California Gambling Sites

California is widely considered to be exceptionally gambling-friendly, which shouldn’t be all that surprising since the Golden State’s landscape is littered with Indian casinos and card rooms. The state also offers pari-mutuel horse race betting and bingo. California has state-operated lotto games, but the local lawmakers haven’t passed any iGaming regulations so far. Consequently, California-based online gambling enthusiasts have to play on offshore sites that host the games for players from all over the United States.

Online Gambling in California

California gambling regulations tend to be very confusing for inexperienced players because most counties have a few additional laws and rules that apply to real money gaming. In most cases, participating in illegal gambling as a player would be considered a misdemeanor, which means that local gambling enthusiasts who engage in these activities tend to get off with a slap on the wrist when caught. As mentioned above, online gambling isn’t even mentioned anywhere in the state code, so the local authorities don’t prosecute California residents who prefer to place their bets over the internet.

Casinos & Sportsbooks Accepting Players From California

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Casino Games

Indian casinos located in California are too numerous to list here and are spread all over the state, so it should come as no surprise that you’re pretty much guaranteed to find plenty of gambling venues that appeal to your tastes here. The available games tend to range from slots to classic table titles such as blackjack, craps and roulette. If you’d like to try their online counterparts, you shouldn’t hesitate about giving our recommended California-friendly casinos a spin or two.

Sports Betting

With six major race tracks located in Arcadia, Alamitos, Albany, Fresno, Pomona and Del Mar, California is one of the biggest horse racing hubs in the United States. However, the state facilities won’t allow you to wager on classic sports, so if you’d like to put your money on some of the coolest US or European leagues, you should check out our California-facing sports betting sites.

Poker

California is literally packed with poker players and has plenty of dedicated card rooms that are going to guarantee that you’re going to get as much live action as you want. However, if you’d like to increase the amount of hands you play per minute or learn the tricks utilized by seasoned online players, you absolutely have to try some of the amazing online poker rooms listed here.

Online Gambling FAQ

Where can I find regulations that pertain to gambling in California?

All the relevant regulations are listed in the California Code.

What forms of gambling are legal and regulated within the borders of California?

Casino games, poker, charitable gambling, pari-mutuel betting, state-controlled lottery.

What is the legal status of online gambling in California?

The specifics tend to differ from town to town, but on the state level online gambling isn’t regulated. The state refrains from prosecuting individual players.

Do offshore gambling sites accept California residents?

Yes, most of the US-facing sites actually compete for California residents.

How can I deposit to an offshore gambling site from California?

Offshore sites tend to accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex only, but in some cases you might be allowed to deposit via a Western Union/MoneyGram money order.

How can I withdraw my money from an offshore iGaming site if I live in California?

If you live in California, you should be able to request a wire transfer or a check by courier.

Is California planning to regulate online gambling in the future?

Yes, California is one of the states that are frequently mentioned as the ones most likely to follow in Nevada’s and New Jersey’s footsteps.

Gambling History – Interesting Facts

1. Gambling in California began with the discovery of gold within the borders of the state and flourished with the local mining industry. Even though the gold rush eventually receded, the strong gambling traditions never left the state.

2. The first state-regulated gambling operation in California was a horse racing venue, which opened its doors to visitors in 1933.

California Gambling Resources

California Code:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

California Gambling Control Commission:

http://www.cgcc.ca.gov/

California New Gambling Bill, Bluff Magazine Analysis:

http://www.bluff.com/news/new-california-online-poker-bill-still-prohibits-pokerstars-62562/