California has not yet legalized online gambling (as of 2024), but horse racing betting and Daily Fantasy Betting are both legal legal and available. Horse racing betting is possible online as well as on off-track betting locations. The launch date for legal online gambling in California is not known yet as there is no indication yet that the authorities will regulate online casino in California.
California Legal Gambling Online Overview
Of all the states in the USA, perhaps none has as puzzling and confusing a relationship with legalized gambling as the scenario that engulfs California. On the one hand, certain forms of gambling are clearly embraced by the people of the state.
Among the gambling options that are legal in the state are tribal casinos, card rooms, pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and the California State Lottery. You can also play daily fantasy sports in the state.
However, when it comes to sports betting and any form of online gambling, the people of California have spoken and the answer to whether they want access to these options has proven to be a resounding no.
California’s Best Gambling Sites
In 2022, the state government put it to a referendum whether the people of California wanted to see sports betting legalized in the state. Two different propositions were put on the ballot. Proposition 26 would’ve legalized sports betting on tribal lands and at the state’s racetracks. It was rejected by 67% of voters.
Meanwhile, Proposition 27 offered the legalization of online sports betting in California, with revenue generated going to help create housing for the homeless. It would’ve also legalized table and tile casino games for the state’s commercial card rooms.
This proposal had a strong lobby behind it. Along with Major League Baseball, prominent sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM supported Prop 27.
However, the people overwhelmingly did not. Proposition 27 was defeated, with no drawing more than 80% of the vote.
California seems like a state in which sports betting would be a boon. The state houses 21 major professional sports teams. That’s more than any other state in the nation.
California Online Casinos
As is the case in a number of states without significant online gambling, tribal groups are in 100% control of the casino industry. There are 76 tribal casinos situated across the state.
California is the most lucrative state in the union in terms of Indian gaming, with revenues reaching $9 billion annually. The state’s 76 tribal casinos are owned by 73 of the state’s 109 tribes.
They represent a powerful lobby and are showing no interest in anyone else muscling in on their exclusive control of the California casino industry.
Based on the current laws in California BetMGM, Caesars, Hard Rock and Golden Nugget are among the first casino sites expected to go live in the state in 2024.
When we look at some of the sites for online casino in California that may accept players from the state once regulation is in place, we can see that there is a wide variety of highly respected sites across the US.
These operators provide a complete online gambling experience, where it is easy to sign up and get started. We would expect a high level of customer service and solid banking processes to be part of any future licensing terms.
TOP Expected to Go LLive Casinos in California
You will discover a rich variety of real-money casino games online once California online casino sites are made available, with slots probably leading the way on them. Some of the popular games of this genre include 21 Wilds, 777 Deluxe, and Atlantic Treasures.
Most of these casinos should also include a selection of table games like poker and roulette, with live dealer games offered on numerous of these sites in other states.
California Casino Apps & Bonuses
Getting started on a California online casino with a mobile device is easy, regardless of whether you use an app or your browser. The slickest sites have apps for Android and iOS systems that are free to download. If you prefer to use your browser to get going, simply navigate to the casino site that you want to use and get started in that way. The bonus offers will be the same however you choose to enter.
View legal in US casino apps and try these slot sites with the latest promotions.
The first time that you add funds to a new account for an online casino in California, you can expect to receive a bonus that makes your money go a bit further. Some online casinos for Californians will also add in some free spins or else include a bonus on the new few deposits too.
A good example of a welcome bonus for online casino games in California increases your initial deposit by 100% or more. Others will take it a step further, by giving you a bonus on each of the specified amounts of deposits that you make with them. Keep an eye out for free spins.
Top Land-based Casinos
California has over 60 tribal casinos spread across the state. Legal poker rooms are also permitted, and California currently boasts some of the best card rooms in the world.
- Cache Creek Casino Resort
- Pechanga Resort Casino
- Running Creek Casino
- San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino
- Thunder Valley Casino
There are dozens of land casinos in California that you can visit. The California Grand Casino in Pacheco is a large facility with a nice variety of games, where food and drink can be enjoyed. San Manuel Casino in Highland is another solid option. The quality Pala Casino Spa Resort is a few miles from the Wilderness Gardens Park and is surrounded by lots of interesting things to do and see.
California Gambling Laws and Updates
It may come as a shock to those not living in California, but a state that boasts live sporting events on a daily basis that attract a nationwide audience, and is home to some of the biggest sporting names on the planet, still has no legal sports betting.
Gamblers are forced to head out of state to Montana in the north, or west to Nevada or Arizona, to place their bets, with no signs of any movement on legislation to open up either online sports betting or in-person gambling until the end of 2022 at the earliest.
The indication is that any movement in online betting is still several years away, with the dozens of casinos on tribal land across the state more likely to see an opening up of sports betting. California also has a number of licensed card rooms separate from the casinos, venues looking to open up their facilities to offer online and retail sports betting. Other gambling options in the state are horse race betting and the California lottery.
California Sports Betting
Online sports betting is illegal in the state of California and in-person sports betting is effectively outlawed. There are, however, illegal offshore and social sportsbooks that will accept bets from residents of the state, but they offer no consumer protection so users have limited rights if winning bets are not paid out.
Why is it illegal to bet online in California in 2024?
California’s sports betting remains illegal after the failure of Prop 26 and Prop 27 in November 2022. The earliest legalization could happen is in 2024, but conflicts among lobby groups, Native American tribes, and government parties suggest a delay. Legalization will probably require a constitutional amendment, necessitating another vote.
If you are in another state, explore the best betting apps.
California Casino ↗
There are no legal online casino facilities but there are dozens of land-based casinos across the state offering card games, slots and a variety of other table games.
California’s most expected online casinos:
- Golden Nugget
- BetMGM Casino
- Hard Rock Casino
- Betrivers Casino
- Harrahs Casino
Poker ↗
While online poker is outlawed, the casinos and card rooms – there are around 90 licensed card rooms in the state – offer a variety of poker options to players.
Largest Card Rooms in California:
- Commerce Casino in Commerce, CA): +200 tables
- Hawaiian Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens, CA: + 200 tables
- The Bicycle Hotel & Casino in Inglewood, CA: +150 tables
- Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood: +100 tables
- Hustler Casino in Gardena: +90 tables
Lottery ↗
The state lottery has been running since 1984 and while there are numerous retailers across the state selling tickets, you cannot purchase tickets online.
California Sweepstakes Casinos
There is an outlet where you can gamble online at a casino in California. Social or sweepstakes casinos are legal in California. Since you aren’t required to pay to play and can’t directly win money from playing, sweeps casinos aren’t considered to be gambling. Instead, they are regulated by California sweepstakes laws.
Here’s some capsule looks at the top social casino sites frequented by Californians.
Stake.us Casino: A rakeback option and a live dealer area are unique offerings from the Stake.us Casino. There are also daily rewards offers to garner gold coins for fun and entertainment play. There’s also a VIP program and nearly 800 slot games for you to play.
Sweeptastic Casino: They’ll give you four sweepstakes coins for free when you open a new account with the Sweeptastic Casino. You can also get their Lucky Coins, used for fun play, for free via regular promotional and bonus offers. There’s over 1,000 games to play inside the Sweeptastic Casino and with sweeps coins, you can exchange winnings for gift cards, merchandise, or amounts of cash.
High 5 Casino: With over 1,200 games, including slots and a live dealer studio, as well as free daily rewards offers, there’s a lot to high five about when it comes to the High 5 Casino. You can claim free coins for game play from their site every four hours throughout the day.
California Gambling FAQs
Despite a lot of competing voices demanding action on online sports betting, there appears little sign of any movement to open up online markets in the near future.
If you are worried about your own gambling, or a friend or relative is struggling to cope, help is available. California – National Council on Problem Gambling (ncpgambling.org).
Whilst there has been no official regulation of the games in California, the state has the biggest market for DFS in the US.
The state has some of the biggest and best horse racing facilities in the US with some of the richest races on the planet run at the like of Santa Anita and Del Mar. There is legal parimutuel betting controlled by the Californian Horse Racing Board, with legal online facilities offered by the likes of TVG and BetAmerica.
To legally gamble in California, you need to be at least 18 years old. Most of the California casinos require you to be at least 21 years old, although some allow people over the age of 18 to enter. In terms of online casinos in California, the age restriction may differ.
If you claim any big wins on casino games in California, then this should be included on your taxable income in your IRS return. Expect to pay a flat rate of 24% of your winnings in most cases, although this may vary according to circumstances.
