California has no legal online sportsbook, casino, or poker — voters rejected Propositions 26 and 27 in November 2022 and nothing has launched since. Pari-mutuel horse racing (ADW, regulated by the California Horse Racing Board) and CFTC-regulated prediction markets remain available, but sweepstakes casinos were banned under Assembly Bill 831, effective January 1, 2026.
California has no legal online sportsbook, casino, or poker — voters rejected Propositions 26 and 27 in November 2022 and nothing has launched since. Pari-mutuel horse racing (ADW, regulated by the California Horse Racing Board) and CFTC-regulated prediction markets remain available, but sweepstakes casinos were banned under Assembly Bill 831, effective January 1, 2026.
With no licensed online sportsbook or casino in California, the strongest legal pick is Kalshi — CFTC-regulated event contracts (18+) are a real-money way to trade on outcomes that’s available even where sportsbooks aren’t.
For the horses, AmWager‘s 100% match up to $50 (code AMWAGER) is the racing pick.
Best for a new player in California: Kalshi, the one regulated real-money option open here.
Pari-mutuel horse racing is legal online through licensed ADW apps in California — 18+. AmWager leads our picks on features and value.
CFTC-regulated prediction markets (event contracts) are available to California residents 18+ through federally regulated exchanges such as Kalshi and Polymarket. Because they’re regulated federally rather than by the state, they’re one of the few real-money options available even where sportsbooks and online casinos are not — covering politics, economics, sports and culture.
Banned. California banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos under Assembly Bill 831, signed October 11, 2025 and effective January 1, 2026. Major operators exited the state by the end of 2025.
Free-to-play social casinos with no cash redemption may still be available for entertainment only.
Statewide mobile sports betting, real-money online casino (slots, table games) and online poker are not legal in California, and would require new state legislation to change. Be wary of offshore sites that claim to offer them — they are unlicensed, unregulated, and offer no consumer protection.
California is the biggest untapped market in the country, but tribal politics make sports betting slow.
No. California has no legal statewide mobile sportsbook. Your legal real-money options are CFTC-regulated prediction markets and pari-mutuel horse racing.
No. Neither real-money online casino nor online poker is legal in California.
Yes. CFTC-regulated event contracts (prediction markets) are available to California residents 18+ through federally regulated exchanges such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
No — sweepstakes casinos are banned or do not operate in this state.
Yes. Pari-mutuel horse racing is legal online through licensed ADW apps such as AmWager and TwinSpires, for players 18+.
Compare what's legal in states bordering California.