Stake.us to Exit California Completely on Dec. 30, 2025
Stake.us will stop all California operations on Dec. 30, 2025.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:In a notice circulated to users, Stake.us – operated by Sweepsteaks Ltd. – has told California players the platform will cease accepting new registrations and will suspend all gameplay in the state from Dec. 30. The move comes two days before Assembly Bill 831 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026, a law that outlaws sweepstakes-style casinos in California.
Unlike some rivals that are carving out hybrid approaches, Stake.us is implementing a full shutdown. The company says California accounts will enter a "Redeem Only" mode after Dec. 30, permitting players to log in and withdraw any remaining Sweeps Coins but preventing gameplay, purchases, promotions, postcard requests for free Stake Cash, or code generation.
Sweepsy, which reported the change after contacting Stake.us customer support, confirmed the operator will end both Gold Coin (social) and Sweeps Coin (redeemable) play on that date. That contrasts with Modo Casino, which has said it will discontinue Sweeps Coin play but continue Gold Coin social gameplay in California after Jan. 1, 2026. Other operators, including WOW Vegas and VGW, have signalled different strategies or remain publicly quiet on plans for Gold Coin activity.
Stake.us’s unilateral shutdown timetable – stopping new sign-ups and gameplay simultaneously – deviates from the staggered rollbacks often seen in the sector. Many operators block new registrations first, then phase out gaming access. By placing accounts into Redeem Only mode, Stake.us is offering a redemption window rather than voiding in‑account Sweeps Coins, a consumer safeguard not always provided in past shutdowns.
Related: California Ban Sparks Broader Fight Over Sweepstakes Casinos
How Legal Pressure Forced the Exit
Industry sources point to mounting legal pressure as a likely factor in Stake.us’s decision. Sweepsteaks Ltd. is among the defendants in a high-profile California lawsuit that alleges an illegal online gambling network was operated in the state. The suit names several platform partners and vendors, including streaming platform Kick and game providers such as Big Time Gaming, Evolution, Hacksaw Gaming, NetEnt, No Limit City, Pragmatic Play and Red Tiger Gaming.
The litigation has already prompted a commercial fallout: multiple content suppliers have been pulled from the Stake.us offering in California, and some vendors, including Pragmatic Play and Playtech, have publicly announced they are stepping back from U.S. sweepstakes operations. Those exits reduce an operator’s content library and may accelerate decisions to withdraw entirely where legal exposure is highest.
"When regulators and state attorneys general escalate enforcement, vendors and platforms reassess commercial risk quickly", said a California-based gaming attorney. "For a company facing litigation and supplier defections, a clean exit minimizes ongoing liability and the operational complexity of running a bifurcated product in a single state."
The legal developments also intersect with the substance of AB 831, which specifically targets the dual-currency model that allows redeemable Sweeps Coins to be exchanged for value while permitting Gold Coin social play to continue. That statutory distinction underpins why some operators continue social casinos in California, and why others – like Stake.us – may choose to exit entirely.
More Regulation News
Regulation
Mexico Suspends 13 Casinos Citing International Money-Laundering Allegations
Nov 13, 2025
Player Options and Redemption Process
Stake.us’s customer communication instructs Californians that IDs issued by California will no longer be accepted for verification after Dec. 30; players wishing to remain must verify with identification from another state. The company invites customers who obtain non‑California IDs to contact support to resume verification, though it makes no promise about future service availability.
"Redeem Only mode is a pragmatic step to protect customers' remaining value while winding down operations", said an industry analyst who follows sweeps and social casino markets. "It also reflects commercial realities: social casino revenue remains significant, but legal clarity in each jurisdiction ultimately drives operator choices."
Social casino revenue is indeed substantial – companies such as Light & Wonder and its SciPlay division report hundreds of millions in quarterly sales from non‑redeemable social products – and the operator landscape will likely sort into firms willing to run single‑currency social models and those that will withdraw where sweepstakes risk remains acute.
Stake.us’s Dec. 30 exit sets a firm deadline for California players and marks a visible turning point as AB 831 comes into force. How other large operators react in the coming weeks – whether by maintaining Gold Coin play, shutting down, or pursuing legal challenges – will shape the state’s online gaming marketplace in 2026.
RELATED TOPICS: Regulation
Latest News
Regulation
Mexico Suspends 13 Casinos Citing International Money-Laundering Allegations
Nov 13, 2025
Responsible Gambling
Brazil Tightens Self-Exclusion Rules with New National Verification System
Nov 13, 2025
Most Read
$3.85M Table-Game Jackpot Hits the Venetian – Millionaire Progressive Pays $3,845,727
Nov 07, 2025Must Read
Interviews
Review this New Post
Leave a Comment
User Comments
Comments for Stake.us to Exit California Completely on Dec. 30, 2025