California Online Gambling

The latest on CA online gambling, sports betting, poker and more.
California Mayors support legalized sports betting in order to tackle homelessness in Fresno and other CA cities

Welcome to PlayCA, your source for all California online gambling news and information.

Sports and gambling are big time in California with close to 70 tribal casinos and almost 60 legal cardrooms. But sports betting in California isn’t yet legal. Neither are online casinos in California.

Horse racing and horse betting are legal and the state has four world-renowned racetracks and horse racing fair circuits. Californians can also get involved in both Powerball and Mega Millions, too, in addition to other California Lottery games.

Legal sports betting in California

Two ballot initiatives have been filed ahead of the 2024 election that would make California sports betting a reality. While the measures would allow California tribes to operate the state’s sports betting industry, though, several of the state’s major tribes are not on board .

A social sportsbook does currently provide one legal option for California sports bettors.

Affiliate Disclosure: If you place a bet at a sportsbook or online casino through one of our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This may influence the gambling operators we list; however, the editors and writers of this website operate at their sole discretion, and their opinions are not beholden to any outside entity or organization. We recommend only legal and trusted gambling operators.

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Sports Betting News

The California Attorney General's office investigation into the legality of daily fantasy sports

CA Attorney General Eying Daily Fantasy Sports Operators

November 28, 2023
Thumbs down next to logo of CNIGA, which voted unanimously to oppose the two proposed 2024 California sports betting initiatives

CNIGA: ‘Hard Not To Be Offended’ By 2024 CA Sports Betting Initiatives

November 17, 2023
A picture of a road ending with the logo of a California tribal group for a story about how CA tribal leaders say they must be involved in any sports betting initiative.

CNIGA Chairman Says Road To CA Sports Betting Starts With The Tribes

November 10, 2023
A picture of a ballot going into a ballot box for a story on recent DraftKings CEO comments signaling they're keeping an eye on 2024 CA sports betting ballot initiatives

DraftKings Keeping Tabs On CA Sports Betting Initiatives For 2024

November 7, 2023

Industry News

Job interviews for the new California tribal casino near Chico.

New Northern California Casino Will Add Hundreds Of Jobs To Economy

November 22, 2023
A picture of a blackjack game in progress for a story about how California card rooms found a way to spread table games without breaking state law.

Despite Tribal Exclusivity, Here’s How CA Card Rooms Can Spread Blackjack

November 15, 2023
A picture of poker chips with the California state outline for a story about the California live poker tournament schedule in November 2023

LA Poker Open, RunGood Highlight November California Poker Calendar

November 2, 2023
A picture of a plot of land with the Wilton Racheria Tribe seal for a story about how the tribe bought 20 acres of land just north of their casino.

Wilton Rancheria Tribe Buys 20 Acres Of Land Right By Sky River Casino

October 31, 2023
Retail and Online Casinos 

California is home to almost 70 casinos, all operated by Native American tribes. As such, California boasts the largest tribal gambling market in the US. Slots are the main attraction, as California law technically forbids craps, roulette, and certain other casino games. That said, many casinos have come up with workarounds like “California Roulette,” a game that plays like traditional roulette but features playing cards.

Meanwhile, real money online casinos are illegal in California. For now, social and sweepstakes casinos are the best options for those wanting to play casino games online. Sites like Pulsz Slots and Casino, a social casino, enable players to play online for fun. Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Funzpoints also allow players to play with virtual currencies with a chance to win cash prizes.

California Cardrooms

Cardrooms have a long, rich history in California. In fact, during the middle decades of the 20th century, the Gardena cardrooms were the only legal alternative for live poker in the US to those in Las Vegas. Sometimes called casinos, these rooms primarily feature poker, although the larger ones also offer other games like Caribbean stud, baccarat, and a version of blackjack.

Since California law forbids house-banked card games, all of these card games are designed as player-versus-player games. Currently, there are 56 cardrooms operating in the state. The largest is the Commerce Casino, with more than 370 tables.

Horse Racing

Pari-mutuel wagering on horse races is legal in California. The state hosts several highly rated thoroughbred racetracks, including Santa Anita Park and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in the southern part of the state and Golden Gate Fields near San Francisco. In addition, Los Alamitos Race Course is a favorite destination for fans of quarter horse racing, and the Northern California fair circuit runs for several months during the summer and fall.

California also allows advance deposit wagering on horse races around the world. Bettors can wager on races at several off-track betting parlors in the state. They can also place their bets online at ADW sites like FanDuel Racing, TVG and TwinSpires.

Daily Fantasy Sports 

Daily fantasy sports are an alternative to sports betting. They are online games in which users can build a team of real-life athletes and compete against other players across the country. Contests are typically offered in single-day or week-long matchups.

California is one of many states that neither expressly forbid nor allow daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests. Lawmakers have introduced DFS bills in the past, but they have all failed to advance. In any case, DFS sites like DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo Fantasy Sports, and FantasyDraft are all available to California sports fans.

California comprises one of the largest DFS markets in the entire country. There are an estimated 120,000 players in the state contributing more than $200 million in DFS entry fees each year. That total comprises about 10% of all DFS players in the US.

 

California Lottery

The California State Lottery began selling tickets in 1985 to help fund public education. In addition to a variety of scratch-off games (“scratchers”), the lottery offers several draw games. These include in-state games like Fantasy 5, Daily 4, Daily 3, Daily Derby, Hot Spot, and the popular SuperLotto Plus.

California also participates in the big multi-jurisdictional drawing games, Powerball and Mega Millions. Thanks to California state law, the prize amounts for both Powerball and Mega Millions are pari-mutuel, meaning in CA they differ from the fixed prizes available to players from other states. You must purchase California Lottery tickets at lottery retailers (i.e., no online sales).

Sports Betting

Sports betting is not yet among the legal gambling options in the state. Even so, there is significant interest in having California join the many other states who have legalized sports betting since the US Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on doing so in 2018. Those states include all three that border California, as Nevada, Arizona, and Oregon all have legal sports betting.

California sports betting propositions covering both retail and online options failed by a wide margin in the 2022 election. There is hope, though. A federal court ruling in Florida reaffirming the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s compact could be a potential game-changer for the potential launch of online sports betting in California. Now, tribes in other states can follow the Seminoles’ lead to set up tribally exclusive online sports betting under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

But still, the earliest California could legalize sports betting is 2024.

FAQ

No. Unfortunately, gambling online for real money is against California law at this time. However, there are some exceptions, such as wagering on horse races online via advance deposit wagering and entering daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests online. The only online casino or online poker games Californians can play legally are on social and sweepstakes sites.

Lawmakers proposed online poker bills every year from 2008-17, but none of them gained much traction. Online poker, as well as other forms of online gambling, seem like less of a priority right now as the focus has shifted toward the possibility of legalizing sports betting in the state.

Generally speaking, the minimum age to gamble in California is 18 years old. You must be at least 18 to play the lottery, bet on horse races or participate in most forms of charitable gambling. Most tribal casinos have a minimum age of 18 to gamble, although those that serve alcohol on the casino floor will require patrons to be at least 21. Players must be at least 21 to play “charity poker nights,” as well.

Sports betting is not legal in California, at least not yet. In the past, proposed bills have all failed to advance thanks in large part to the many competing gambling interests in the state. This includes two propositions that were crushed at the ballot box in the fall of 2022. Meanwhile, Californians wishing to bet on sports legally have to travel elsewhere to do so, including to all three bordering states. Nevada, Oregon, and Arizona all have legal sports betting available.

Yes, Californians can play daily fantasy sports (DFS). The state has no law expressly authorizing DFS, but it also has no law prohibiting it, thus making California like many states where DFS legally operates in a “gray” area. DraftKings, FanDuel, and other DFS sites all accept California players in their contests.

No, you cannot legally play online casino games for real money in California. Offshore online sites that allow California players to play for real money do not fall under state or federal regulations. Such sites are risky for Californians, and we do not recommend them. Players in CA can play online casino games on social and sweepstakes sites that use virtual currencies.

You cannot legally play online poker for real money in California. You can, however, play online poker at sites using the sweepstakes model that employ virtual currencies. Global Poker is the most popular example of a sweepstakes online poker site that accepts California players.

The most significant obstacles to any gambling expansion in California are the competing interests of key stakeholders. There is ongoing acrimony between the tribes and cardrooms, as the tribes maintain the rooms illegally violate their compacts with the state. That conflict has affected all efforts to legalize online casinos and sports betting. The tribes have long opposed legalizing online gambling, as they worry it may hurt the bottom line at their retail casinos, although they have shown signs they could potentially adjust that position. Meanwhile, California lawmakers haven’t shown much agreement, either, when it comes to gambling expansion, thereby making the situation even less conducive to building the sort of consensus necessary for new legislation to move forward.

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