California is one of the biggest gambling markets in the US. However, the legality of online gambling in the state is not as straightforward as hoped.
The Golden State has not legalized online gambling, but many out-of-state online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks serve Californians. That means you can freely play at online gambling sites without trouble.
This guide covers current California gambling laws, restricted games, and where you can gamble in California.
California is one of the best states for land-based gambling options. It allows legal card rooms, lotteries, poker rooms, racetracks, and tribal casinos. You are always close to a betting opportunity in the Golden State.
But California is not a total free-for-all when it comes to gambling. Some forms either lie in a gray area or are flat-out illegal.
Here are the most important highlights of what gambling in California looks like:
| Gambling | California |
|---|---|
| Is Gambling Legal? | Yes |
| Playing at Online Casinos | Yes. Sites regulated outside of CA only |
| Legal Age Online | 18+ |
| Land-Based Casinos | Yes |
| Legal Age Land-Based | 18-21 (depends upon casino)Yes |
| Sports Betting | Yes. Sites regulated outside of CA only |
| Charitable Gambling | Yes |
| State Lottery | Yes |
| Social Gaming | Yes |
The Golden State offers several forms of legal gambling, from tribal casinos to home poker games, and is among the more liberal regarding available gambling options.
It features casinos, lotteries, poker rooms, horse racing, charitable gaming, and social gaming. Of course, not every form of gambling is legal in the Golden State.
The following table shows a summary of current gambling laws in California.
| Gambling | California Legal Status |
|---|---|
| Online Casinos | California gambling laws are dated and don’t specifically address online gambling. Therefore, offshore and out-of-state casinos, poker sites, and betting sites serve the Golden State. Californians can gamble at online casinos without fear of prosecution. |
| Sports Betting | California bans sportsbooks from operating within state lines, but many offshore bookmakers take bets from Californians. |
| Land-Based Casino | California Native American tribes can legally run casinos within the state. Tribes can offer both Class II (bingo/poker) and Class III gaming (slot machines, house-banked card games). |
| Poker | Many California card rooms and tribal casinos feature poker rooms. No-limit Texas hold’em is easily the most popular poker game in the state. |
| Horse Racing Betting | The Golden State has one of the country’s biggest horse racing scenes. Horse racing betting is legal at various California racetracks and off-track locations. |
| Dog Racing Betting | It has been Illegal since 1939. |
| Lottery | Launched in 1985, the California State Lottery provides drawings, scratch-off tickets, and simulated horse races. |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Like online gambling, daily fantasy sports (DFS) lie in a gray area in California. Assemblyman Adam Gray unsuccessfully introduced bill AB 1437 in 2015. Major DFS sites like DraftKings and FanDuel still serve the state. |
| Charitable Gaming | Non-profit organizations can hold charity bingo, poker, and raffle events if they donate all proceeds to the designated charity. |
| Social Gambling | Home poker games and other forms of social gambling are legal, provided nobody is banking the action or profiting in any other way. |
California online casinos offer various games, including Keno and lottery-type games, such as scratch-offs. You will also find single- and double-zero roulette, video poker, and some gambling sites even offer craps.
All the games are backed by top developers and have good RTPs like those you’ll find in any land-based setting.
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Disclaimer
Please be advised that the information provided on this page does not constitute legal advice. Our team strongly recommends you seek professional counsel from a qualified attorney regarding your specific questions or concerns on the topic.
States often compare themselves with neighbors when deciding what forms of gambling to legalize. Here’s how the state of California compares to other states in its region in the legal status of various types of gambling.
| US State | Playing at Online Casinos | State Regulated Casinos | Social Casinos | Online Sports Betting | Lottery | Fantasy Sports | Charitable Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Legal | Not Legal | Legal | Not Legal | Legal | Gray Area | Legal |
| Oregon | Legal | Not Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Gray Area | Legal |
| Nevada | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Not Legal | Not Legal | Legal |
| Arizona | Legal | Not Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Gray Area | Legal |
The Golden State has the same legal stance on all other major forms of gambling as Arizona and Oregon. Meanwhile, Nevada differs from its neighbors in fantasy sports and lotteries. The Silver State banks heavily on its land-based gaming industry and does everything possible to protect it.
California is the only state amongst its neighbors that has not legalized online sports betting. Legislative efforts to regulate betting remain trapped beneath competing interests (tribes, card rooms, racetracks).
The Golden State is a good place to gamble online for the most part. But as covered below, you need to consider some drawbacks and benefits when gambling in California.
State gambling legislative efforts have focused on online poker and sports betting—not California online casinos. Sports gambling has taken center stage in recent years due to dozens of other states legalizing the activity.
Retail (Prop 26) and online sports betting (Prop 27) made the voting ballot in Nov. 2022. Voters said “no” to both issues after being bombarded with advertisements from multiple sides. Cardrooms funded a campaign against both propositions because they got cut out of the potential action. Tribal casinos and select racetracks spent millions on getting both propositions passed. The card rooms won out as the measures lost.
These votes expose the issue with California online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites. Card rooms, racetracks, and tribes cannot agree on sharing the online gambling pie.
Online sports betting needs to pass before CA mobile casinos and poker have a chance. Therefore, we do not see regulated California online casinos becoming a reality for at least five years.
Until then, your best options for gambling online in California remain online casino operators. You can play real money casino games online without worry because the Golden State has never prosecuted offshore sites or players.
Take a look at our recommended online casinos and pick the one you like the most!
California online gambling laws aren’t entirely clear, which may leave you with questions. The following FAQs will help you better navigate the California gambling landscape.
Yes, online gambling in California is allowed. Law enforcement and prosecutors do not go after individuals who bet online. Because it’s unregulated, the question is ease of use. California has not legalized any online gambling based inside the state. However, online casino sites based out-of-state have served California since the mid-1990s, and Californians can gamble at these gambling sites without fear of prosecution.
Like online sportsbooks, online casinos are not regulated, but gambling at California online casinos is safe and legal. State penal codes make no mention of online gambling. Out-of-state online casinos lie in a gray area and have served this state for over a quarter century. You can choose from tons of California online casinos. Our experts can lead you to the best options for your gaming preferences.
Californians can play at the best online sportsbooks without worry, though the state legislature has not yet regulated betting on sports. Lawmakers introduced sports betting sites and daily fantasy sports bills in the past, but none became law.
California gamblers will find poker rooms and land-based casinos featuring (modified) table games and slots throughout the state. Even better, you can bet online at your favorite casinos, sportsbooks, or poker rooms. You’ll also find a robust peri-mutuel horse racing economy and a huge state lottery.
The California legal gambling age varies based on the activity. The California Lottery and some tribal casinos permit gamblers who are 18 years old. Card rooms and other tribal casinos require players to be 21 or older. To sign up with an online betting site, gamblers must be 18 or older.
If you use one of our recommended and vetted California online casinos, then yes, online gambling in California is safe. It’s important to research an online casino or sportsbook before you start using it to make sure it is a safe and secure site.
To sign up for an online gambling site in California, just review our top-rated online casinos and choose the one that works best for you. Then, provide your information, verify your e-mail address, make a deposit, and you should be ready to start winning real money.
The Golden State treats annual gambling winnings as income and taxes them between 1% and 12.3%. This CA state tax rate is in addition to the 24% federal tax on gambling wins. While some big wins may directly deduct the taxes you would owe, please consult with a tax professional regarding how to report your real money winnings and possibly offset them against gambling losses.
Poker players can join online cardrooms without fear of prosecution, but the industry is not regulated. Despite bills introduced most years since 2011, California lawmakers have not yet licensed online poker sites. Tribal land-based casino operators disagree with California cardroom operators on the legal framework for regulated California online poker.
California penal codes don’t specifically mention online blackjack. That said, blackjack is another casino game that you can play safely online at reliable gambling sites.
California online casino no-deposit bonuses are available occasionally. These deals offer a small amount of free spins (20-50) or real-money funds ($10-$20).
No. Nobody has ever been prosecuted for playing online casino games in California. Therefore, we do not see any risk of being arrested for gambling online in this state.
