High 5 Casino Extends California Access After Gov. Newsom Signs Sweeps Ban

Shutdown Now Scheduled for Oct. 20 Following Passage of AB831

High 5 Casino, one of the biggest names in the U.S. sweepstakes casino market, has adjusted its California shutdown timeline. The platform will now remain accessible to existing players until October 19, with full access blocked on October 20, a delay likely triggered by the signing of Assembly Bill 831 into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Originally set to exit the state on Sept. 15, High 5 Casino updated its terms on Oct. 13, cutting off new account sign-ups and digital currency purchases while extending game access for existing users. 

The new move comes just days after AB831 was signed on Oct. 11, officially banning sweepstakes casino operations in California from January 1, 2026.

Updated California Exit Timeline

High 5 Casino’s phased California departure is now scheduled as follows:

  • Oct. 13: No new player registrations or digital currency purchases allowed

  • Oct. 13–19: Existing users can continue playing and redeem Sweeps Coins

  • Oct. 20: Full platform access blocked for California users

The delay suggests High 5 was preparing contingencies while monitoring the bill’s passage, or perhaps responding to ongoing legal pressure from a California lawsuit.

Legal Pressures Also Mounting

In parallel, High 5 Casino is currently facing a lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court. A California resident, Thomas Portugal, alleges the operator misled him into participating in illegal gambling. High 5’s motion to dismiss was denied on Sept. 3, adding further pressure to its operations in the state.

Part of a Wider Trend: Early California Exits

High 5 Casino is now the fourth operator to preemptively leave the California market ahead of the 2026 deadline. It follows:

While AB831 doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2026, several operators appear to be minimizing legal risk by exiting early. Others may continue operating through the end of 2025, similar to how brands exited New Jersey when its sweeps ban took effect.

Revenue Fallout from California Ban

California is a key revenue driver for sweepstakes casinos—Eilers & Krejcik Gaming projected it would account for 17.3% of U.S. sweeps revenue in 2025.

After AB831 passed the Legislature in September, EKG revised its projections:

  • 2025: Down from $4.6B → $4.0B
  • 2026: Down further to $3.6B

To soften the blow, some platforms are reopening in previously blocked states or reversing age-limit changes. Examples include:

Others, like Vivaro.us, are shutting down entirely, citing “regulatory uncertainty.”

High 5 Casino may be staying a few extra weeks in California, but the writing is on the wall. With AB831 now law and a lawsuit pending, it joins a growing list of sweepstakes operators already winding down operations in America’s most populous state.

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