Baba Casino, a popular sweepstakes casino, restricts access to its site for sweeps players residing in the following states: Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.
Baba Casino Shrinks Excluded Territories List
According to multiple reports, Baba Casino last week removed Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee from its excluded territories — reducing that list from 23 states to 17 states.
Baba Casino’s current excluded list is as follows:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
Other sweeps operators will likely follow suit in states like Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee — where platforms had exited due to initial concerns.
Baba Casino makes it clear in its Terms & Conditions that “use of the Service is intended and permitted for people 21 years of age or older. We reserve the right to terminate an account, including if we find that your age is less than the minimum age.”
“We may request additional information to confirm your age at any time. Any participant found to be under the minimum age will have their account terminated and their Games’ records will be void,” the site adds.
Spree also relaunched its platform in Alabama and Georgia.
California Anti-Sweepstakes Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature
The timing of Baba Casino’s announcement is probably not a coincidence.
The California State Assembly voted on Sept. 12 to pass Assemblymember Avelino Valencia’s AB 831 by a unanimous, 63-0 vote, sending the bill to Governor Gavin Newsom for approval.
AB 831 will outlaw sweepstakes casinos and the dual-currency system in the Golden State. The bill can either be signed into law or become law without his signature. Newsom may also decide to veto the legislation.
The measure will also make it illegal “for any person, entity, financial institution, payment processor, geolocation provider, gaming content supplier, platform provider, or media affiliate to knowingly support directly or indirectly the operation, conduct, or promotion of an online sweepstakes game within the state.”
AB 831 was amended into an anti-sweeps bill in the California State Senate, clarifying that the measure will not affect state lottery games, licensed cardrooms, or traditional sweepstakes promotions.
The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) cited a recent poll, which found 85% of California voters agree the state government should “modernize and update laws to regulate and tax online social gaming.”
Many tribes also oppose AB 831 due to the legislation’s economic implications for less wealthy tribal nations.
Those tribes include Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, and Big Lagoon Rancheria.