Poker players in California who enjoy ClubWPT Gold will have to get used to some unusual rules as the site announced new restrictions. The biggest and most unusual rule change is the introduction of California Game Days (CGD), which limits players to playing for redeemable Chips for just nine days per calendar month. These new rules are in direct response to AB 831 being signed into law, which made California the 10th state to ban sweepstakes casinos.
Not going anywhere
ClubWPT Gold has started marketing itself as a poker education and training platform following the introduction of AB 831. While other sweepstakes poker sites like Global Poker and Clubs Poker confirmed California exits before the end of the new year, ClubWPT Gold has doubled down. They will attempt to remain compliant by the letter of the law and appear to be making adjustments as time passes.
A recently-released ClubWPT Gold statement reads: “As you may be aware, California recently passed AB 831, a new law prohibiting certain online sweepstakes platforms. The new law goes into effect on January 1, 2026.
“ClubWPT Gold is a poker education and training platform committed to operating in compliance with the laws of every jurisdiction in which it is available.
“ClubWPT Gold is further enhancing the platform’s training and education features while still allowing players to test their skills developed on the platform by playing in games for Chips that are redeemable in a manner that is intended to comply with California law. These enhancements will continue to provide a best-in-class poker training experience using an updated platform that reflects our intent to operate in a lawful manner.
“We’re committed to remaining and operating in California in a lawful manner, and we look forward to continuing to provide a world-class poker training platform for our players when they play from California.”
California Game Days (CGD)
With the new restrictions, in compliance with AB 831, players in California can only play for redeemable Chips for nine days per calendar month. Chips replaced the common Sweeps Coins (SC), which are redeemable for US dollars at a 1:1 ratio. ClubWPT Gold broke away from the traditional dual-currency model in late September as they attempt to operate legally in the state that generates up to 25% of the nation’s sweepstakes casino revenue.
These nine days will be referred to as ‘California Game Days’ (CGD) on the platform. Reasons why they will be choosing exactly nine days are unknown, but it seems to be ClubWPT Gold’s attempt to abide by AB 831. The bill, which became law on January 1st, clearly states that “game promotions or sweepstakes conducted by for-profit commercial entities on a limited and occasional basis as an advertising and marketing tool.”
In their statement, ClubWPT Gold mentions that “California Game Days apply to the first nine calendar days you play at least one hand in ring games and/or tournaments at ClubWPT Gold.
“For example, if you play at least one hand on January 4, January 9, and January 15, and these are the first three days of the month you use the site for game play, that counts as three California Game Days.”
Players can still play anytime
While players in California won’t be able to play for redeemable Chips, they can still play for Chips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As part of ClubWPT Gold’s workaround, any Chips won after a player’s ninth CGD will still be in the player’s account and can be used to win redeemable chips during CGDs. They will operate similarly to how tournament dollars and cash dollars work on real-money poker sites.
The ClubWPT Gold statement reads: “Chips won outside of California Game Days are not redeemable, but can be played during future California Game Days.
“For example: Let’s say you win 1,000 Chips on your 10th calendar day playing at ClubWPT Gold in a given month. Those Chips will be credited to your account, but are unredeemable.
“The following month begins, and you play in a ring game or tournament with your accumulated Chips. Any Chips you win during California Game Days will be redeemable.”
What about players outside California?
Players outside of the state of California will experience no changes to ClubWPT Gold whatsoever and will be able to continue playing poker in a normal manner. Players who reside in Washington, New Jersey, New York, Louisiana, Connecticut, Michigan, and Montana are still ineligible.
As far as Canada goes, all players are eligible except for those who reside in the province of Quebec.
References
ClubWPT Gold – https://support.clubwptgold.com/portal/en/kb/articles/california-game-days-faq
