Big Lagoon Rancheria, a small California tribe with just 17 members, has publicly opposed the bill, joining the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation in breaking from what was once a unified tribal stance. In a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Chairperson Virgil Moorehead argued that AB 831 undermines tribal sovereignty and shuts out non-gaming tribes from new digital opportunities.
The legislation, originally a compact-related bill that was rewritten into a sweeps ban, has been criticized as rushed, poorly structured, and lacking the required government-to-government consultation with tribes. Moorehead emphasized that the broad language of AB 831 could criminalize not only operators but also payment providers, advertisers, and software partners.
This growing pushback signals deeper divides within California’s tribal landscape and raises questions about how the state balances regulation with respect for tribal self-determination.
