California sweepstakes casinos are banned as of January 1, 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 831 on October 11, 2025, eliminating dual-currency platforms statewide. California players who had balances on sites like McLuck, Pulsz, and NoLimit Coins needed to redeem all Sweeps Coins by December 31, 2025. One platform launched specifically to fill the gap: Card Crush, a hybrid card game platform available exclusively in California and New York.
Terms 21+
AB 831 amended the California Gambling Control Act to close the promotional game exemption that sweepstakes casinos previously used to operate legally.
The old framework allowed platforms to function because players could theoretically obtain Sweeps Coins through free methods (mail-in requests, social media promotions, registration bonuses). AB 831 eliminated this exemption. The law now defines any platform offering virtual currency redeemable for cash prizes as unauthorized gambling, regardless of whether free entry methods exist.
The penalties apply to operators and supporting businesses, not players. Continued operation after January 1, 2026 carries criminal misdemeanor charges, fines up to $25,000 per violation, and up to one year in county jail for willful violations. Payment processors, game providers, and affiliates are also exposed.
Note: AB 831 does not penalize California residents who played on these platforms before the ban.
Tribal gaming coalitions drove AB 831’s passage.
California’s 70+ tribal casinos generate over $9 billion annually under exclusive tribal-state compacts (California Nations Indian Gaming Association data, 2025). Tribal coalitions including CNIGA (California Nations Indian Gaming Association) and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians argued that sweepstakes platforms undermined compact-protected gaming exclusivity. The legislature agreed unanimously.
California joins at least 16 other states that moved against sweepstakes casinos in 2025. Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee have all progressed similar legislation as of Q1 2026.
Learn more about sweepstakes casino legality across US states.
The AB 831 ban is specific to dual-currency sweepstakes platforms. Other gaming options remain available.
Important: California voters rejected Prop 26 (tribal retail sportsbooks) and Prop 27 (online sports betting) in November 2022 by 70%+ margins. Legal sports betting is not available in California as of April 2026.
Card Crush is a hybrid gaming platform available in California and New York. Card Crush launched December 29, 2025 specifically to serve players losing access to traditional sweepstakes casinos.
Card Crush operates under a different legal structure than the platforms AB 831 banned. The platform uses a single currency called Mystery Coins (MC) alongside collectible Cards. Cards are not a currency and cannot be used for casino-style games. Mystery Coins are the only redeemable asset. This single-currency structure sits outside the “dual-currency” definition targeted by AB 831.
Card Crush is operated by Vision NL Limited, incorporated in the Isle of Man (registration number 023022V). McLuck, which exited California on December 29, 2025, emailed its California player base in January 2026 to promote Card Crush as an alternative.
Regulatory note: Card Crush’s legal status in California is not guaranteed. The platform’s model is structured to fall outside AB 831’s scope, but California and New York regulators retain broad authority to challenge the model. Players should treat the regulatory picture as fluid.
Learn more about how Card Crush’s currency model differs from banned sweepstakes platforms.
Card Crush combines a collectible card game (CCG) with casino-style slots and live table games.
The two asset types:
Cards are collectible digital assets in four rarity tiers: Common, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. Players build decks and compete in PvP (player-vs-player) Daily Battles and tournaments. Cards cannot be redeemed for cash. Card strength determines leaderboard position, and higher leaderboard ranks earn Mystery Coin rewards.
Mystery Coins (MC) are the platform’s single redeemable currency. Players receive Mystery Coins through Mystery Box purchases, Daily Battles, Loyalty Club progression, and promotions. Mystery Coins are used to play 200+ casino-style slots and live table games. After a 1x playthrough requirement, eligible Mystery Coins can be redeemed.
Redemption structure:
Getting started:
New players receive 2 Mystery Coins and 5 Cards on registration (no purchase required). A 66% discount applies to the first Mystery Box purchase.
Casino-style games available:
Card Crush offers 200+ titles from Betsoft, BGaming, Ruby Play, Evoplay, Iconic21, Koala, and Fugaso. Live table games (Gravity Roulette, Gravity Blackjack, Live Roulette, Crash Live) run through Iconic21. Slot filter categories include Hold and Win, Megaways, Cascading Reels, Play the Feature, and Classic Slots.
Loyalty Club:
Card Crush runs a 7-tier VIP program: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Ruby, Diamond, Black Diamond. Club progression is automatic. Higher tiers unlock better rewards and bonus Mystery Coin rates.
Mobile access:
Card Crush is browser-based (no download required). A Progressive Web App (PWA) install option is available via the sidebar for home screen access on mobile devices.
What Card Crush does well:
Card Crush limitations:
California sweepstakes casinos are gone. AB 831 ended dual-currency platforms statewide on January 1, 2026, and no legal challenge has reversed that. If you played on McLuck, Pulsz, or NoLimit Coins, those options are no longer available to you in California.
Card Crush is the only platform offering real prize redemption to California residents under a legal model distinct from the banned dual-currency structure. The platform is new, the game library is smaller than legacy sweepstakes sites, and the regulatory picture carries risk. For California players who want the chance at real prizes without traveling to a tribal casino, Card Crush is the only legal option currently operating in the state.
No, as of January 1, 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 831 on October 11, 2025, banning dual-currency sweepstakes platforms statewide. The ban passed 36-0 in the Senate and 63-0 in the Assembly and took effect on January 1, 2026.
No. All major sweepstakes casinos exited California by December 31, 2025 in compliance with AB 831. McLuck ceased California operations on December 29, 2025. Pulsz and NoLimit Coins both restricted California access before January 1, 2026.
Players who did not redeem Sweeps Coins by December 31, 2025 may have forfeited those balances depending on individual platform terms. Contact the platform’s support directly if you believe you have an unredeemed balance.
Card Crush operates in California under a model it structures as legally distinct from AB 831’s dual-currency ban. The platform uses a single currency (Mystery Coins) alongside collectible Cards, which are not currency. The legal status is not tested or settled law. California regulators retain authority to challenge the model.
Mystery Coins (MC) are Card Crush’s redeemable currency. Players earn MC through Mystery Box purchases, Daily Battles, and Loyalty Club rewards. After a 1x playthrough requirement, eligible MC can be redeemed: 10 MC = gift card ($10 value); 75 MC = cash withdrawal ($75 value). Each MC is worth $1.00 USD.
Yes. New Card Crush accounts receive 2 Mystery Coins and 5 Cards on registration without purchase. A 66% discount applies to the first Mystery Box purchase.
California players have three options with real prizes: the California State Lottery (online, 18+), tribal casinos (in-person only, 21+), and Card Crush (online, 21+, regulatory status subject to change). Social casinos remain legal but offer no cash prize redemption. Sports betting remains illegal in California as of April 2026.
Tribal gaming coalitions, which drove AB 831’s passage, oppose sweepstakes platforms. Any reversal would require new legislation or a successful legal challenge to AB 831. No pending legislation to reverse the ban has been introduced as of April 2026.
Track legal gaming developments and platform availability for California on Lines.com.
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