The California gambling industry is large and well-regulated, so it should come as no surprise that many i-gaming experts expect it to become one of the next states to legalize local casino and poker sites. For now, the state gives you access to numerous land-based casino resorts and dedicated poker rooms, as well as horse racing, bingo, and a state-run lottery. Most of the California-based gambling establishments are owned by Native American tribes, but the state also licenses private gambling businesses, which are allowed to offer slots, video poker machines ,and traditional table games.

• Can You Gamble Online In California
• Gambling In California Casinos
• United States Online Gambling Sites

California Gambling Laws

California is very strict when it comes to dealing with unlicensed gambling operators. The California Penal Code makes it illegal to play any games of chance or percentage, unless the games are regulated by the state:

Currently, there are no online gambling sites scheduled to launch in the foreseeable future. According to Top10PokerSites.net that there are more than nine poker sites that accepts players from California that allows you to play poker online. One thing that you will very quickly discover.

“Every person who deals, plays, or carries on, opens, or causes to be opened, or who conducts, either as owner or employee, whether for hire or not, any game of faro, monte, roulette, lansquenet, rouge et noire, rondo, tan, fan-tan, seven-and-a-half, twenty-one, hokey-pokey, or any banking or percentage game played with cards, dice, or any device, for money, checks, credit, or other representative of value, and every person who plays or bets at or against any of those prohibited games, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by a fine not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment.”

However, you should keep in mind that California does not have any regulations that prohibit playing at offshore online casino sites. Consequently, the legal status of customers of such sites isn’t very clear. While the state officials could argue that playing for real money over the internet is a misdemeanor, there’s simply no denying the fact that the California doesn’t really focus on penalizing individual players and that no online casino customers have been prosecuted so far.

Online Casinos

While the battle to bring intrastate i-gaming to California rages on, residents of the Golden State who’d like to experience the thrill of playing at an online casino site are pretty much forced to stick with the offshore casinos that have been around for over a decade now. The traffic on those sites is significantly higher than in the case of casinos that operate on fenced intrastate markets, which means that they’re able to offer bigger bonuses and jackpots than their local counterparts.

Offshore Casino Sites That Accept California Players

Most of the US-friendly offshore casinos accept California-based players. Consequently, all California residents are able to access the latest slots and table games from leading software providers like Real Time Gaming or Betsoft. While all of the sites listed here are 100% safe to play on, you should keep in mind that some of the less popular California-facing casinos you’ll find online might turn out to be nothing more than blatant scam attempts due to the fact that it might be hard for California residents to take legal action against unregulated sites.

Please note that depositing to offshore casinos isn’t as convenient as in the case of local sites that operate on intrastate markets. Most players prefer to fund their account using a Visa/Amex/MasterCard credit card, but if you decide to use this method you should keep in mind that the transaction might be refused. In such a case, it is generally better to deposit via Western Union or MoneyGram, as those services are 100% reliable for US-based customers. All of the aforementioned sites will allow you to withdraw via a wire transfer, but in some cases you might be able to cash out via a check by courier or Western Union/MoneyGram money order.

Developing Legal Scenarios

Despite the failure to pass the i-gaming bill SB1463 due to the conflicting interests among the Native American tribal casino owners and local gambling operators, it seems that California is going to launch its own intrastate online casino market by 2015. The recently proposed Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2014 is expected to pass despite the resistance of some of the local lobbying groups, which would allow the existing real money gaming centers to launch their own online gambling sites upon obtaining a 10-year long intrastate gaming license.

Why Use Bonus.com?

Welcome to Bonus.com, your trusted source on legal online gambling in the US. We provide expert advice and comprehensive guides on legal online casinos, online sports betting, Daily Fantasy Sports, and other gambling options in the US.

Bonus.com Tools

Spin The Wheel

Bingo Card Generator

Bonus Data Trackers

Use our verified Bonus.com tracker tools to learn more about betting and odds. Check out the current odds on the 2024 Presidential election, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Stanely Cup and World Series. Or, track sports betting revenue from key states across the country.

Bonus Recent News

Stardust Online Casino Coming To New Jersey And Pennsylvania

The iconic Stardust Casino brand is making a comeback, this time as a real money online casino in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Boyd Gaming and FanDuel have announced plans to bring the online casino to both states in April 2021. Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, said: “For nearly 50 years, […]

Legislator Introduces Missouri Online Casino Bill

Missouri is hopping on the online casino bandwagon. Today, state representative Dan Houx introduced House Bill No. 1364, which would legalize online casino gaming in the Show Me state. The Details Missouri online casino operators would need a casino partner. Each land-based casino in the state would have access to three skins, each at an […]

The Venetian, The Palazzo, And Sands Expo Selling For $6.25 Billion

One iconic property on the Las Vegas Strip comprises three adjoining buildings: the Venetian, the Palazzo, and the Sands Expo Convention Center. All will be sold by Las Vegas Sands Corp. to Apollo Global Management and Vici Properties for $6.25 billion. The deal comes in the months following the death of Las Vegas Sands Corp. […]

Key States With Legal Online Casinos

After legalizing all forms of online gambling in 2019, Michigan looks poised to become the next big state with legal online casinos, online poker, and sports betting.

• Michigan online casino and online sports betting apps launched in January 2021, with poker apps just after
• First-month casino revenue topped $27 million
• First-year revenue for online gambling is estimated at $650 million

Since the legalization of online gambling in the state in October 2017, Pennsylvania established itself as a major player. Players have access to online sports betting, online casino games, and poker.

• More than a dozen online casino sites to date
• BetMGM launched in January and Borgata Casino PA in February 2021
• January 2021 PA casino revenue topped $77 million

NJ led the charge in launching legal online casinos, sports betting, and online poker after the overturn of PASPA. Currently, NJ hosts almost 2 dozen online casino apps.

• NJ online casinos reported a record-setting $100 million revenue in January 2021
• NJ hosts national brands like Golden Nugget and BetMGM and home-grown favorites like Borgata Casino
• 7 online poker apps also operate in NJ

Key States With Online Casino Sites For Cash Prizes

California is known for tribal casinos and the famous California card rooms, but California players have access to casino games online for cash prizes.

• Sweepstakes Casino Sites available to California Residents over 18
• Play Chumba Casino or LuckyLand Slots for cash prizes
• With poker popular in California, online options include Global Poker

Florida’s Seminole Tribe dominates the gambling industry in Florida, but 2021 could lead to legalized sports betting.

• Florida State Senators introduced bills in early 2021 to legalize sports betting
• Any new forms of gambling will need buy-in from Seminole tribe
• Currently, Florida players can play online casino games and poker games for cash prizes

Texas historically has failed to embrace any form of legal gambling, but new proposed legislation could alter the landscape.

• Four bills to legalize sports betting introduced in early 2021
• Until then, Texas players can access online casino and online poker sites for cash prizes
• Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, & Global Poker available in Texas

Online Gambling in the United States

Online Sports Betting

Retail Sports Betting

Upcoming Online Sports Betting

No Sports Betting

Can You Gamble Online In California

Full-Scale Legalized Sport Betting

Recent Bill Passed

Recent Bill Introduced but Not Passed

No Recent Bill Introduced

Gambling In California Casinos

United States Online Gambling Sites