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AB 2617

Protecting Kids from Online Gambling Act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mia Bonta and 1 co-sponsor

The bill would ban online platforms from offering gambling or predictive market wagering to anyone under 18.

Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 2617

Overview

AB 2617, the Protecting Kids from Online Gambling Act, seeks to prohibit online platforms from providing gambling and predictive market wagering to individuals under the age of 18. The measure focuses on restricting minors’ access to online gambling activities and related predictive market features, with the aim of safeguarding youth from exposure to gambling and its potential harms.

Purpose and intent

  • To shield minors from participating in online gambling activities and predictive market wagering.
  • To reduce youth exposure to gambling-related services offered through online platforms.
  • To establish state-level standards and enforcement mechanisms to ensure online platforms do not knowingly or inadvertently enable underage access.

Key provisions (as indicated by bill text and summary)

  • Prohibition on online platforms: Platforms would be barred from providing gambling services and predictive market wagering to persons under 18.
  • Scope of activity: Applies to online environments that host or facilitate gambling transactions or predictive market activities.
  • Age verification/guardrails (implied expectation): The bill suggests mechanisms to prevent underage access, potentially requiring age verification or other safeguards, though specific verification requirements would be detailed in the full statutory text.
  • Enforcement framework: The bill would establish or rely on state enforcement to ensure compliance, with remedies for violations (e.g., penalties, civil actions, or administrative actions).
  • Compliance timeline: As reflected in the action history, the bill has been moving through committees with amendments, indicating a timeline for when provisions would take effect if enacted.

Who is affected

  • Online platforms and service providers that offer gambling or predictive market wagering.
  • Consumers under 18 who would be prohibited from engaging in online gambling activities on these platforms.
  • Potentially affiliated entities (advertisers, payment processors, and partners) that facilitate or monetize online gambling services for underage users may also face constraints or compliance requirements.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • 2026-02-20: Bill introduced and read first time; to print.
  • 2026-02-21: Readied for committee hearing.
  • 2026-03-16: Referred to Government Organization (G.O.), Privacy, and Civil Procedure (P. & C.P.), and Judiciary (JUD) committees; amended and re-referred to G.O.
  • 2026-03-17: Re-referred to G.O. committee after amendments.
  • Sponsors: Co-sponsor Pilar Schiavo; Co-sponsor Mia Bonta.
  • The legislation is in the committee process, with amendments anticipated and additional hearings possible as it progresses toward potential floor consideration.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Public health and safety: Aims to reduce risk factors associated with youth gambling exposure, including potential addiction and financial harms.
  • Industry effects: Online gambling platforms would need to implement or strengthen age-verification and access controls; there could be compliance costs for identity verification, monitoring, and enforcement.
  • Legal: If enacted, AB 2617 would add California-specific requirements that may interact with federal laws or other state laws governing online gambling and age verification.
  • Enforcement: The effectiveness will depend on enforcement provisions, penalties for non-compliance, and clarity of definitions for “gambling” and “predictive market wagering.”

Note: The summary reflects the information provided in the bill description and action history. For detailed statutory language, definitions (e.g., what constitutes predictive markets), and exact enforcement mechanisms, consult the full bill text and official legislative analyses once available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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