Carnival Citi, an online sweepstakes casino operator, has added Arizona and California to its list of excluded territories amid a nationwide crackdown on social gaming platforms.
Carnival Citi Lists Arizona, California Under Excluded Territories
Earlier this week, Carnival Citi updated its Terms & Conditions to now include 20 states:
“You will not use the Services, if (i) doing so is illegal in your jurisdiction, (ii) you live outside of the United States, (iii) you live in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, West Virginia.”
The site’s terms also note, “If you live in Hawaii, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee or Vermont, you are eligible to participate in the Promotions or to receive or use Sweeps Chips, but you may not play the Games using Coins.”
Users can purchase Coins, play casino-style games, and then convert the Coins back into real money.
Sweeps Chips are given for free by Carnival Citi when certain conditions are met. The terms state, “Sweeps Chips cannot be purchased and hold no real-world or cash value.”
Ruby Sweeps Pulls Out Of Arizona
Ruby Sweeps also announced its exit from Arizona earlier this month.
Despite not receiving a cease-and-desist order, Ruby Sweeps opted to shut down its sweepstakes operations in the Grand Canyon State on Sept. 5.
It sent emails to players announcing the decision.
The platform informed Arizona players that they had until Sept. 5 to play through their Emeralds (the site’s version of Sweeps Coins) and enact any redemptions.
In addition to Arizona, the platform is not available in Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Utah, West Virginia, and Washington.
Arizona Department Of Gaming Sent C&D Letters To Multiple Sites
Carnival Citi and Ruby Sweeps’ exits from Arizona comes weeks after a series of cease-and-desist letters were sent to sweeps operators from the state’s gaming regulator.
In July, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) announced it had sent cease-and-desist letters to several sites, including BettorEdge, Dallas Safari Club, Fanthem, High Five, Novig, ReBet, and Stake.us.
“Illegal gambling, regardless of the platform or format, has no place in Arizona,” ADG Director Jackie Johnson said in a press release. “Whether it’s online casino-style games, sweepstakes models, or unauthorized sports betting, any operation that falls outside Arizona’s legal and regulatory framework will face enforcement action.”
Last month, the ADG announced it had also sent cease-and-desist letters to Betty Sweeps, Fliff, Pulsz, and Thrillzz. Since then, all four operators have pulled out of the state.
California Assembly Bill 831 Awaits Governor’s Signature
California is also on the brink of banning sweeps operators.
Earlier this month, the California Senate unanimously passed Assembly Bill 831 on a vote of 36-0. The bill then passed with Assembly approval on Sept. 12 on a vote of 63-0.
Gov. Newsom has until Oct. 12 to approve or veto the bill. If no decision is made, the measure will become law automatically.
AB 831 will outlaw sweepstakes casinos and the dual-currency system in the Golden State.
The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) reached out to Gov. Newsom’s office to ensure a veto of the “gut and amend” anti-sweepstakes bill.
“It is incredibly disappointing that the California Assembly decided to pass AB 831. Beyond the fact that this bill would worsen economic disparities among California tribes, put California to the back of the line in terms of digital innovation in this space, and take away a popular form of entertainment for residents, it will immediately strip $1 billion out of the state’s economy,” said Jeff Duncan, Executive Director of SGLA.
“We implore Governor Newsom to veto this bill and instead open the door for online social games to support economically disadvantaged tribal nations and the state’s economy while positioning California as a leader in next-generation gaming technology.”