Are you looking to see if playing in an online casino in California is possible? Find out about California’s online casino laws and what your options are. You can play social casino games here.
Is gambling legal in California?
In 2024, California’s online gambling landscape remains restrictive. Discover the legal status of online casinos, poker, sports betting, DFS, and lottery in California. Learn about legal alternatives like sweepstakes casinos and the risks associated with offshore gambling sites.
TOP Gambling Sites in California
The top casino sites in California (not for real money) are Pulsz and Wow Vegas.
Explore the future of online casinos in California. While real-money casino sites like BetMGM and Golden Nugget casino await legalization, Californians can currently enjoy social casinos such as Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots. This overview highlights the expected features and top operators in California’s emerging online casino landscape.
There is currently no type of regulation in place covering the use of online casinos in California, or any other type of internet gambling in the state. This means that there are no casinos regulated by Californian authorities you can join to play for real money.
With this in mind, we can only look ahead to what we expect the best casinos for California residents to offer in the future. This can be done mainly by seeing the sites introduced into other American states where online betting laws are already in force.
WOW Vegas
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Funzpoints Casino
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Unique among its peers, Funzpoints allows players to win cash prizes even when not using premium credits. Play with standard credits to gain entries into a daily $1,000 prize draw. The casino also features a prize spin wheel every four hours, offering free entry tickets and direct cash prize wins through premium Funzpoints play.
Chumba Casino
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Chumba Casino is a premier destination for California players looking for a robust selection of slots, video poker, and classic table games. Use Sweeps Coins for gameplay and potentially redeem them for cash prizes. Regularly updated with new games, Chumba ensures a fresh and exciting experience with every log-in.
McLuck.com CA
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McLuck.com isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day; it’s a year-round haven for casino enthusiasts. This sweepstakes casino offers a diverse game selection including a social live casino featuring blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. Plus, there’s a chance to hit the MCJACKPOT across various games. Enjoy daily login bonuses, a strong loyalty program, and frequent large prize pool promotions, making McLuck a top recommendation.
High 5 Casino CA
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Recently revamped, High 5 Casino now offers over 540 popular slots and unique daily login bonuses that include SC, GC, and Diamonds every four hours. These Diamonds unlock special features like Free Spin Feature Boosts. A partnership with High 5 Games ensures a top-tier slot experience, securing its spot among the best.
Pulsz Casino CA
Pulsz Welcome Offer 2024: Get 2.3 SC Free + 66% Discount on First GC Purchase
Pulsz Casino stands out in California with its superior slots and table games like blackjack. The casino offers ongoing promotions like slot tournaments and prize pool giveaways. Climb the loyalty tiers for massive purchase bonuses and enjoy 10x the coins at the VIP level.
California Gambling Types
As of 2024, the landscape of online gambling in California remains largely restrictive. Here are key points regarding the legal status of various forms of online gambling in the state:
Online Casinos and Poker
Real money online casino gambling and poker are not legal in California. Californians have access to social and sweepstakes casinos as legal alternatives.
California Social Online Casinos
California, one of the largest social casino markets, allows players to enjoy casino-styled not real money games. These platforms, such as Pulsz, WOW Vegas, BetRivers.net, Gambino Social Casino, Winstar, and B Spot Online Casino, offer a variety of casino games using virtual currencies. High 5 Casino and WOW Vegas are examples of popular sweepstakes casinos in the state, offering games where players can potentially win real cash prizes using sweeps coins.
California Sports Betting
Currently, sports betting is not legally available in California. Efforts to legalize sports betting, including online sports betting, have faced challenges, including the failure of Proposition 26 and Proposition 27 on the ballot. There’s no clear indication of when sports betting might become legal in the state. For legal betting, Californians would have to go to any of the neighbouring states such as Arizona, Nevada or Oregon.
California Online Horse Betting
Online horse betting in California is legal and widely embraced. Bettors in the Golden State can access several authorized online platforms such as TVG and DRF that offer horse race betting.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
Daily Fantasy Sports contests are popular and legally accessible in California. This form of gaming has seen a surge in popularity despite the general restrictions on other types of online betting.
Lottery
The California Lottery does not offer extensive online play options. However, it provides an “Advance Play” option for purchasing advance tickets for select games.
Risks of Offshore Gambling Sites
It’s crucial to note that many offshore gambling sites operate in a legal gray area. These sites may pose risks such as identity theft, dishonest business practices, lack of responsible gaming features, and no contribution to local tax revenue. Californians are advised to be cautious and avoid these unregulated platforms.
California Real Money Casino Sites
Based on the current laws in California, BetMGM, Caesars, Hard Rock, and Golden Nugget are among the first casinos expected to go live in the state in 2025. California’s most expected online casinos are:
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 signing up and getting started is easy. We would expect a high level of customer service and solid banking processes to be part of any future licensing terms.
Online Casino Games 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.
Online Casino Gambling Apps
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.
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.
Top Land-based Casinos in California
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.
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.
Top California land-based Casinos:
- Cache Creek Casino Resort
- Pechanga Resort Casino
- Running Creek Casino
- San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino
- Thunder Valley Casino
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
California Gambling FAQs
Will California introduce casino regulations?
There is no indication yet that the authorities will regulate online casino in California or any other type of internet gambling.
Are sports gambling legal in California?
In California, horse races can be bet on at land venues. Online sports betting is similar to casino playing, as it isn’t yet regulated.
Will online casinos in California offer poker?
Most online casinos in other states offer some form of poker game, and some provide numerous different variants of this game for players to try.
What is the Legal Gambling Age in California?
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.
Tax When Gambling in California?
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.
Is it legal to gamble in CA?
No, despite many competing voices demanding action on online sports gambling. California could have its first legal online sportsbooks by 2025, if the state vote on the topic at the 2024 election.
Where can I get help with problem gambling in CA?
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).
Where do I find responsible gaming resources?
Despite the restrictions on online gambling, California provides resources for responsible gambling, including support groups and helplines such as California Gamblers Anonymous, the California Department of Public Health, Office of Problem Gambling, and the National Problem Gambling Helpline.
In summary, while real money online gambling remains largely illegal in California, social and sweepstakes casinos offer a legal alternative for enthusiasts. Efforts to legalize sports betting have been unsuccessful so far, and the state provides resources to promote responsible gambling.
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