able to purchase any further Gold Coins package.
You have until December 8, 2025 to use any Gold Coins or to enter the sweepstakes promotions with any remaining free Sweepstakes Coins associated with your account.
Finally, your account will automatically close on December 15, 2025 and any remaining Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins in your account will expire.
Whilst you will no longer be able to play on our social gaming platform after December 8, 2025, you will have until December 15, 2025 to redeem any eligible sweepstake prizes (subject to our Terms of Use and Sweepstakes Rules).
If you have any queries, please contact our Customer Support team at [email protected].
If you are no longer residing in California please contact our Customer Support team who can assist you in updating your registered address.
So the important dates are:
- Nov. 17 — No more Sweeps Coin requests.
- Dec. 1 — No more Gold Coin currency purchases.
- Dec. 8 — No more gameplay with either type of currency.
- Dec. 15 — Deadline for Sweeps Coin redemptions, and all California accounts will close.
What other big brands are doing
Yellow Social Interactive Ltd. is the first member of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance to leave California.
Notable other members include:
- VGW (Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Global Poker) — has thus far remained silent regarding its California plans, with most in the industry assuming they’ll remain active until close to the Jan. 1 deadline.
- B-Two Operations (McLuck, Hello Millions, SpinBlitz, Mega Bonanza, PlayFame) — the same as VGW.
- ARB Interactive (Modo.us) — told Sweepsy it would remain operating as is until Dec. 31 and, after that, would shut down Sweeps Coin gameplay but keep Gold Coin gameplay live and operational.
Outside the SGLA, other big-brand operators have also made clear their intentions to remain in California until the final moments of sweeps casino legality:
- Stake.us is shutting down its entire platform in California — so both Gold Coin and Sweeps Coin gameplay — on Dec. 30.
- WOW Vegas hasn’t said anything publicly, but Sweepsy learned in October that its leaders fully intend to keep the site active in California until the Jan. 1 deadline.
Where is Pulsz currently active?
The current list of excluded states is as follows for Pulsz:
- Washington
- Idaho
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- Alabama
- Tennessee
- Connecticut
- New York
- West Virginia
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Arizona
- California
Sweeps Coin gameplay is also not active in Mississippi and New Jersey, but Gold Coin gameplay is live in those states.
The ramifications of shutting down GC gameplay, too
There’s still money to be made with Gold Coin gameplay, or social casino gaming, which is why you see companies like VGW keep their Gold Coin platform live in states where it’s shutting down Sweeps Coin gameplay — which is what VGW told Sweepsy two weeks ago it will be doing in West Virginia.
Even though they’re free to play, social casinos are still big-money businesses. Light & Wonder, perhaps the most vocal critic of sweepstakes casinos, pulls in about $200 million every quarter from SciPlay, its social gaming division. Again, these games are free to play, but users can buy packages of virtual coins and optional add-ons like special rewards or tournament access.
Importantly, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation — the driving force behind AB831 and a primary opponent of sweeps casinos in California — runs its own social casino platform, Play.Yamaava. Whatever gameplay structure Play.Yamaava uses is no doubt going to be allowed under AB831. That, alone, should reassures operators that Gold Coin–only social casino play in California will remain legal.
Still, Pulsz is closing down all gameplay in the state.
Which operators have left so far
As mentioned earlier, most of the sweeps casinos that have already left California are on the smaller side, where extra caution is likely being put into place because any hiccup whatsoever in California could spell financial ruin for operators not the size of VGW, B-Two, etc.
Here is the list of known operators who have already left:
- High 5 Casino
- Carnival Citi
- Dara Casino
- Ruby Sweeps
- SweepsUSA
- TheBoss.Casino
- Grand Vault Casino
- CosmoSlots
- LuckySlots
- Vegas Gems
- Peak Play
- Betty Sweeps
- SweepNext
- Stackr Casino
Casino Beats covered Peak Play and Vegas Gems, while Sweepsy broke the news on the other 12.
