ACE Casino Re-Enters 4 States as Industry Braces for California Exit

As California’s deadline for Assembly Bill 831 looms, sweepstakes operators are scrambling to reclaim lost ground elsewhere. ACE Casino has quietly reactivated operations in four previously exited states—a tactical reversal that signals just how high the stakes have become.

The platform is now live and operational in:

• Tennessee
• Alabama
• Georgia
• Maryland

Earlier this year, ACE had excluded all four states from its access list. But between spring and late September, those bans were lifted—likely in direct response to California’s impending 2026 sweeps ban, which will wipe out nearly 20% of the total U.S. sweepstakes casino revenue, according to Eilers & Krejcik Gaming.

Operators Are Pivoting Fast

ACE Casino isn’t alone in this recalibration. Since AB831 passed on Sept. 12, several operators have retraced their steps:

• Baba Casino re-entered six states in September, including Georgia and Tennessee.
• Spree Casino resumed access in Alabama and Georgia.
• B-Two Operations unblocked Alabama and Georgia for McLuck, Hello Millions, and SpinBlitz.

What was once a mass exodus has become a strategic return.

Why These States?

The four states being reactivated come with unique risks—but also opportunity.

Alabama

Home to at least 13 class action lawsuits against sweeps operators, Alabama had become a regulatory minefield. But many of those suits have stalled due to arbitration clauses, leading some brands—including Spree and now ACE—to re-prioritize revenue over caution.

Georgia

A lawsuit against VGW was dismissed in 2024, reinforcing the view that jurisdiction is hard to establish. That legal win may have emboldened other operators to return.

Tennessee

Despite aggressive enforcement by the Sports Wagering Council—prompting exits by Sportzino and Legendz—ACE appears confident. A pending class action suit against VGW was allowed to proceed, but its chances remain slim.

Maryland

While Maryland regulators have issued cease-and-desist orders to several sweeps casinos, ACE and its parent company, Full Stop Limited, were not among them. Operators often take cues from VGW, which remains active in the state.

Will This Offset the California Collapse?

Not entirely. California accounts for 17.3% of national sweeps casino revenue, according to Eilers & Krejcik. That’s a loss of over $600 million annually.

Combined, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, and Alabama represent nearly 30 million residents—still 10 million fewer than California’s population alone.

But it’s something. And “something” is what operators are clinging to right now.

References:

• Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Report
• California Legislative Information
• Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Agency
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia