Gambling in California 

The Golden State is an apt nickname for California. Not only does it enjoy a higher than average sunshine quota, but visitors could strike it lucky in one of over 150 casinos and cardrooms within its borders.

Second only to Nevada for quantity of gambling venues, visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment. Despite the scope of gambling venues, though, the state hasn’t legalized all gambling ventures and its worth understanding the fine print.

Pari-mutuel horse and dog track betting is broadly available and there’s a state-run lottery, so no other lotteries are permitted. Over 60 tribal casinos operate with a license to provide slots and table games. Craps and roulette are not permitted, but you’ll find some unique and fun variations on these games involving cards rather than dice.

Most excitingly for fans of card games, poker is classed as a game of skill and is legal state-wide. This means there’s a huge range of card rooms, including the biggest and most famous in the country, The Commerce.

Let’s watch online gambling laws development in California in 2020.

Online Sports Betting in California

More so than many states, legalizing online sports betting is proving to be an uphill battle for California. The size of the state, the population, and many heavily invested organizations are all working against the greater good. That said, this does not mean California is a no-go for online gambling. The market share demands action and although the state legislature has kicked the can down the road for the foreseeable future, there’s just no way the issue will disappear or be denied. Maybe you can bet online in California and its cities Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim. already in 2020?

Online Casino Gambling in California

Casinos are legal in California and the state has over 150 in operation. All of the casinos they offer are Tribal and carry all of the traditional casino games such as slots, roulette, blackjack and craps. Live poker is also legal in the state, but is reserved for card rooms only so you won’t find a casino with a poker room.

Online Poker in California

Live poker is legal in California but must be played in licensed card rooms. Unfortunately, online poker is not yet legal in the state. That said, just as with many other states, California online poker falls into the legal grey area where it is illegal to operate a website, but not illegal to use one. For this reason, off-shore poker sites are used by California players without fear of legal repercussions. These sites are available to almost anyone in the United States and give poker fans plenty of options for online play. Some of the most popular venues for poker players near Los Angeles are Fresh Deck Poker, Governor of Poker, and Zynga.

Online Lotteries in California

Being one of the largest states in the union means California has one of the largest lotteries in the union. The California Lottery offers up all of the brand name lotteries such as Powerball and Mega Millions, as well as all of the games like scratch-offs and drawings. You must be over the age of 18 and buy from a licensed retailer or their website.

Fantasy Sports in California

While efforts have been made recently to make fantasy sports officially legal in the state, none have ended the issue. Yes, DFS is illegal in California. The legal grey area will not last long as the state should get something accomplished in the near future. Until then, DFS remains officially unofficial in California.

Horse Racing Betting in California

Horse racing betting in California has long been an institution in the state and remains so to this day. There are dozens of tracks located throughout the state. In fact, horse racing is so popular in the state, California is one of the few states to offer legal online horse racing through sites such as TVG and TwinSpires. These sites also simulcast races from other states and around the world. Santa Anita remains the state’s biggest track, but playing the ponies online is just as popular.   

California Gambling Legislation Updates

Want to know more about California online gambling laws, taxes and development? Follow updates at statelaws.findlaw.com/california-law.

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