California Online Gambling

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 along with other card-based table games. Note that California law technically forbids craps, roulette, and certain other casino games. However, 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 WOW Vegas, McLuck Casino, High 5 Casino, Pulsz, Funzpoints, Stake.us and others enable players to play online for fun. The sites use virtual currencies, but in some cases offer chances to redeem winnings for cash prizes.

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 other than 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 over 80 active cardroom licenses in the state with 60-70 operating cardrooms at any given time. The largest is the Commerce Casino, with more than 370 tables.

Pari-mutuel wagering on horse races is legal in California. The state features several highly-rated thoroughbred racetracks, most notably Santa Anita Park and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in the southern part of the state. 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. Cal-Expo harness track in Sacramento offers standardbred racing in the winter and spring.

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, NYRA Bets and TwinSpires.

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 Underdog Fantasy, Betr, DraftKings, FanDuel and others are all available to those in California.

As a result, 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.

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 is not yet among the legal California gambling options. Even so, there is significant interest in having California join the many other states that have legalized sports betting. Those states include all three that border California: Nevada, Arizona, and Oregon.

California betting propositions covering both retail and online options have failed in the past, including most recently in 2022. There is hope, though. A federal court ruling in Florida reaffirming the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s compact could be a potential game-changer and lead to the 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.

Still, the earliest California could legalize sports betting is probably at least a couple of years away.