More sweepstakes operators continue to pull out of California, and Clubs Poker has now become the latest platform to confirm its departure from the state.
Players in California will retain access to Clubs Poker until December 29, after which the site will shut down entirely for them. All redemption requests must also be submitted before that date.
“Heads up for your California players: Clubs will remain accessible in CA through December 29, 2025,” stated the email sent to California players. “Players with pending prize redemptions should submit them by the 29th. After that, accounts registered in California will be deactivated and CA access will be geo-blocked.”
The email also notes that players who have recently moved out of California can contact customer support to update their address and keep access to the site.
The exit follows California Governor Gavin Newsom’s October 11 signing of AB 831, a law banning all forms of dual-currency sweepstakes. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, making California the fifth US state to prohibit online sweepstakes.
With this announcement, Clubs Poker becomes the second sweepstakes poker operator, after Stake US, to leave California, a market that is both the most populous and among the most lucrative in the country.
- Generous Welcome Offer
- Daily freerolls & free SC offers
- Hold’em, Omaha and Mixed Games
What About Others?
Several sweepstakes casino operators have also confirmed their plans to leave, although only two online poker operators have publicly announced their exit so far. ClubWPT Gold (CWG), however, plans to remain active in the state despite the legislation.
“We are aware of the new California legislation scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. In preparation, our team has been proactively making updates to the platform and developing new features to align with the upcoming legislative change,” reads an FAQ on their website. “We are committed to continuing to operate in compliance with California law.”
ClubWPT Gold’s intention to stay in California is not surprising. The operator recently overhauled its business model precisely to avoid losing access to the massive California market. Exiting the state would reduce its addressable player pool by more than 10% and could impact revenue by 20% or more.
To remain compliant, CWG abandoned this very dual-currency model and shifted to a new format built around purchasing training-tool credits. Instead of buying gold coins and receiving sweeps coins as a bonus, players now purchase tokens for a hand-analysis feature, which then awards “chips,” the renamed sweeps coins. The platform has effectively rebranded itself as a poker training site.
Whether this revamped model will successfully allow CWG to operate in California under AB 831 remains uncertain, though the operator reportedly has strong legal opinions supporting the approach.
Meanwhile, Global Poker, the pioneer of modern sweepstakes poker, has not yet confirmed its plans. In replies to customers, the company has said it is “aware of proposed legislation that could impact our operations” and that “changes are coming regarding access to our brands in California.” It added that more updates will be provided “in due course,” and that players may continue using the platform and submitting mail-in envelopes for sweeps coins for now.
| Sweepstakes Poker Operator | CA Exit Confirmed | Exit Date |
|---|---|---|
| Stake US | Yes | Dec 30 |
| Clubs Poker | Yes | Dec 29 |
| Global Poker | Not Yet | Not Yet |
| ClubWPT Gold | Will Stay | Will Stay |
Global Poker is still expected to leave, but the timing of its announcement remains unclear. As of now, only Stake US and Clubs Poker have officially confirmed their exit from California. CWG intends to stay, while Global Poker appears to be nearing its decision.
With its exit from California, Clubs Poker now operates in 39 US states, after earlier pulling out of Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Washington, and West Virginia.
