For states where online poker is legal, this is a guide for US online poker room reviews, poker sites available in your area, deposit bonuses, and online poker announcements. US online poker laws seem to be changing monthly since government attorneys announced that the Wire Act cannot be used to prohibit states from allowing online poker. California Gambling Law, Regulations, and Resource Information - 2021 Edition A publication of the California Gambling Control Commission. Introduction of the Commission's Education Webpage; 2021 Meeting Schedule; – Notice to Industry – Financial Reporting Requirements. California lottery. We do not tax California Lottery or Mega millions. Visit Schedule CA Instructions for more information. How to report Federal return. Report your full amount of gambling winnings on U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (IRS Form 1040). Report your losses on Itemized Deductions, Schedule A (IRS Form 1040). California return.
- Poker (1850), Horseracing (1933), Lottery (1984), Casinos (1992)
- $280 million
- $1.3 billion from slots and card clubs; Non-taxed tribal gaming unknown
- 18 for lottery and bingo, 21 for casinos and racing
- Smoking not permitted indoors except at tribal casinos, which are not covered by state smoking bans.
- Horseracing is the only form of legal online gambling
California gambling has a long and complicated history. It is home to some of the largest poker rooms in the world. There are also more than 60 Indian California casinos. Poker is not considered gambling, according to the state constitution and future court rulings. Horse racing dates back to the Great Depression. There is also a state lottery and charitable gaming. The California Legislature is currently discussing the expansion of legalized gambling in the state. Online poker, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports are all segments under consideration.
With such a large amount of California casinos and poker rooms, you can look through our map of the top California casinos.
Paying Gambling Taxes in California
Do you have to pay taxes on your gambling winnings? Yes! OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying taxes on your gambling winnings straight from a Certified Public Accountant. For more information please visit our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.
Types of California Online Gambling Allowed
The only legal California online gambling according to the law is horseracing. TVG is the main provider in California. It operates many simulcasts betting sites in the advance deposit wagering industry in the state. Other major providers accept Californians, including TwinSpires and BetAmerica.
Daily fantasy sports site’s like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo! accept California players. These companies claim an exemption under California’s skill game laws. No action by the state has questioned this opinion.
There have been attempts to legalize online poker. The potential market participants cannot agree on the terms to move the idea forward. A bill has died in California every year in the legislature since the late 2000s because all sides care unable to come to a compromise. Some tribes do not want the horseracing industry or PokerStars, the largest poker site in the world, involved in California gambling. Other major players partnered with PokerStars fight to approve them, creating an impasse.
Types of California Live Gambling
- Slots: Yes
- Blackjack: Yes
- Poker: Yes
- Craps/Roulette: No
- Horses: Yes
- Lottery: Yes
There are many options that California gambling has to offer. Horseracing is legal. It is operated through pari-mutuel pools. Bettors can wager on live races or one in a race book at the track.
The California Lottery was created to fund education. Instant tickets and lotto drawings are available to players. Bingo and raffles are permitted through registered charities.
Card clubs date back generations in California. This is where poker is played. Card games traditionally considered to be banked by the house were later added. California card clubs use an unusual twist in table games. Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, and others are banked by propositional players. Others at the table have the ability to bank a hand on their turn.
There are currently over 150 California casinos operating today, most of them thanks to their card and poker rooms.
California Gambling Laws
All forms of California gambling laws must be approved by voters through a constitutional amendment. Every form of legal gambling in California went through this process that includes a statewide referendum. Most forms of illegal gambling are guilty of a misdemeanor.
Horseracing was the first form of betting permitted in California. Bets enter a pari-mutuel pool. Bettors may also participate in off-track betting at race books. These must be located at California racetracks. Racing is regulated by the California Horse Racing Board.
The California Lottery was created to fund public schools. It is permitted to sell scratch-off tickets for instant games and lotto tickets that involve number drawings. The California Lottery is permitted to enter interstate lotto drawings that include Powerball and Mega Millions.
California permits charities to operate games of chance. The proceeds may not exceed 20% of the prize pool or $2,000, whichever is greater. Only volunteers may operate the game. The games may not be spread in a commercial establishment, even if operated by the charity. There can be no commercial influence in charitable gaming. Charitable games may be operated by Native American reservations.
Card clubs are legal throughout California. The roots of this business date back to poker. Operations expanded to casino games that use cards over the years. Stud and draw games were the original offerings of California card clubs. Pan, Pai Gow Tiles, and Pai Gow Poker were other games popular in California card clubs in the early days. Baccarat, blackjack, and other games that are typically banked by the house emerged in the 2000’s when California casinos started to pop up.
The card club games that are not traditionally poker have a California twist. The house may not bank bets in card clubs. This created what is known as a prop banker. Players often refer to this person as the corporation. The prop banker pays a commission to the house for its action. Any player may also book the action in turn. Like prop bankers, a player that assumes the role of the house for a hand must pay the house commission from the play. Some card clubs frown upon players taking an active role in banking the action but it is perfectly legal.
California casinos operated by Indian tribes may offer slots, video poker, live poker, off-track betting, bingo and table games. The difference is that California casinos do not have to pay taxes on games permitted at card clubs, charities or racetracks. There are also different rules with table games that make the atmosphere closer to that of Las Vegas. Craps and roulette are not legal in California. There are unique alternatives to these games that use cards and machines instead of standard dice and wheels.
List of California Casinos
There are more than 150 casinos in California between the card clubs and reservations. Most are located in Southern California near San Diego and Los Angeles. The largest card clubs are Hustler, Bicycle, Commerce, and Hawaiian Gardens. These are all near Los Angeles. Large casinos in Southern California include Morongo, Pechanga and Harrah’s Rincon.
Native American Casinos
Most residents are no more than a half-hour drive of a card club or tribal California casino. All major cities have somewhere to play poker. The number of California reservations means that slots and video poker are never farther than a 30-minute drive. These California casinos offer players all of the same services and games that you may find in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
Casino | Size | Address | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Agua Caliente Casino – Rancho Mirage | 1,400 Slot Machines | 32-250 Bob Hope Drive | www.hotwatercasino.com |
Augustine Casino – Coachella | 800 Slot Machines | 84-001 Avenue 54 at Van Buren | www.augustinecasino.com |
Barona Casino – Lakeside | 2,000 Slot Machines | 1932 Wildcat Canyon Road | www.barona.com |
Bear River Casino – Loleta | 349 Slot Machines | 11 Bear Paws Way | www.bearrivercasino.com |
Black Oak Casino – Tuolumne | 1,250 Slot Machines | 19400 Tuolumne Road North | www.blackoakcasino.com |
Blue Lake Casino | 750 Slot Machines | 777 Casino Way | www.bluelakecasino.com |
Cache Creek Casino – Brooks | 2,400 Slot Machines | 14455 CA-16 | www.cachecreek.com |
Cahuilla Creek Casino – Anza | 306 Slot Machines | 52702 Highway 371 | www.cahuillacasino.com |
Casino Pauma – Pauma Valley | 1,050 Slot Machines | 777 Pauma Reservation Road | www.casinopauma.com |
Cher-Ae Heights Casino – Trinidad | 349 Slot Machines | 27 Scenic Drive | www.cheraeheightscasino.com |
Chicken Ranch Casino – Jamestown | 250 Slot Machines | 16929 Chicken Ranch Road | www.chickenranchcasino.com |
Chukchansi Gold Casino – Coarsegold | 1,700 Slot Machines | 711 Lucky Lane | www.chukchansigold.com |
Chumash Casino – Santa Ynez | 2,000 Slot Machines | 3400 East Highway 246 | www.chumashcasino.com |
Cloverdale Rancheria Casino | 2,000 Slot Machines | Highway 101 | www.cloverdalerancheria.com |
Colusa Casino | 1,024 Slot Machines | 3770 Highway 45 | www.colusacasino.com |
Coyote Valley Casino – Redwood Valley | 250 Slot Machines | 7751 North State Street | www.coyotevalleycasino.com |
Desert Rose Casino – Alturas | 100 Slot Machines | 901 County Road 56 | No Website |
Diamond Mountain Casino – Susanville | 250 Slot Machines | 900 Skyline Drive | www.dmcah.com |
Eagle Mountain Casino – Porterville | 1,400 Slot Machines | 681 South Tule Road | www.eaglemtncasino.com |
Elk Valley Casino – Crescent City | 328 Slot Machines | 2500 Howland Hill Road | www.elkvalleycasino.com |
Fantasy Springs Casino – Indio | 1,959 Slot Machines | 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway | www.fantasyspringsresort.com |
Feather Falls Casino – Oroville | 1,000 Slot Machines | 3 Alverda Drive | www.featherfallscasino.com |
Garcia River Casino – Point Arena | 200 Slot Machines | 22215 Windy Hollow Road | www.thegarciarivercasino.com |
Golden Acorn Casino – Campo | 795 Slot Machines | 1800 Golden Acorn Way | www.goldenacorncasino.com |
Gold Country Casino – Oroville | 900 Slot Machines | 4020 Olive Highway | www.goldcountrycasino.com |
Graton Casino – Rohnert Park | 3,000 Slot Machines | 288 Golf Course Drive West | www.gratonresortcasino.com |
Havasu Landing Casino – Needles | 245 Slot Machines | 1 Main | www.havasulanding.com |
Harrah’s – Valley Center | 1,700 Slot Machines | 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way | www.caesars.com/harrahs-socal |
Hidden Oaks Casino – Covelo | 100 Slot Machines | 76700 Covelo Road | www.hiddenoakscasino.com |
Hollywood Casino Jamul | 1,700 Slot Machines | 14191 Highway 94 | www.jamulcasinosd.com |
Hopland Sho-Ka-Wah Casino | 550 Slot Machines | 13101 Nokomis Road | www.shokawah.com |
Jackson Rancheria Casino | 1,525 Slot Machines | 12222 New York Ranch Road | www.jacksoncasino.com |
Konocti Vista Casino – Lakeport | 349 Slot Machines | 2755 Mission Rancheria Road | www.konocti-vista-casino.com |
Lucky 7 Casino – Smith River | 300 Slot Machines | 350 North Indian Road | www.lucky7casino.com |
Lucky Bear Casino – Hoopa | 100 Slot Machines | 12510 State Highway 96 | www.hoopa-nsn.gov |
Mono Wind Casino – Auberry | 350 Slot Machines | 37302 Rancheria Lane | www.monowind.com |
Morongo Casino – Cabazon | 2,700 Slot Machines | 49500 Seminole Drive | www.morongocasinoresort.com |
Paiute Palace Casino – Bishop | 336 Slot Machines | 2742 North Sierra Highway | www.paiutepalace.com |
Pala Casino | 2,200 Slot Machines | 11154 Highway 76 | www.palacasino.com |
Pechanga Casino – Temecula | 3,400 Slot Machines | 45000 Pechanga Parkway | www.pechanga.com |
Pit River Casino – Burney | 150 Slot Machines | 20265 Tamarack Avenue | www.pitrivercasino.com |
Quechan Casino – Winterhaven | 1,000 Slot Machines | 525 Algodones Road | www.playqcr.net |
Red Earth Casino – Salton City | 350 Slot Machines | 3089 Norm Niver Road | www.redearthcasino.com |
Red Fox Casino – Laytonville | 91 Slot Machines | 200 Cahto Drive | www.redfoxcasino.net |
Red Hawk Casino – Placerville | 2,100 Slot Machines | 1 Red Hawk Boulevard | www.redhawkcasino.com |
River Rock Casino – Geyserville | 1,600 Slot Machines | 3250 Highway 128 East | www.riverrockcasino.com |
Robinson Rancheria Casino – Nice | 600 Slot Machines | 1545 East Highway 20 | www.rrrc.com |
Rolling Hills Casino – Corning | 773 Slot Machines | 2655 Barham Avenue | www.rollinghillscasino.com |
Running Creek Casino – Upper Lake | 349 Slot Machines | 35 E. Highway 20 | www.runningcreekcasino.com |
San Manuel Indian Casino – Highland | 3,600 Slot Machines | 777 San Manuel Blvd. | www.sanmanuel.com |
San Pablo Lytton Casino | 1,393 Slot Machines | 13255 San Pablo Ave. | www.sanpablolytton.com |
Sherwood Valley Casino – Willits | 220 Slot Machines | 100 Kawi Place | www.svrcasino.com |
Spotlight 29 Casino – Coachella | 2,000 Slot Machines | 46-200 Harrison Place | www.spotlight29.com |
Soboba Casino – San Jacinto | 2,000 Slot Machines | 23333 Soboba Road | www.soboba.com |
Spa Resort Casino – Palm Springs | 1,000 Slot Machines | 401 East Amado Rd. | www.sparesortcasino.com |
Sycuan Casino – El Cajon | 2,200 Slot Machines | 5485 Casino Way | www.sycuan.com |
Table Mountain Casino – Friant | 2,000 Slot Machines | 8184 Table Mountain Road | www.tmcasino.com |
Tachi Palace Casino – Lemoore | 2,000 Slot Machines | 17225 Jersey Avenue | www.tachipalace.com |
Thunder Valley Casino – Lincoln | 2,800 Slot Machines | 1200 Athens Avenue | www.thundervalleyresort.com |
Tortoise Rock Casino – Twentynine Palms | 490 Slot Machines | 73829 Base Line Rd. | www.tortoiserockcasino.com |
Twin Pine Casino – Middletown | 504 Slot Machines | 22223 Highway 29 | www.twinpine.com |
Valley View Casino – Valley Center | 2,000 Slot Machines | 16300 Nyemii Pass Road | www.valleyviewcasino.com |
Viejas Casino – Alpine | 3,000 Slot Machines | 5000 Willows Road | www.viejas.com |
Win-River Casino – Redding | 600 Slot Machines | 2100 Redding Rancheria Road | www.winriver.com |
Winnedumah Winn’s Casino – Independence | 1,200 Slot Machines | 135 South Highway 395 | www.fortindependence.com |
There are many California casinos and poker rooms spread throughout the state. This is great for poker players, as the locations and websites are found below.
Card Club | Size | Address | Website |
---|---|---|---|
The 101 Casino | 9 Poker Tables | 5151 Montero Way | www.the101casino.com |
The 500 Club – Clovis | 12 Poker Tables | 771 W. Shaw Ave. | www.500clubcasino.com |
Artichoke Joe’s Casino – San Bruno | 17 Poker Tables | 659 Huntington Ave. | www.artichokejoes.com |
Aviator Casino – Delano | 6 Poker Tables | 1225 Airport Dr. | www.theaviatorcasino.com |
Bankers Casino – Salinas | 6 Poker Tables | 111 Monterey St. | www.bankerscasino.net |
Bay 101 Casino – San Jose | 30 Poker Tables | 1801 Bering Dr. | www.bay101.com |
Bicycle Casino – Bell Gardens | 190 Poker Tables | 888 Bicycle Casino Drive | www.thebike.com |
Brooks Oceana Casino – Oceano | 3 Poker Tables | 1795 Front St. | www.oceanacardroom.com |
Bruce’s Bar and Casino – Blythe | 2 Poker Tables | 116 S Main St. | No Website |
California Grand Casino – Pacheco | 14 Poker Tables | 5988 Pacheco Blvd. | www.californiagrandcasino.com |
Cameo Club Casino – Stockton | 4 Poker Tables | 552 W. Benjamin Holt Dr. | www.cameoclubcasino.com |
Capitol Casino – Sacramento | 10 Poker Tables | 411 N. 16th St. | www.capitol-casino.com |
Casino Club – Redding | 5 Poker Tables | 1885 Hilltop Dr. | www.reddingpoker.com |
Casino M8trix – San Jose | 20 Poker Tables | 1887 Matrix Blvd. | www.casinom8trix.com |
Casino Marysville | 6 Poker Tables | 515 4th St. | www.casinomarysville.com |
Casino Real – Manteca | 6 Poker Tables | 1355 N. Main S. | www.thecasinoreal.com |
Central Coast Casino – Grover Beach | 4 Poker Tables | 359 W. Grand Ave. | www.slopoker.com |
Central Coast Casino – Paso Robles | 6 Poker Tables | 1124 Black Oak Dr. | www.pasoroblescasino.com |
Club One Casino – Fresno | 35 Poker Tables | 1033 Van Ness Ave. | www.clubonecasino.com |
Commerce Casino – L.A. | 210 Poker Tables | 6121 Telegraph Rd. | www.ihg.com |
Crystal Casino – Compton | 2 Poker Tables | 123 E. Artesia Blvd. | www.thecrystalcasino.com |
Delta Casino – Stockton | 4 Poker Tables | 6518 Pacific Ave. | www.thedeltacasino.com |
Diamond Jim’s Casino – Rosamond | 10 Poker Tables | 118 20th St. W. | www.diamondjimscasino.net |
Don Juan Club and Casino – Rancho Cordova | 1 Poker Table | 2785 Don Juan Dr. | No Website |
El Resbalon | 1 Poker Table | 154 N. Valencia Blvd. | No Website |
Empire Sportsmen’s Association – Modesto | 3 Poker Tables | 5001 McHenry Ave. | No Website |
Garlic City Club – Gilroy | 6 Poker Tables | 40 Hornlein Ct. | www.garliccityclub.com |
Golden State Casino – Marysville | 1 Poker Table | 5402 Lindhurst Ave. | No Website |
Golden West Casino – Bakersfield | 40 Poker Tables | 1001 S. Union Ave. | www.goldenwestcasino.net |
Hawaiian Gardens Casino | 110 Poker Tables | 21520 Pioneer Blvd. #305 | www.thegardenscasino.com |
Hollywood Park Casino – Inglewood | 51 Poker Tables | 3883 W. Century Blvd. | www.playhpc.com |
Hotel Del Rio & Casino – Isleton | 3 Poker Tables | 209 2nd St. | No Website |
Hustler Casino – Gardena | 50 Poker Tables | 1000 W. Redondo Beach Blvd. | www.hustlercasinola.com |
Jalisco Pool Room – Guadalupe | 2 Poker Tables | 920 Guadalupe St. | No Website |
Kelly’s Card Room – | 10 Poker Tables | 408 O Street | www.kellyspokerroom.com |
La Fuerza – Woodlake | 2 Poker Tables | 175 E. Antelope Ave. | No Website |
Lake Bowl Card Room – Folsom | 8 Poker Tables | 511 E. Bidwell St. | www.flb365.com |
Lake Elsinore Casino | 16 Poker Tables | 20930 Malaga Rd. | www.lercasino.com |
Limelight Card Room – Sacramento | 7 Poker Tables | 1014 Alhambra Blvd. | www.limelightcardroom.com |
Livermore Casino | 10 Poker Tables | 3571 First St. | www.livermorecasino.net |
Lucky Buck Card Club – Livermore | 10 Poker Tables | 1620 Railroad Ave. | No Website |
Lucky Chances Casino – Colma | 29 Poker Tables | 1700 Hillside Blvd. | www.luckychances.com |
Lucky Derby Casino – Citrus Heights | 9 Poker Tables | 7433 Greenback Ln. | www.luckyderby.com |
Lucky Lady Card Room – San Diego | 6 Poker Tables | 5526 El Cajon Boulevard | www.luckyladysd.com |
Marina Club Casino | 4 Poker Tables | 204 Carmel Ave. | www.casinomonterey.com |
Merced Poker Room | 2 Poker Tables | 1445 Martin Luther King Jr. Way | No Website |
Mike’s Card Casino – Oakdale | 6 Poker Tables | 824 N. Yosemite Ave. | No Website |
Mortimer’s Card Room – Marina | 6 Poker Tables | 3100 Del Monte Blvd. | No Website |
Napa Valley Casino – American Canyon | 7 Poker Tables | 3466 Broadway St. | www.napavalleycasino.com |
Nineteenth Hole – Antioch | 3 Poker Tables | 2746 W. Tregallas Rd. | www.19thholeantioch.com |
Normandie Club – Gardena | 24 Poker Tables | 1045 W. Rosecrans Ave. | www.normandiecasino.com |
Oaks Card Club – Emeryville | 35 Poker Tables | 4097 San Pablo Ave. | https://www.facebook.com/oaksclubroom/ |
Ocean’s Eleven Casino – Oceanside | 50 Poker Tables | 121 Brooks St. | www.oceans11.com |
Oceanview Card Room – Santa Cruz | 3 Poker Tables | 709 Pacific Ave. | www.oceanviewcasino.com |
Old Cayucos Tavern – Cayucos | 1 Poker Table | 130 N. Ocean Ave. | www.oldcayucostavern.com |
Outlaws Card Parlour – Atascadero | 4 Poker Tables | 9850 E. Front St. | www.outlawsatascadero.com |
Palace Poker Casino – Hayward | 11 Poker Tables | 22821 Mission Blvd. | www.thepalacepokercasino.com |
Players Casino – Ventura | 16 Poker Tables | 6580 Auto Center Dr. | www.pcventura.com |
Pete’s 881 Club | 4 Poker Tables | 721 Lincoln Ave. | www.petes881club.com |
Poker Flats Casino – Merced | 4 Poker Tables | 1714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way | pokerflatscasino |
Rancho’s Club Casino – Rancho Cordova | 9 Poker Tables | 2740 Mills Park Dr. | www.ranchosclub.com |
Rogelio’s Casino – Isleton | 4 Poker Tables | 34 Main St. | www.rogelios.net |
Sundowner Card Room – Visalia | 2 Poker Tables | 15638 Avenue 296 | No Website |
Tommy’s Casino & Saloon – El Centro | 3 Poker Tables | 467 W. Main St. | No Website |
Towers Casino – Grass Valley | 5 Poker Tables | 115 Bank St. | www.towerscasino.com |
Turlock Poker Room | 7 Poker Tables | 2321 W. Main St. | www.turlockpoker.com |
There are seven live horseracing tracks in California. The major venue is Del Mar Racetrack. Santa Anita and Fresno Race Track are others. Each offer live and simulcast racing.
California Gambling History
Poker has always enjoyed an exemption under California gambling law. It is not considered gambling under the California Constitution.
Voters approved Proposition 5 on June 27, 1933. This legalized pari-mutuel horseracing in the state. The exacta was pioneered at the Hollywood Park track in 1971. Off-track betting became legal in 1985.
Voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 1983 that created a state lottery. The top two lottery retailers are located along the Nevada border. One is just across the state line from Primm, NV. This gives access to Las Vegas gamblers about 45 miles away. The second highest grossing lottery retailer is convenient to Reno and Lake Tahoe players. Nevada does not have a competing state lottery.
Proposition 1A approved tribal casinos in California in November 2000. This permitted slots and video poker for the first time in the state. Gaming compacts between the tribes and the governor.
Online poker proponents have tried to legalize the game every year since the late 2000’s. Only online poker has been proposed. Casino games are not a part of any online gaming expansion proposals.
There have also been attempts to legalize sports betting. There has been little progress on that front. Sports betting expansion is specifically prohibited under the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Daily fantasy sports are experiencing more traction in the state legislature. A bill that would legalize and regulate the game first passed out of committee in January 2016.
California Casinos & Gambling FAQ
Are poker rooms legal in California?
There are more than 100 poker rooms in California.
Online poker is not legal in California. Bills have failed every year in the legislature this decade.
Dice games are illegal in California. Some reservation casinos offer California Craps where cards are used in place of dice.
No, but video versions of the game are considered allowable slots when on tribal land.
Sites like DraftKings and FanDuel assert that daily fantasy sports are legal in California. A bill that would regulate these sites is circulating the state legislature.
The only form of online gambling explicitly legal in California is off-track betting on horse racing.
What are the differences between card clubs and Indian casinos?
Card clubs are permitted to offer poker and card games that are not house banked. Native American casinos may spread these games, as well as slots and video poker.
California does not permit card clubs to act as the house that banks casino games. Card clubs employ outside prop bankers. These people book the action and pay a commission to the house on the action. Other players may book action when the button is placed on their spot at the table.
This is another name for the prop banker in a California card club.
The California Lottery was approved by voters in 1983.
What types of tickets are sold by the California Lottery?
The California Lottery sells scratch-off tickets and lotto drawings. These include Powerball and Mega Millions.
The minimum California gambling age is 18 for lottery and bingo, and 21 for casinos and racing.
In California, online casinos, online sportsbooks, and online poker gambling are all illegal. However, a few online gaming options are still available for California players including daily fantasy sports (DFS), sweepstakes online poker, sweepstakes online casino, horse race betting.
Beyond that, California gamblers are limited to brick-and-mortar tribal casinos and state-licensed cardrooms. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of what is and isn’t legal in terms of betting in CA:
Type Of Betting Site | Legal Status In California |
---|---|
Sweepstakes Casino | Legal |
Sweepstakes Poker | Legal |
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) | Legal |
Online Horse Racing | Legal |
Online Casino | Illegal |
Online Sports Betting | Illegal (Exception: Daily Fantasy Sports) |
Traditional Online Poker | Illegal |
Online Lottery | Illegal (Exception: State-sanctioned Promotions) |
Online Bingo | Free Play Only |
Online Sweepstakes Casino & Poker for California
Sweepstakes sites offer online casino games and online poker for cash prizes!
Sweepstakes allow players to win cash prizes by playing their favorite casino games including slots, blackjack, craps, and roulette. The unique feature with sweepstakes gaming is that you can get free-play by signing up and get additional credit with mail-in entries. You also have the option to purchase gold coins and are given free sweep credit.
Chumba Casino – The #1 sweepstakes online casino. New players get a $30 Gold Coin package for $10 plus 2 bonus Sweeps Coins. Chumba Casino offers slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, and a whole lot more!
Global Poker – The #1 sweepstakes online poker site. Has thousands of players at any given time offering cash games and poker tournaments. New players that verify their account get a 20 Gold Coin package!
Luckyland Slots – A popular sweepstakes online slots casino it offers over 50+ slots games.
Funzpoints – Another sweepstakes slots sites with 30+ online slot games.
Online Horse Race Betting In California
Normally, when people think of online betting, they think of wagering real money for a chance to win real money. Since sweepstake websites do not qualify under this definition, we thought we’d highlight a form of legal real money online gambling that’s more unique to California: horse race betting.
Brick-and-mortar horse racing in California includes four full-time tracks along the coast: Santa Anita Park, Del Mar Racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, and Los Alamitos Race Course. You can place bets on races remotely through these tracks themselves or from legal horse race betting websites.
The most popular legal horse racing sites include TVG, Xpressbet, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica. Each hosts a wide range of events that span the entire globe including races in Australia and Southeast Asia (on top of all the tracks within the United States).
These websites are popular outlets for two simple reasons: traveling to the track isn’t always feasible, and the promotions are worthwhile. The legal horse racing sites available in California offer no deposit bonuses, risk-free betting, and loyalty programs, just like a traditional sportsbook.
The bets you can place at these horse racing sites are the same as if you visited the track itself. That means you can win small amounts on micro-bets as well as enormous payouts on long shot bets like the pick six.
An Overview Of Online Gambling Options In California
Although California has the largest daily fantasy sports (DFS) market in the country, the state offers only limited online betting options beyond that. Here’s a rundown of each type of online betting and its legal availability for CA residents and visitors:
Online Casinos In California
Currently, online casinos are not legal in California. To play online casino games, California residents will need to travel to a nearby state that has legal online casinos. Although players in CA are still able to access online casino websites and even deposit money, placing a bet from within California state lines is against the law.
It’s unlikely that California will legalize online casinos anytime soon. Because the federal government may not interfere with state laws regarding online casino gambling, it’s up to the State of California to pass legislation, issue licenses, and regulate operators. Recent news coverage has not identified any online casino legislation in the works. If you want to play at California casinos, we suggest playing at a sweepstakes casino like Chumba Casino which gives a similar experience via sweepstakes games.
Online Sports Betting In California
Unfortunately, online sportsbooks are another betting option not yet available to those located in California. Land-based sportsbooks (aside from race tracks) are not available either.
In order to place sports bets, California residents must travel to states where sports betting is legal (like Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). Fortunately, many people in California are an easy drive from Nevada, where they can place both sports bets online and retail locations.
Online Poker In California
Currently, online poker is not legal in California. However, poker fans can somewhat relax because legislation is at least moving forward in this area.
In November 2020, a bill to legalize online poker made its way into the state legislature, but deliberations were interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Discussions are likely to commence after the crisis has been dealt with.
For the time being, poker players in California are limited to poker tables at retail casinos. But that’s okay, because Southern California is considered to be the brick-and-mortar poker capital of the world. It’s one of the few places in the country that has allowed poker since the 1930s.
That’s on top of this being one of the richest regions, inviting both international, national, and local high-rollers to some of the most sought-after seats in world poker. No wonder so many Hollywood celebrities double as professional poker players, including Tobey Maguire, Ben Affleck, and Jennifer Tilly.
Playing The California Lottery Online
The online lottery is not available in California. Lottery players in California can check online to see whether their ticket won by downloading the app and scanning the ticket’s barcode. However, neither purchase nor play options are generally available on the app.
There are infrequent exceptions to this rule. In 2019, California launched a “second chance” promotion for scratch-off tickets. After purchasing a ticket, players could login to the California Lottery app and try their luck at another chance to win. Two people won over a million dollars, so keep your eye out for the next time they roll out a similar promotion.
But, that said, you can’t login to the California Lottery app and buy tickets online. You have to go to a local retailer (the nearest of which is probably around the corner from your home).
On a side-note, California residents should make absolute certain to avoid offshore lottery websites (of which there are many). Imagine if you got lucky and won a million dollars. What’s to stop that site from keeping the money? They have possession of the ticket, and you have zero recourse because the website is unlicensed.
Online Bingo In California
Plenty of Bingo parlors exist across the state of California. Some even have payouts in the thousands of dollars, but most offer physical prizes.
Real money online Bingo, on the other hand, is not legal in California. Instead, legal Bingo sites are limited to sweepstakes, which will further explain in later sections of this page
Thankfully, a simple Google search will identify all the legal Bingo events going on in your area. Chances are there’s one coming up soon nearby.
Online Horse Race Betting In California
The only traditional online betting option that’s legal in California is horse racing. You can bet on local, national, and international tracks, from races in San Diego to locations on the other side of the world.
However, many betting websites that take horse racing bets from folks in CA are illegal and unlicensed, so it’s important for you to do your due diligence before depositing.
It also might be worthwhile to note that horse racing could be nearing its finish line as a practice in California. The activist outcry against what many dub animal cruelty, particularly in a famously progressive state, could make horse racing illegal before the state legalizes online sportsbooks and casinos.
Still, even if horse racing goes the way of greyhound racing and gets outlawed in CA, betting on it online will almost certainly remain legal.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) In California
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are legal in most states because their operators have convinced legislators that DFS is skill-based rather than luck-based. As such, participation in DFS is not considered gambling. So, while online casinos, online sportsbooks, and poker sites are illegal in almost all US states, DFS is only unavailable in the following states:
- Hawaii
- Washington
- Nevada
- Idaho
- Montana
- Iowa
- Arizona
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Delaware
In every other state as well as Washington, DC, you can legally play DFS with popular apps like DraftKings and FanDuel.
If you’re wondering how sports betting isn’t skill-based but DFS is, that’s a hotly debated topic for another time. Similarly, if you’re wondering how DFS is more skill-based than poker, no one has a good answer for you. It’s a total mystery.
A Brief History Of Online Gambling In California
Interestingly, gambling is one of the few bipartisan issues in the United States. Republican, Democrat, and Independent politicians can be for or against legalization, political party notwithstanding. This is important to mention because online gambling legislation is a political issue, and California is a historically left-leaning state.
History Of Online Gambling According To Federal US Law
The Federal Wire Act of 1961 put federal restrictions on all forms of online gambling for decades. In September 2011, the Obama administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) declared that the law only applies to sports betting. Several years later in 2018, the Trump administration’s DOJ retracted that opinion and declared that the law applies to all forms of online betting.
The question then fell into the lap of the Fifth Court of Appeals, which ruled that the law only applies to sports betting. Most recently, Trump’s DOJ filed its intent to appeal. If you’re confused, welcome to the club.
History Of Online Gambling According To California State Law
Ever since US states began legalizing online casinos and online sportsbooks, California has been slow to the punch. This isn’t due to a lack of demand. Rather, it’s due to a lack of political will. Passing new legislation requires cutting through a mountain of red tape, and the recent push toward legalized online poker in 2020 was stymied by the coronavirus pandemic.
Basically, the history of California’s online gambling is yet to be written. Online poker seems to be the most likely legalization in the near future. The growing demand for legal online sportsbooks will also likely reach a fever pitch across the US, and this won’t exclude California.
The Legality Of California’s Brick-And-Mortar Gambling
California Cardrooms
The most liberal aspect of legal gambling in California compared to other states is the cardroom. Cardrooms are retail locations that allow poker, blackjack, pai gow, and baccarat but do not permit slots or table games.
Cardrooms also serve food, drinks, and host events, which gives them the feel of a casino. However, if you like the digital games or roulette, you’ll have to travel one state over to Nevada. Furthermore, since 1995, no new cardrooms can open up. So, what currently stands is all the state is going to get. That means if one goes out of business, a new one can’t pop up.
Casinos On California Native American Reservations
Another option is to travel to Native American reservation casinos. In California alone, there are 63 different tribal casinos that span the state.
California State Lottery
You can also purchase tickets to play the California State Lottery at a wide range of retail locations. Tickets are available for purchase and cash-in only within the state borders. However, you can also play Mega Millions and PowerBall, which are both multi-state competitions open to 45 states.
Quick Facts On CA Gambling
Are retail casinos legal in California? | Cardrooms only |
How many tribal casinos are in California? | 65 |
How many horse tracks are in California? | Four |
Can you play the lottery in California? | Yes |
What is the legal gambling age in California? | 18-years-old |
Who regulates California gambling? | California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) |
How Many Casinos Are Located In California?
Is Poker Illegal In California
Within the California state lines, there are two different types of casinos: tribal casinos and cardrooms. Currently, you can bet at 65 full-sized tribal casinos and 89 state-licensed cardrooms. These establishments vary in size dramatically, especially when you compare small cardrooms to enormous casino resorts.
Unlike cardrooms, tribal casinos host every type of casino game, including slots, video poker, roulette and craps. That’s on top of the blackjack and poker that are offered at cardrooms.
How Has The California Casino Industry Grown?
California’s casino industry has skyrocketed in growth since the ratification of the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts in 1999. Since then, dozens of casinos have opened across the state on reservation land.
Because no new cardrooms can open as of 1995, the only way a new casino can open is if it’s tribal-run or the state passes new legislation. That means, for now, the California casino industry has, by all indications, plateaued.
Who Owns California Casinos?
Right now, 61 Native American tribes own the 64 casinos located within California state lines. The names of the casinos normally are not related to the name of the tribe.
Are Poker Rooms Legal In California
As for the cardrooms, the ownership is even more varied, but they’re often named after the location. For example, Commerce Casino is located in Commerce, CA, while the Napa Valley Casino is located in Napa.
An Overview Of The California Lottery
“Winning the lottery” isn’t as unlikely as the term often connotates. Of course, winning huge jackpots hold incredibly small odds, and most people who play Powerball or Mega Millions every week for their whole lives never come close to winning the jackpot. But playing the lotto in California is a much different experience.
Daily 3
There are two drawings per day (every day). You can select three numbers or let the computer do it for you. One number can win you over $50, while the three numbers in order can pay out a few hundred dollars or more.
Daily 4
The same as Daily 3 except with four numbers. The prizes are also larger due to the increased difficulty of correctly guessing four in a row.
Daily Derby
This virtual horse racing game allows bettors to guess which “horse” (number) will come in first, second, and third. The results come in twice per day.
Fantasy 5
The same as Daily 3 and 4, except that the drawing is once per day, and the minimum win for the top prize is $65,000.
SuperLotto Plus
The California-only version of the MegaMillions. The drawing occurs twice per week, and the minimum top prize is $7 million.
Hot Spot
In California, lottery retailers host screens with a Keno game called Hot Spot that allows you to bet every four minutes from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day. Payouts are determined by both the price of the ticket and the amount of correctly guessed numbers.
Non-profit Casino Nights In California
According to California Gambling Law, a non-profit can use casino games to raise money in what is commonly known as a “casino night.”
However, 90 percent of gross revenue has to go to a registered charity, individual cash prizes cannot exceed $500, and total prizes can’t exceed $5,000.
You also can’t host any aspect of it online.
Are Raffles Legal In California?
Yes. However, raffles are held to similar laws as charity casino nights in that 90 percent of revenue must go toward charity. However, the Bureau of Gambling Control also allows and regulates 50/50 raffles at sporting events.
Online raffles are not legal in most cases. Even charitable online raffles are illegal if any form of marketing for the raffle is done online. You can legally advertise an in-person raffle, as well as list all the details of the raffle, such as prizes, rules, and even entry forms, which need to be printed out and completed manually.
Is An Office Pool Legal In California?
Yes. Office pools are legal in California so long as:
- It’s not done online
- No one profits off of the pool
- The total pool money doesn’t exceed $2,500
So, if you and your friends want to hold a pool for events like March Madness or do a Super Bowl board, there’s nothing stopping you if you operate within those rules.
Online Gambling In California FAQ
Is online gambling in California safe?
No. Not unless you’re betting on horse racing or participating in a state-stationed lottery promotion. Otherwise, you’re gambling at an illegal betting site.
While it’s not illegal to gamble at an offshore casino, you won’t have any recourse if you’re ripped off. Many Californians still choose to bet at unlicensed sites and receive their winnings without issue. But is it safe? Strictly speaking, it is not.
How do US online casinos know that I’m in California?
In order to ensure the user base is in compliance with local regulations, online sportsbooks and casinos require members to let them know their location. Others will use geolocation software. Otherwise, there’s no way of knowing whether the person is inside the state – or even within the country.
Allowing bets from people located outside of the state of licensing is illegal. Even those who legally reside in states where online casinos or sportsbooks are legal cannot bet if they’re outside of state lines.
Can I be a California resident but legally play at a Nevada online casino?
Yes. The second you cross the border into Nevada, you can play at any of their licensed betting websites. Many who live close to the border can feasibly drive over state lines, place their sports bets, drive home, then drive back into the state to collect their winnings.
Can CA residents bet online in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Indiana?
Yes. State residency does not matter. All that matters is that you’re located within the state lines. That means you don’t even need to be a United States citizen to legally bet at licensed online casinos.
Do I have to pay California state tax on my casino winnings?
Yes. California’s standard income tax applies to any gambling winnings. The only exception is the CA Lottery, wherein the 24 percent tax (or 30 percent for non-US citizens or legal residents) is automatically withheld if the winnings exceed $600.
So, if you’re a US citizen and win $1,000 on the CA Lottery, you’d receive $760, and you would not have to pay any additional taxes.
Do I have to pay a federal tax on my casino winnings?
If your net winnings for the year exceed $5,000, then they are subject to a flat tax rate of 25 percent.
It’s important to note that “net winnings” means your winnings subtracted by your losses. If you won $10,000 but lost $5,001, you would not have to pay federal taxes for gambling.
How are California casinos different than Nevada casinos?
Tribal casinos in California are virtually the same as the casinos you’d find in Reno or Vegas. The biggest difference is the number of options. If you’re in a more rural part of California, you may be a long drive from the closest tribal casino. If you’re on the Vegas Strip, you’re a stone’s throw away from dozens of casinos.