California Tightens Sweeps Ban Bill While Chumba, McLuck Drop Playtech Slots

California’s crackdown on sweepstakes casinos is advancing on two fronts. Lawmakers revised Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831) to target online sweepstakes casinos while exempting traditional promotions. At the same time, Chumba Casino and McLuck have removed Playtech slots from their California platform, days after Pragmatic Play’s exit.

Senate Amendments Protect Traditional Promotions

On September 3, just days after the bill advanced to the Senate floor, lawmakers amended AB 831 to clarify that the ban would target only sweepstakes casinos, not traditional sweepstakes.

The revised text now specifies that the law applies only to those who act “knowingly and willfully” in engaging, promoting, or facilitating sweepstakes casinos that use dual-currency systems.

More significantly, the bill now carves out an explicit exemption for traditional promotions:

“This section does not make unlawful game promotions or sweepstakes conducted by for-profit commercial entities on a limited and occasional basis as an advertising and marketing tool that are incidental to substantial bona fide sales of consumer products or services and that are not intended to provide a vehicle for the establishment of ongoing gambling or gaming.”

Other changes include deleting the term “gambling-themed games” and replacing it with “gambling.” Also, lawmakers replaced the term “casino-style table games” with “table games.”

AB 831 has been ordered to a second reading. The Legislature has until September 12 to pass the measure. If the Senate passes it, the House must concur with the amendments.

A Key Argument Against the Bill Neutralized

Opponents previously warned AB 831 could inadvertently criminalize everyday promotional giveaways, such as fast-food contests or product raffles. The new exemption ensures the bill now focuses squarely on operators running online casino-style sweepstakes platforms, leaving traditional marketing untouched.

The amendments also alleviate liability concerns raised by groups such as the ACLU and Association of National Advertisers, which argued the bill’s expansive provisions risked criminalizing not only operators but also suppliers, payment processors, and even celebrity endorsers. It also addresses concerns raised by some lawmakers about whether the broad language would target users.

By drawing a bright line between promotional sweepstakes and sweepstakes casinos, lawmakers have effectively removed one of the bill’s strongest points of resistance. The debate is likely to shift toward enforcement and broader gaming policy questions as the bill advances to a Senate floor vote.

Operators Adjust: Chumba, McLuck Pull Playtech Slots

As lawmakers are refining the bill, operators are adjusting to California’s tightening stance.

Last week, users noticed that Pragmatic Play and Evolution games were no longer available at Stake.us. Evolution’s move was likely directly tied to a lawsuit it faces, along with Stake.us, in the state.

Pragmatic Play, however, decided to withdraw from the state altogether, with multiple platforms no longer offering its games. Other platforms, including WOW Vegas, are also phasing out the provider.

Now, titles by another global giant, Playtech, are also starting to disappear. Chumba notified users via email that it will remove certain games from its library. It cited examples such as Tsai Shen’s Gift Fire Blaze and Mega Fire Blaze: Big Circus. All three are Playtech games.

Meanwhile, McLuck Casino had Playtech’s Lil Demon Gold Hit among its top 10 most popular games. Now, it no longer shows Playtech as a provider on its site in the state.

Another supplier, Skywind, also appears to be exiting. WOW Vegas posted a notice that its games would no longer be available after September 5.

With California lawmakers narrowing AB 831 to protect traditional sweepstakes and major suppliers pulling content, the state’s sweepstakes casino market is already reshaping in anticipation of one of the nation’s most significant clampdowns.