- California Law Online Poker For Real Money
- Legal Online Poker Real Money
- Online Poker In California
- Online Poker For Money California State
- Online Poker For Money California Free
Last Updated: January 2, 2020
It is safe and legal to gamble online in California. While the California state legislature has dithered on passing online poker laws for the past decade, CA officials do not prosecute individuals fif they play online for real money. It’s illegal to start your own online gambling business. Also, all residents must pay taxes on any revenue earned from online gambling. Otherwise, you can play online with no legal consequences.
- Jun 27, 2013 Online poker legislation in big markets like New York and California has been considered, but never passed. It appears PokerStars is years away from offering games in those states.
- CA is home to nearly 100 real money poker card rooms, 68 tribal casinos and a plethora of horseracing tracks and thanks to all those real cash gambling options, many people say California, and not Las Vegas, is the gambling capital of the United States.
This article discusses CA gambling laws, including casino, iPoker, bookmaker, and daily fantasy sports gaming. We provide a timeline of California gambling history, along with an CA gambling FAQ for readers who have questions. We also provide reviews of the best online casinos, poker rooms, and legal sports betting sites for Californians.
Best California Online Gambling Sites 2020 – Casinos, Sportsbooks & Poker Sites
California Legal Poker 2020. Pop quiz: Which US state boasts one of the best cardrooms in the world and has produced some of the game's best players, but is yet to pass regulated online poker? Answer: California. Looking for legal poker sites in California? With two bills proposed, and with a population likely to embrace newly regulated legal poker sites in California, the.
California Online Gambling Quick Menu:
Gambling is Better With Bitcoin. Learn How to Get Started!California Online Gambling Laws
No California laws prohibit, ban, or regulate online gambling. Residents are not arrested or prosecuted for gambling online. California requires residents to be 18 years of age to play the lottery. The legal age of gambling in California is 21 years of age to play in online casinos, sportsbooks, poker rooms, and bingo halls.
Advice For Online Poker, Casino Games & Sports Betting in California
Many gambling sites accept Californians. Offshore online poker, casinos, and sportsbooks accept Californians. We list online gambling sites that are safe, trusted, entertaining, and accept California residents. Our reviews discuss signup bonuses and deposit bonuses.
Land-based tribal casinos are the biggest legal gaming dens in California. Tribes own casinos in areas like San Diego and Sacremento. Commercial poker clubs like the Bicycle Club and Commerce Club exist in Los Angeles. Those who wish to play CA poker online won’t be prosecuted or fined, but should read honest reviews by other players to find the safe and trusted online card sites.
Types of Gambling – Legal/Licensed – Notes & Restrictions
- Online Gambling– No – Online poker bill debates since 2010, but tabled for 2018. Online poker bills might happen in 2020.
- Land-Based Casinos– Yes – Over 160 tribal casinos, poker clubs, racetracks, off-site betting, and bingo halls. Several have thousands of slot machines.
- Charitable Gaming– Yes – Bingo. No other charitable games allowed. Gaming machines like pull-tabs not allowed.
- Lottery Betting– Yes – California allows sales of Powerball and Mega Millions tickets at thousands of vendors.
- Minimum Gambling Age– California players must be 18 for casinos, lottery, bingo, pari-mutuel bets. 21 for most poker clubs, though 18 is allowable.
Online bingo sites are not as popular as online casinos, sportsbooks, or poker rooms in the state of California, but there are a few who still enjoy them. For those who wish to join an online bingo hall, we have provided you with safe and entertaining choices in our list of online gambling sites. Join one today for fun, carefree, entertaining bingo games.
Is Sports Betting / Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in California?
Sports wagering is not regulated in California at the moment, but legal sports betting exists. On May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court repealed a 46-state federal ban on sports betting. California could follow suit in the next two years, though CA legalization efforts are stymied by competing industry interests.
The Californian legislature could legalize sports betting in 2019 or 2020, just as New Jersey, Delaware, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia passed single-game sports bet laws. All proposed bills so far would protect California’s horse racing industry.
Bills introduced to legalize DFS in the State of California
- Internet Fantasy Sports Game Protection Act (AB 1437)– 2016 – Assemblyman Adam Gray
Though unregulated, California residents will find most online betting sites in California provide a safe and legal gaming, reliable payouts, and generous welcome bonuses.
Is Online Poker Legal in California?
Online poker is unregulated in California, but passing regulations is complicated by land-based gaming interests. Despite the lack of regulations, online poker is perfectly legal for Californians.No one faces prosecution for playing online cards for real money. California online casinos and sportsbooks also exist, but you should read our reviews to pick the safest CA online casinos.
California Online Poker Laws
Every attempt to pass iPoker legislation foundered over the bad actor clause, despite several attempts to find a compromise. Roderick Wright left California politics in 2013, but Sen. Lou Correa championed internet poker. Correa eventually ended his active support in 2015, but Reggie Jones-Sawyer and Mike Gatto madeseveral attempts to pass California online poker laws. No attempts have worked to this date.
The Bicycle Club is the most famous commercial poker room in Los Angeles.
List of Licensed Poker Rooms in the State of California
California is home to over 100 different poker rooms, many of them available if you run a Google search of “Card rooms near me”. This list includes addresses, phone numbers as well as how many poker tables are available in the poker room along with table games.
| Poker Club / Location | Casino Details |
|---|---|
| 500 Club | Clovis | 12 Poker Tables, 6 Table Games |
| The Aviator Casino | Delano | 12 Poker Tables |
| Artichoke Joe’s Casino | San Bruno | 51 Poker & Table Games Tables |
| Bankers Casino | Salinas | 5 Poker Tables, Racebook |
| Bay 101 Casino | San Jose | 23 Poker Tables, 26 Table Games |
| The Bicycle Hotel & Casino | Bell Gardens | 5 Poker Tables, Racebook |
| California Grand Casino | Pacheco | 14 Poker Tables, 5 Table Games |
| Cameo Club Casino | Stockton | 3 Poker Tables, 5 Table Games |
| Capitol Casino | Sacramento | 10 Poker Tables, 7 Table Games |
| Cameo Club Casino | Stockton | 3 Poker Tables, 2 Table Games |
| Casino M8trix | San Jose | 49 Poker Tables & Table Games |
| Casino Club | Redding | 5 Poker Tables |
| Casino Marysville | Marysville | 4 Poker Tables, 2 Table Games |
| Crystal Casino | Compton | 42 Poker Tables and Table Games |
| Club One Casino | Fresno | 16 Poker Tables, 35 Table Games, Racebook |
| Casino Monterey: Marina Club | Marina | 3 Poker Tables, 7 Table Games |
| Commerce Casino | Commerce (Los Angeles) | 200 Poker Tables, 70 Table Games |
| Casino Real | Manteca | 6 Poker Tables, 7 Table Games |
The Pechanga tribe opposes PokerStars’ entry in CA online poker.
Online Gambling California FAQ
For those who might have missed basic information in the guide above, we include a “frequently asked questions” section with a few of the most common questions readers have about California online gambling. Read through this handy set of Q&A’s to learn about major legal concerns you might have about playing at online poker sites, casinos, and sportsbooks in California.
Can California residents safely gamble online?
California residents can gamble online, but they need to be choosy about the online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites they use. California has an unregulated online gambling industry, so you’ll be playing at offshore sites. Use due diligence to make sure a website is trusted, safe, and entertaining.
Are online casinos legal in the state of California?
Online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms operate in a legal gray area. The California legislature has not legalized online gaming sites, but no ban exists on iGaming, either. Lawmakers in California have tried to have such laws passed and have failed so far, because the many land-based gaming interests can’t agree on new laws.
Are online sportsbooks legal in California?
The U.S. Supreme Court decision which struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) gave each state the right to pass their own sportsbook laws, including land-based bookmakers, online sportsbooks, and mobile sports betting apps. California’s lawmakers have not taken advantage of the new legal situation yet, so California sports bettors play in an unregulated online bookmaker market. Gamblers can bet at offshore online bookmakers, but do not have the consumer protections they would in a regulated sports betting market. Read our reviews carefully before choosing an online sports betting site.
Will I go to jail for gambling online in the state of California?
California authorities do not arrest online gamblers. While no residents of California have ever gone to jail for gambling online, that does not mean it might not happen in the future. US operators might face prosecution, but only the most radical public figures (in Pennsylvania) have called for law enforcement to prosecute gamblers. Before you bet online for real money, please make certain of the federal, state, and local laws on gambling.
Reggie Jones-Sawyer introduced the most recent California online poker bill in 2017.
Timeline of California Gambling Bills
February 2010 | Roderick Wright Sponsors 1st California Online Poker Bill
Sen. Roderick Wright introduced Senate Bill 1485, which would have legalized California iPoker.
January 2012 | Roderick Wright Sponsors 2nd California Online Poker Bill
Sen. Wright sponsored a second version of SB 1485. The California Online Poker Association (COPA) backed the bill.
February 2013 | Roderick Wright Sponsors 3rd California Online Poker Bill
Sen. Wright re-introduces SB 1485 to the legislature. COPA has split into two factions.
February 2013 | Lou Correa Introduces His Own Online Poker Bill
Sen. Lou Correa sponsored Senate Bill 678, which was backed by the Morongo Tribe and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
March 2014 | Reggie Jones-Sawyer Sponsors AB 2291
Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer introduced the California Online Poker Bill 2014, also known as AB2291.
August 2014 | Lou Correa Introduces Modified Online Poker Bill
Sen. Lou Correa sponsored Senate Bill 1366 in an attempt to bridge the gap between the Morongo and Pechanga factions.
September 2014 | Roderick Wright Resigns from Office
California lost its greatest online poker advocate when Roderick Wright resigned amid scandal.
February 2015 | Lou Correa Sponsors 2015 Online Poker Bill
Sen. Lou Correa reintroduces SB 1366, but it failed to gain traction.
March 2015 | Reggie Jones-Sawyer Reintroduces AB 2291
Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer sponsors the California Online Poker Bill 2017, but it failed to gain approval.
February 2016 | Reggie Jones-Sawyer Sponsors AB 167
Jones-Sawyer backs a modified online poker bill, but tribal politics again wreck his plan.
December 2016 | Mike Gatto Sponsors Assembly Bill 9
Mike Gatto introduces his own online poker bill, hoping to add special provisions that would please both factions. AB9 was dead on arrival.
February 2017 ] Reggie Jones-Sawyer Sponsors Internet Poker Protection Act
Reggie Jones-Sawyer backs the Internet Poker Protection Act of 2017. When the bill petered out in August 2017, Jones-Sawyer recommended a cooling off period in 2018 and 2019. He suggested 2020 might be a time for a new California iPoker bill.
Latest News
Four separate state lawmakers — Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Mike Gatto, Lou Correa, Roderick Wright — have introduced a total of 11 different online poker bills over the past 9 years, but each bill failed to pass out of committee. A longstanding dispute between two blocks of tribal casinos undermined several bills sponsored by PokerStars. One faction is led by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, who support PokerStars. The other faction is led by the Pechanga Resort, which opposes PokerStars.
Eric Hollreiser, a spokesman for PokerStars, pointed out the bad actor clause would give certain tribes a competitive advantage: “We seem to be the only company that meets that standard.”
Reggie Jones-Sawyer said a CA online poker bill could be possible in 2020 after a 2-year cooling off period.
Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who now is the most prominent supporter of California iPoker, said he might introduce a new version of the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act in 2020. Jones-Sawyer said, as of 2019, both sides need a “cooling off” period before that happens. Thus, no California online poker law seems eminent.
Sources
California Law Online Poker For Real Money
A real-money online poker site for Californians “will be flipping the switch on for real money sometime between the 26th and 28th,” according to Santa Ysabel Gaming Commission Chairman Dave Vialpando.
Vialpando told Card Player that the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel’s free-play online poker product will have real-money offerings for those who are residents of California and 18 years of age or older. You must also be physically within the borders of the Golden State to play.
The tribe’s intentions were announced last month, though it wasn’t exactly clear about a launch date.
Card Player had the chance to ask Vialpando about the tribe’s bold move into the online space despite California not having legalized online poker.
Brian Pempus: Can you talk about the process of deciding to go through with this despite no online poker bill in California passing yet?
Dave Vialpando: Yeah, there is none that will be passing. I actually read a statement from [Assemblyman] Jones-Sawyer that they will be re-introducing a bill for California in December. It doesn’t really affect our plans. Our authority to offer class II gaming from our reservation is not prohibited by any statute. In fact, we believe it is covered by IGRA. We have been fully cooperative with all the government agencies that have asked us questions, in fact with anyone who has asked us questions. Most of our regulations are public documents, so it’s pretty much full disclosure for us. We did form an alliance with the California Council on Problem Gambling and we have just put the finishing touches on what we think is a model responsible gambling program for internet gaming providers. We will be rolling that out shortly. We are moving full speed ahead.
BP: Why didn’t other tribes in California try this before? Why do you think you are the first?
DV: Well, I wouldn’t even try to speak for other tribes, but what I have heard is that some tribes are reluctant to do online gaming not because they fear the government but because they worry about the adverse effect it could have on their brick-and-mortar enterprises. So folks, some of the smaller tribes, are perfectly satisfied with the revenues being generated from their land-based casinos, and they have no intention to enter online gaming. They don’t see it as a viable business opportunity for their particular tribe. Of course there are the tribes that would just defer to the state to come up with the regulatory framework and structure. It has taken us more than two years of planning. As the Chairman of the Santa Ysabel Gaming Commission my concern is to cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s on the regulatory side. It has been very labor intensive. Some tribes will want the state to create that framework and then they will fill in the blanks for their particular property. There are several reasons tribes have decided not to enter online gaming at this time.
BP: What exactly will be available for players at the real-money launch?
DV: It is an operation question. We have limited offerings right now because we want to make sure everything checks out reliability wise from beta testing. It will be a slow roll-out. We will be adding new features and tournaments, and promotions as we move down the road and gain experience. The product we have right now is absolutely solid. We are very confident with it. As soon as we develop that customer loyalty we are going to be looking to expand—all within the confines of what is permitted by law. We have no intention, in fact it is stated on the Gaming Commission website, of offering any class III gaming. So, we won’t have any slots or house-banked games. Nothing like that, if until the state of California licenses those kinds of games. We are actually for state [legalization of online poker]. After two years of developing our enterprise, we have some knowledge to share with the state. One of the reasons we built the responsible gambling program that we did was to offer that to the state if and when it legalizes online gaming. It could be a model adopted by others. To answer your question directly: What you see now in the free-play version is what you will see when we flip the switch on for real-money. It will only be available to California residents, who are 18 years or older, and who are located within California [at the time of play].
Legal Online Poker Real Money
BP: Are there plans to eventually offer games to people in other countries?
Online Poker In California
DV: Anything is possible within the confines of what is permitted by law and what the tribe decides is a smart business decision. Our immediate plans right now are to do the best we can in the enterprise that we spent the last two years developing…I would imagine the federal government would have something to say about [this] if the activity expanded beyond the bounds of the state.
Online Poker For Money California State
BP: Do you anticipate other tribes in California, or across the U.S., following you into the real-money online poker business?
DV: We hope so. We have received inquiries from tribes throughout the state asking us questions. We are more than willing to assist others, and I think we mentioned on PrivateTable.com about establishing an affiliate program. We are encouraging other tribes to follow us because we feel our product is solid and economically viable. Ultimately, it will benefit the tribe and we are looking forward to that. Our tribe, with nearly 1,000 members and 50,000 acres, is sourly in need of infrastructure improvements and economic development. We are excited to be able to provide that for the tribe.