Top Online Casinos for California Gamblers
Best Online Casinos Available in California by Category
Looking for an offshore online casino that works for you? Here are five of the top sites available to players in California today, and what makes them stand out:
DuckyLuck — Best Overall Casino for California Residents. From game variety to bonus options to customer support, DuckyLuck is our pick for players seeking a well-rounded experience.
Bovada — Best Live Casino Option for Californians. Join in on live tables for baccarat, roulette, and blackjack. Betting limits peak at $3,000, and there’s even a separate live poker lobby.
SlotsandCasino — Best Roulette Options Available in California. Play a variety of RNG roulette variations and live American and European roulette. These are games you won’t find at any casino in California.
Ignition Casino — High-Value Hourly, Daily, and Weekly Jackpots. Take advantage of chances to win jackpots with minimum hourly prizes of $1,000, and weekly jackpots of up to $300,000. Jackpot games include progressive slots and live dealer blackjack.
Slots.lv — Top Choice for Slots. Choose from over 230 slots from industry-recognized software developers, including 30 progressive jackpot titles. Claim a $7,500 welcome offer and start spinning.
DuckyLuck Casino
Best Overall Casino for California Residents: California’s residents won’t get much better than DuckyLuck — the online casino site that we find to provide the best overall gaming experience. It’s great for players looking for a range of game choices, a variety of bonuses, and responsive customer support options. DuckyLuck features games from top developers such as BetSoft, Qora, Rival, and Saucify. Games range from three-reel slots all the way through to video poker, table games, big jackpot games, and even live dealer tables from Fresh Deck Studios. Californians will especially appreciate playing traditional roulette here, since it’s not allowed at any of California’s tribal casinos. Roulette options include live roulette, along with three RNG roulette games. New players can claim a 500% welcome bonus of up to $2,500. The promo carries a fairly standard 30x rollover requirement, and minimum deposits start from just $25. You can also enroll in the DuckyBucks rewards program and earn cashback rebates, gifts, and other exclusive perks. This package is way more valuable than the comp points you can earn at California’s land-based casinos.
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Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker
+2 more, Baccarat, Blackjack
see less
Payment Options:
Discover, Mastercard, Visa
+5 more, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin
see less
Pros
- 500% welcome bonus up to $2,500, supplemented by 150 free spins on slots games
- Hosts games that you won’t find at land-based CA casinos (RNG and live roulette)
- Lucrative DuckyBucks rewards scheme available to all players on sign up
- Crypto Elite program available for crypto depositors (exclusive)
Cons
- No craps games
- Only two forms of customer service contact
Bovada Casino
Best Live Casino Option for Californians: Bovada has one of the largest live dealer suites of any casino available in California. At peak PDT/PST times, the site offers players access to: 34 x blackjack tables, 5 x roulette tables, 2 x baccarat tables and 2 x Super 6 tables. It’s an impressive table count that outnumbers some of California’s top tribal casinos. Betting limits range from $1–$3,000, meaning the Bovada live casino is accessible to every type of bettor. For example, the Early Payout Blackjack variation that allows players to forfeit a hand for a percentage of their wager back, and has three table limits: $5–$100, $25–$1,000, and $100–$2,500. Not to mention the payout percentage is 99.5%. Other live games are also split by three table limits, ranging from $1 minimum for roulette, to $5,000 maximum for blackjack. Video streams of games work just as well on a phone screen as desktop, and mobile users can adjust their screens in portrait or landscape mode. Whichever mode you prefer to play, the screen will scale and adjust automatically. You can reliably use mobile data or Wi-Fi without streams glitching. If you’re on a slower network, you can adjust the video settings from auto to low, or high if you’re using LTE. You can also turn the video off altogether, and follow the game on the rendered live feed instead. The interface is easy to use, and you can join live table games already in progress with the bet behind feature.
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Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker
+4 more, Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Sports Betting
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Payment Options:
American Express, Mastercard, Visa
+7 more, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, Money Order, Interac
see less
Pros
- Early Payout Blackjack ideal for low-risk wagers
- Broad bet ranges from $1–$5,000
- Choose from low, medium, or high-limit live dealer tables
- Unlimited seats or bet behind, so you never have to wait for your game
Cons
- Live dealer games do not earn Bovada rewards points
- Live dealer tables are English-speaking only
SlotsandCasino
Best Roulette Options Available in California: California’s laws prohibit games of chance that use dice or wheels, so Californian tribal casinos can’t offer traditional roulette. But if you’re in the Golden State and looking to play anyway, you should be considering SlotsandCasino. The site offers several RNG options of both American and European roulette from Rival Gaming, with betting limits ranging from $1–$500. The best roulette options in our view, though, are at SlotsandCasino’s live dealer tables. Operated by Fresh Deck Studios, the live casino hosts up to four live roulette games, 24/7. These include: Live American Automatic Roulette; bet limit from $0.5–$12,500, Live Automatic Roulette; bet limit from $0.5–$12,500, Live American Roulette; bet limit from $0.5–$12,500 and Live European Roulette; bet limit from $0.5–$12,500. The games have some cool features, such as “Hot and Cold Stats,” which show you what numbers have been coming up (hot), and those that haven’t (cold).
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Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker
+4 more, Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Speciality Games
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Payment Options:
Bitcoin, Check By Mail, Wire Transfer
+1 more, Interac
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Pros
- Capacity to host hundreds of live casino players at once with bet behind options and unlimited seating
- Highly-rated video roulette games available in the casino suite
- mySlotsandCasino Rewards program delivers perks like higher cashback rebates, larger bonuses, higher payout priority, and birthday gifts.
- One of the largest game libraries with over 570 games
Cons
- Roulette games only contribute 5% toward bonus playthrough requirements
- Bitcoin is the only crypto withdrawal option
Ignition Casino
High-Value Hourly, Daily, and Weekly Jackpots: Californians have a proven history with big wins on games of chance. In 2023, a Los Angeles man won $2 billion on the state lottery. If you’re looking for a big win yourself, we recommend Ignition Casino. This site gives away $2 million in prizes on a weekly basis, with hundreds of thousands of dollars available on Hot Drop Jackpot slots alone. These progressive jackpot games pay out hourly, daily, and, to keep things exciting, at random. The hourly prize wins average at $1,000, the daily prizes at $25,000, and the super prizes can reach up to $300,000. You’ll know when a jackpot is getting ready to drop on a game when the ticker starts to turn red. Jackpots are usually reserved for slots and some RNG games, but at Ignition, there’s also a progressive jackpot available for live dealer blackjack. You can receive the entire jackpot prize after getting three diamonds. You can get a mini-jackpot of $1,000 with any three red 7s, and a smaller jackpot of $100 for any three 7s. When you open a live dealer blackjack table (except the Early Payout game), you’ll find a “J” in the middle where you can lay down this side bet.
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Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker
+4 more, Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Sports Betting
see less
Payment Options:
American Express, Mastercard, Visa
+5 more, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether
see less
Pros
- 11 Hot Drop Jackpot including: A Night With Cleo, Reels of Fortune, and Golden Buffalo
- Other jackpots available in slots, RNG poker, and live dealer blackjack
- $2 million in prizes available each week
- Earn a place on the casino leaderboard with big wins
Cons
- Most withdrawal methods capped at $2,500 per week
- Wild 7s bonus not available on Early Payout Blackjack games
Slots.lv
Top Choice for Slots: It’s in the name; Slots.lv is our top choice for slot games in California. Players can spin on over 230 slot machines, including Hot Drop Jackpots, and chase mega payouts. The number of games isn’t as impressive as other sites, but the game quality still makes this our go-to for slots. You can select slots from the Most Popular and Newest Slots categories, and the games are provided by household names like RealTime Gaming, BetSoft, and Rival. Popular games on the site include: Mythic Wolf – 94.9% RTP, Ten Times Wins – 95% RTP, Fury of Zeus – 95.5% RTP, Tiger Temple – 94.1% RTP and Larry’s Lucky Tavern – 96% RTP. The casino is scalable to mobile devices thanks to the site’s utilization of HTML5. Games operate glitch-free whether you’re connected to Wi-Fi or a data network. The site also has plenty of bonuses, including a $7,500 welcome offer. Claim that, and you get a 300% match bonus on your first $1,500 deposit, and then up to eight 150% matches on $750 deposits.
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Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker
+3 more, Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps
see less
Payment Options:
American Express, Mastercard, Visa
+7 more, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Zelle, Bank Transfer, Check By Mail
see less
Pros
- 231 smooth-running slot machines with most RTP% at 95% or higher
- 30 progressive-jackpot games in total
- 300% welcome bonus up to $1,500 on first deposit
- Demo mode available on all slots
Cons
- Limited live dealer choice
- No free spin bonuses for new players
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Comparing the Best Online Gambling Sites in California
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Rating
|
4.6 (Review) |
4.7 (Review) |
4.8 (Review) |
4.0 (Review) |
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Established
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2020 |
2011 |
2023 |
2016 |
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Restricted States
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KY, NJ, WA |
DE, MA, NV, NJ, NY |
CT, DE, MI, NJ, PA, WV |
None |
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Specialty
|
Site Graphics |
Offers casino, sports and poker |
Live Dealer |
Gameplay Vairety |
|
Bonus
|
$7,500 |
$3,750 |
$2,500 |
$3,000 |
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Payout Speed
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1-2 Days Max |
1-2 Days Max |
1-2 Days Max |
1-2 Days Max |
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Website
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Visit DuckyLuck Casino
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Visit Bovada Casino
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Visit SlotsandCasino
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Visit Ignition Casino
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Here at Best US Casinos, we thoroughly review each casino we recommend, and give players detailed, trusted overviews of the good and the bad about each option. Below are the six factors we look at when making our assessments.
Safety & Security
We check for licenses and will always point out when a gambling commission regulates an operator. We also look for security measures like TLS encryption, Cloudflare cybersecurity, or Google’s reCAPTCHA system. These are the safety features in place to safeguard the personal and financial information of Californian players.
Game Variety & Quality
We assess every casino’s game collection to ensure a diverse range of high-quality options that resonate with the preferences of players in CA. Our quality assessment includes checking gameplay, graphics, sound, and true game randomness.
Bonuses & Promotions
We evaluate the generosity and fairness of each casino’s bonuses and promotions. Our team also considers the terms and conditions of welcome bonuses, reload bonuses, free spins, cashback offers, and loyalty programs. We review these terms and conditions to ensure transparency and favorable conditions for Californian players.
Payment Options
California is the crypto capital of America, with 43% of web page traffic regarding Bitcoin and Ethereum originating from the state. We therefore check for the availability of secure and convenient payment methods that are commonly used and widely accessible in the state, including Bitcoin, major credit/debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and checks.
Customer Support
We assess the responsiveness, professionalism, and availability of every casino’s customer support team to address the needs and concerns of Californian players. To get top marks for a Californian audience, the customer support must include: 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support (available during standard PST/PDT operating hours).
UI & Mobile Experience
Our team looks for a user-friendly interface, intuitive navigation, and smooth functionality at the casinos we review. We also ensure that any site we recommend is optimized for both desktop and mobile devices — especially considering there’s a significant portion of Californians who only have mobile devices.
Is Gambling Legal in California?
No forms of online gambling are regulated or licensed by the State of California, including online casinos. This is why all the recommendations you’ll get from us at Best US Casinos are offshore sites.
Despite this, there are several forms of land-based gambling that are legal in California:
Tribal casinos (Class I, II, and III)
Retail horse racebooks
Cardrooms (non-banked card games where the house has no stake)
Private poker games with no rake (no commission for the house allowed)
The state-level regulation of each falls under California’s Bureau of Gambling Control.
Particularly relevant to California’s tribal casinos, are the three categories of gambling laid out in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). This governs gaming federally for recognized Native American tribes that operate casinos. Most tribal casinos in California are licensed as Class III establishments. This license allows for casino-style games like slots, blackjack, and other table games like baccarat, so long as the house acts as the banker and has an active stake in the game. Significantly, roulette and certain versions of craps are prohibited, as all tribal-state compacts prohibit using dice or wheels to decide the outcome of wagers.
Other activities, such as poker, can be played at licensed cardrooms. Cardrooms are technically prohibited from offering house-banked games like blackjack or baccarat, but most get around this by hosting game variants where players take turns as the bank or dealer. This has caused significant tension between tribal casinos and cardrooms over market-share, and what really counts as “house-banked” or not.
California State Gambling Laws and Regulations
Since gambling in California is so tightly regulated, there’s a lot of legislation in place impacting what you can and can’t do. Here are the major pieces of legislation to be aware of:
California Constitution, Article IV, Section 19 — The section of the California state constitution that maintains what forms of gambling are permitted. Amendments are relatively common: Prop 1A in 2000, for example, passed to officially allow for tribal gaming.
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 1988 — The federal law permitting federally recognized tribes to host gambling activity on their lands, subject to Tribal-State compacts.
California Gambling Control Act — Overseen by the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) and implemented as part of the California Business and Professions Code, Division 8, this act serves as the primary regulatory framework for gambling activities in California. The Act covers:
- Licensed cardrooms that offer non-banked poker and card games
- Prohibition of commercially operated lotteries
- Gambling machines and slot machines
- Horse racing
- Parimutuel wagering
Penal Code Section 330 — The section of the California Penal Code defining and setting out penalties for the provision of illegal gambling activities. These activities include operating unauthorized gambling establishments, or engaging in bookmaking.
California State Lottery Act of 1984 — Permits the California State Lottery and the sale of lottery tickets to supplement funding for public education in California.
Are Online Casinos Available in California?
Online casinos are available in California; however, residents can only access offshore casino brands. California has yet to pass legislation or amend the state constitution to allow for online gambling in any form to be based in the state. All the sites for Californians you’ll find on Best US Casinos are offshore sites.
Our recommended online casino for Californians
Is Online Poker Available in California?
Falling under the umbrella of online gambling, online poker is also only available in California via offshore sites. That said, the online poker sites we recommend at Best US Casinos still offer great experiences to California players — including live tournaments, video poker, Sit & Go, and more. You’ll find Texas Hold’em and Omaha games as well — the two most popular variants of poker at California cardrooms.
Our recommended online poker for Californians
Are Online Sportsbooks Available in California?
In November 2022, Californians soundly rejected Propositions 26 and 27, which would have brought both retail and online sportsbooks to the state. Because of this, bettors are limited to offshore operators, like the best sports betting sites we recommend. Since retail sportsbooks are also totally unavailable in California, our offshore recommendations are the only options for sports bettors looking to wager on any of California’s home teams (or rivals).
Our recommended online sportsbooks for Californians
Are Online Racebooks Available in California?
Despite horse racebooks being one of the few legal forms of retail gambling in California, online racebooks remain an option only available through offshore sites. They were also covered under the rejected Prop 26 and 27 in the 2022 election. Conveniently, most online sportsbooks perform double duty by hosting racebooks as well — including those we recommend for Californian bettors.
Our recommended online racebook for Californians
Land-Based Gambling in California
Land-based gambling is permitted in California at tribal casinos, cardrooms, social poker games with no rake, along with horse racetracks.
Tribal Casinos
There are 67 tribal casinos in California and all are subject to compacts between the operating tribe and the state. Most compacts provide the establishments with Class III licenses. Class III licenses allow for slot machines, certain types of poker, and banked table games. This means major poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker Circuit often stop at bigger tribal casinos, like the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln. Class I and Class II gaming licenses allow for bingo or keno in some instances, but all the major casinos hold Class III licensees. Here are a few in various regions across the state:
| Tribal Casino | Region | Address | What you’ll find there: |
Yaamava’ Resort Casino
| San Bernardino
| 777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA 92346
|
- 6,400 slot machines
- 429-room hotel
- 3,000-seat event center
|
Pechanga Resort Casino
| Temecula
| 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula, CA 92592
|
- 5,000 slot machines
- 158 table games
- 13 pools and spas
- Golf course
|
Thunder Valley Casino Resort
| Sacramento
| 1200 Athens Avenue, Lincoln, CA 95648
|
- 3,400 slot machines
- 400-room AAA Four Diamond Hotel
|
Graton Casino & Resort
| San Francisco
| 288 Golf Course Drive West, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
|
- 3,000 slot machines
- Nine-venue food marketplace
- 200-room hotel
|
Chumash Casino Resort
| Santa Barbara
| 3400 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez, California 93460
|
- 2,300 slot machines
- 1,400-seat entertainment center
- 14 poker tables
|
Cardrooms
Cardrooms are widespread across California (there’s 72 of them) and, like tribal casinos, must be licensed by the state. While cardrooms can provide similar games to those offered at tribal casinos (mainly poker), the variants that can be played differ. This is because, in cardrooms, the house can’t have any stake in the games played. For instance, in traditional blackjack you play against the dealer. This makes it a house-banked game that wouldn’t be allowed in its traditional format at a cardroom.
Cardrooms skirt this limitation by charging flat rakes across all games, and — more entertainingly for players — by coming up with variations of traditional house-banked games. At cardrooms across the state, players can find variants of games like blackjack, baccarat, three card poker, and Pai Gow poker. The main difference is usually that players take turns in the traditional dealer position.
Here are some of the biggest cardrooms in California where you can give these variants a go:
| Cardrooms | Region | Address | What you’ll find there: |
Commerce Casino
| LA County
| 6131 East Telegraph Road, Commerce, CA 90040
|
- 270 tables
- 6 restaurants
- Table-side dining available
|
Hawaiian Gardens Casino
| LA County
| 11871 Carson Street, Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716
|
- 225 tables
- Capacity for 7,000 players
|
Bicycle Casino
| LA County
| 7301 Eastern Avenue, Bell Gardens, California 90201-4591
|
- 185 tables
- 70-room hotel
- Daily poker tournaments
- Bike Brewery hotel & bar
|
Hustler Casino
| LA County
| 1000 West Redondo Beach Blvd., Gardena, CA 90247
|
- 91 tables
- Open 24/7
- 55,000 square feet gambling hall
|
Hollywood Park Casino
| LA County
| 3883 West Century Boulevard, Inglewood, CA 90301
|
- 120 tables at a renovated former racetrack
|
Racetracks
California has a rich horse racing tradition and passed its own parimutuel wagering laws in 1933. Today, operations are regulated through the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).
Some of the world’s biggest races are run in the state, including the Pacific Classic and the Santa Anita Handicap. Californians can also participate in off-track betting (OTB) at licensed satellite wagering facilities. OTB venues live stream tons of events, ranging from major derbies to regional county fairs.
Individuals must be at least 18 years old to participate in horse racing betting in California. These are the state’s operational racetracks:
| Horse Racing Track | County | Address | What you’ll find there | Popular Betting Events |
Del Mar Racetrack
| San Diego County
| 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar CA 92014
|
- 2,000-seat pavilion
- 75-acre Infield
- 4x luxury Skyrooms
|
- Del Mar Derby
- Del Mar Handicap
- Pacific Classic
- Eddie Read Stakes
- Del Mark Oaks
|
Golden Gate Fields
| Berkeley
| 1100 Eastshore Hwy, Berkeley, CA 94710
|
- 300,000 function space
- 1,100 VIP restaurant space
- Cheap $20 tickets
- One-mile track
|
- California Derby
- El Camino Real Derby
- All American Stakes
|
Los Alamitos Race Course
| Orange County
| 4961 Katella Ave, Cypress, CA 90720, United States
|
- Quarter horse racing
- 1,400-horse stable capacity
- 1,380-foot homestretch
|
- Starlet Stakes
- Los Alamitos Super Derby
|
Santa Anita Park
| Los Angeles County
| 285 W Huntington Dr, Arcadia, CA 91007, United States
|
- 85,000 spectator capacity
- $20 Premium Box Seats
- Trackside dining
|
- Santa Anita Derby
- Santa Anita Handicap
- Breeders’ Cup (11 times between 1986 and 2023)
|
Casino Cruises
Cruise ship casinos can sail from ports in California, operating under regulations that require them to be 12 miles offshore before passengers start gaming. Below are three top-rated cruise ship casinos in the state:
| Cruise | Departs From | Facilities |
Crystal Symphony
| Los Angeles
|
- 3,700 square foot gaming space
- 97 gaming machines
- 9 table games
|
Carnival Miracle
| San Francisco
|
- 30-person cardroom
- 108-capacity Mr. Lucky’s casino
- Slot machines
- Poker, blackjack, and roulette tables
|
Crystal Serenity
| Los Angeles
|
- 4,500 square foot gaming space
- 97 gaming machines
- 9 table games
|
Other Ways to Gamble in California
Other ways Californians are able to gamble are the state lottery, bingo halls, daily fantasy sports sites, social casinos, and charitable gambling functions. Here’s a bit more about each:
State Lottery
The lottery in California is non-commercial and regulated by the state government. It offers various lottery games, including draws like Powerball and Mega Millions, scratch-off tickets, and other unique games like Fantasy 5. Players purchase tickets with the chance to win cash prizes, with the record-holding state jackpot currently being $2.04 billion. The California State Lottery operates under the California Lottery Act and revenues from it supplement public school funding.
Bingo Halls
In California, bingo halls are often run by charitable or nonprofit organizations as a means of fundraising. Foxwoods Casino, Stagecoach Bingo & Community Center, and the Hawaiian Gardens Bingo Club are three popular halls across CA.
Social & Sweepstakes Casinos
Social casinos and sweepstakes casinos are online platforms that provide casino-style games for entertainment purposes and are popular in CA. They operate a freemium model, where players are given a limited number of free chips a day. You can then buy more chips or other in-app products. You can also exchange your chips for real money and cash out. Social and sweepstakes casinos have a wide variety of slot games, table games, and other casino games. These sites can be a great opportunity to try gambling for free before committing any money to a site.
Alternatively, if you're looking for free play, several of the sites we recommend at Best US Casinos also offer their RNG games for free. This is often called “demo mode,” “free play,” or “practice mode.” You can try out free games at Ignition Casino and Las Atlantis — no sign up required.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
DFS operators like DraftKings and FanDuel provide Californians access to contests in various sports, such as football, basketball, and baseball. That means you can picks players from Californian teams like the Golden State Warriors, LA Sparks and Los Angeles Lakers, the San Diego Padres, Anaheim Ducks, and San Francisco 49ers. You simply pay an entry fee to join contests, and prizes are awarded based on the performance of the chosen athletes. In California, DFS is available but not regulated under any specific guidelines.
Most Popular Online Casino Games in California
Even with broad regulatory restrictions, there are plenty of opportunities for gaming and gambling in California. The state has the most gaming machines of any state in America, with 83,356 in-play across its tribal casinos. Our research and information from partners show that poker, blackjack, and roulette are major draws for California’s online gamblers.
Poker
Games of poker date about as far back in California as gambling does, with records of players enjoying games as a pastime during the nineteenth century Gold Rush scattered throughout various archival materials. Hundreds of years later, poker and its variants are one of the most accessible games for gamblers in California — it’s available at 120+ locations, including tribal casinos, cardrooms and many of our recommended online casinos.
Slots
Of all the gaming machines in California, it’s estimated that more than 70,000 are slot machines. Need we say more? The popularity of this classic game is a given, with new games and new themes being rolled out for players regularly. This is something that’s easier in the online space too, as developers face little overhead in rolling out their latest and greatest.
Blackjack
The fact that cardrooms and tribal casinos are willing to go to court over who gets to offer table games like blackjack is enough for us to recommend it as one of California’s most popular games. This casino classic is always a huge draw.
Roulette
California’s interest in roulette peaked in March 2010, particularly in Los Angeles, as online roulette at out-of-state casino sites became more popular. This luck-based game remains a big draw at offshore sites and is not available at tribal casinos.
Bingo
With more than 40 (variously reviewed) bingo halls listed on Yelp in the Los Angeles area alone, there’s no doubt bingo holds a place in Californians’ hearts. Tribal casinos with Class II licenses can operate bingo halls in the state, but the game is popularized more through charity games. Organizations can host charity bingo games, so long as they receive the proper permits from their municipality.
Craps
Craps in its traditional format is a game that you can’t find in California, as it’s prohibited. Even so, since it’s one of the most social casino games, it’s no wonder trend data shows that Californians still want to play. We’re pleased to be able to recommend online operators like Bovada as an alternative. There’s only RNG versions of craps available online, though.
History of Gambling in California
The history if gambling laws in California is a tangled one. Legislation has been enacted, repealed and amended over the years. Here’s a brief overview to catch you up:
June 2023
After the failure of Prop 26 and 27, any further attempts to legalize online gambling will see delays until at least 2025. Any changes to regulations or laws this year will likely only impact cardrooms, with AB341 currently tabled to propose increasing the number of tables across the state over the next 20 years.
March 2023
The California senate officially recognizes March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Organizations like the Bureau of Gambling Control, the California Gaming Association, and the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals “are commended for their concerted effort to raise public awareness of problem gambling.”
November 2022
Californians vote overwhelmingly against Props 26 and 27, despite millions of dollars being spent on commercials and marketing by casino companies and lobbyist groups.
June 2022
Legislators agree to put Prop 26 and Prop 27 on a ballot for voters. If passed, the constitution will be amended to allow for regulated online sportsbooks and retail sportsbooks. Prop 26 details how racetracks and tribal casinos could offer sports betting in-person. Prop 27 would open the state up to fully legalized online sports betting.
May 2018
The US federal government strikes down PASPA, also known as the Bradley Act, that restricts sports betting across the US. States now have the right to legalize and regulate sports betting. Lobbyists for gambling companies target California state legislators, but are rebutted.
March 2000
Prop 1A passes, and outlines amendments to the state constitution that permit tribal casinos to provide Nevada-style gaming. Slot machines and certain card games become legal in California.
January 1998
The Gambling Control Act comes into effect, officially regulating cardrooms in the state, allowing cities and counties across California to implement their own additional restrictions.
October 1988
The federal government passes the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Native American tribes now have the right to operate gaming facilities on their lands, subject to state compacts. California swiftly begins negotiations and signs compacts with various tribes.
August 1984
Voters in California pass Prop 37. It establishes the California State Lottery, with a mission statement to generate revenue for public education without raising taxes.
November 1934
Racetrack Bay Meadows opens its doors to the public after being constructed in just 209 days. Santa Anita Racetrack opens in December.
June 1933
California’s state legislature enacts the legalization of parimutuel betting after voters approve Prop 5. It gives residents the chance to bet on horses, and is aimed at stimulating economic growth in the shadow of the Great Depression. Racetracks and off-track betting facilities open across California.
c. 1890–1920
The absence of gambling regulations contributes to an increase in criminal activity throughout California. Authorities ramp up efforts to dismantle illicit gambling establishments and casinos. Stringent anti-gambling legislation is implemented to curb illegal practice. Despite these measures, underground gambling persists with underground operations.
c. 1854
The Woodford Hotel and Saloon in Pacheco opens and hosts various games of chance and card games. In 2023, it operates as the California Grand Casino, and remains as the oldest continuously operating poker room in the United States.
c. 1850s
The Gold Rush brings miners and prospectors to the west coast of the Union and newly formed California. With them come games like poker and faro (a French game), which become popular at the state’s first cardrooms.
The Future of California Online Gambling
As recently as November 2022, California voters rejected legislation that would have created an industry for regulated online gambling in the state. Industry experts now project any future legislation will be delayed until at least 2025 while stakeholders and lobbyists regroup for another push.
Boding ill for the status of online casinos in particular, much of the continued focus among gambling companies like FanDuel, Flutter Entertainment, and BetMGM has been on another push for sports betting. This means that, moving forward, there will be very little pressure on the state legislature to bring forward online casino legislation.
How to Gamble at an Online Casino in California
Here are nine easy steps you can take today to join an online casino in California:
1
Research and Choose an Online Casino
Start by researching and comparing a trustworthy online casino that accepts California players, such as the ones we recommend. Consider factors like game selection, bonuses, reputation, and payment options, and look for licensed and regulated platforms with positive reviews.
2
Register for an Account
Visit the selected online casino’s website and click on the “Register” or “Sign Up” button. Provide your personal information, including name, address, date of birth, and email address. Create a username that is unique and a strong password for your account. A link will then be sent to your email that you’ll need to verify before you can proceed to the next step.
3
Explore available bonuses
Before making your first deposit, we suggest checking if the online casino offers any welcome bonuses or promotions to increase your bankroll and improve your playing experience. Make sure you read the bonus terms and conditions carefully.
4
Choose a payment method
Select the best payment method for you to make your deposit. Most online casinos offer various options, including debit/credit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers and cryptocurrency. Be sure to choose the method that works best for you.
5
Make a Deposit
Ensure you are logged in to your casino account. Navigate to the “Cashier” or “Deposit” section. Choose your preferred deposit method, then put in the amount you can deposit, then follow the instructions to complete the transaction. Be aware of any minimum or maximum amounts for the deposit imposed by the casino. Your funds should be credited to your account instantly or within a short period.
6
If applicable, claim the bonus
If you are eligible for a bonus, you must claim it during the deposit process. Some casinos might then request that you enter a bonus code, while others activate it automatically. Ensure you read the terms and conditions carefully to understand any wagering requirements.
7
Confirm the deposit
Upon completing your deposit, the online casino will typically provide a confirmation message or display your updated account balance. Make sure to jot down any transaction reference numbers for future reference.
8
Browse and Choose Games
Remember that online casinos available to California players like the ones we suggest have a wide range of games. These games include slots, table games, live dealer games, and more. It’s crucial to choose a game that interests you and suits your playing style and budget. Before placing bets, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the pay table and game rules to ensure you understand the game strategy and increase your chances of winning!
9
Start Playing and Have Fun!
With funds in your online account, you can now place your bets and start playing. Remember to manage your bankroll responsibly and responsibly gamble within your limits. Enjoy your online casino experience in California!
Gambling Safely & Responsibly in California
There are an estimated 6–8 million problem gamblers in the United States, and California is not immune. Problem gambling can lead to financial strain, emotional distress, and relationship difficulties, so seeking help is crucial. There are resources available to help you address the underlying causes of addiction, develop coping strategies, and regain control over your life:
California’s Office for Problem Gambling
UCLA Gambling Studies Program
California Lottery Problem Gambling
Other national initiatives include:
Online Casinos
Online Sportsbooks
Card Rooms
Tribal Casinos
Racebooks
Commercial Casinos
Commercial Sportsbooks
