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Jan 04, 2021 Ignition is the best online casino in California. It has a $2,000 welcome bonus for credit card deposits, or a $3,000 welcome bonus for Bitcoin deposits, along with over 230 online slots, table games, and video poker games. Ignition also has an online poker rooms, so players can use their account for casino and poker gaming. Are you looking for the best online casinos accepting players from California? Then you should check this page on a regular basis as we have listed below some of the best online casinos accepting players from California!We are guided by top criteria when we advice an online casino and analyze it from every possible angle. TOP-5 online casinos in California. Online gambling in California is made easy with our list of the top 10 online casinos. Enjoy games from the most popular software providers, excellent banking options, helpful customer service representatives, and wonderful bonuses. California online casinos allow you to make bets from anywhere with an internet connection. Many of these online casinos even let you play on-the-go using a smartphone! There's nothing better than playing your favorite games, anytime you want. California casino sites are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

With a population of nearly 40 million, the largest in the United States,
it's no surprise that California has a massive gambling fanbase. Land-based
gaming laws here are a little stricter than states such as Nevada, yet
California's online gambling market continues to grow. Today, our team of
experts is looking at some of the very best California casino sites currently
operating.

It shouldn't come as a major surprise to find that some of the best online
casinos in the world are available here. To make things a little easier for new
players, we're listing five of our favorite casino sites in California directly
below!

We're going to be breaking down some of the most important features that
California online casinos should always provide. Finally, we'll be going over the
current laws and restrictions over internet casino gambling in this state.
There's a lot of information to unpack!

California Casino Sites: What Should I Be Looking For?

With so many amazing options to choose from, it can be a little difficult
finding where to play casino games in California. Allow us to help you out! Our
Sports betting teasers explained 3. analysts have looked through hundreds of different sites over the years.

We have come up with a unique system to determine whether a CA casino site is
worth playing at or not. There are a few simple things that every online casino
should provide. Below are the four most important features that all casino sites
in California should offer.

Safe and Simple Payment System

There's nothing more important than safety when betting online. The first and
most important feature you should always look into is the website's cashier
system. If the online casino you're looking at doesn't provide you with a
range of quick and secure payment options, we don't recommend signing up.

Finding information on different websites' payment options should be easy.
One quick way is to head over to our list of
online casino reviews. In
each of these reviews, we dive deep into the different payment options of every
website.

Another easy option is to simply check out these websites for yourself! At
the top of this page are the top-five California casino sites that we recommend.
You can head over to these sites today and look at their cashier systems
straight from the source. All reputable California online casinos will clearly list the
accepted payment methods.

We recommend playing at sites that allow deposits to be made using both debit
and credit cards. Withdrawal options differ from site to site. The majority of
California casinos online only allow payouts to be made using Bitcoin.
Fortunately, this is one of the best withdrawal methods available today.

Don't be worried if you aren't familiar with how Bitcoin works. Many CA
casino sites will easily walk you through each payout. Some sites such as
Bovada even provide
entire pages that explain how you can use Bitcoin to collect your winnings.
Spend some time looking at a few different sites' payment options and choose one
that's safe and easy.

Great Functionality and Design

The design and functionality of the CA casino website you choose to play at
will affect your entire gambling experience. A site could provide hundreds of
games with an amazing cashier system, yet if it crashes or makes if difficult to
actually place bets, it's probably not worth playing at. For this reason, it's
important to always look for great overall functionality and design.

This is another easy thing to look into. All legit US casino sites in
California will allow you to scroll through them before you've decided to sign
up. You can check out the various aspects of these sites to decide if it offers
a design you enjoy. Some sites even allow you to place some sample bets!

Everyone has a different design preference. Perhaps you'll want to play at a
website that features hundreds of games and different bonus offers directly on
the homepage. It's also possible that you prefer simple websites that make it
extremely easy to find the games you want to play.

The most important thing when you playat California online casinos is to find a design that fits your needs. There are
many different online casinos in CA right now, and you're sure to find one that
offers the functionality you're looking for. Check out the sites that we're
recommending at the top of this page!

Casino Games That You Want to Play

This may seem completely obvious. Unfortunately, many players new to online
casino gaming sign up to a website, only to find that it doesn't actually offer
the games they want to play! Don't let this happen to you!

Always check through a few different California casino sites and look at
which games are provided. Do you love slots? Find a website offering hundreds of
slot games from the top software providers. Are you a blackjack fan? Make sure
to sign up to a website providing a wide range of different table gaming
options.

It's also a good idea to see if any unique gaming features are provided. Some
sites, including the ones we recommend, offer fun features such as live dealer
games. These games make it feel as if you're actually playing games inside a
land-based casino.

It's incredible how many casino games are available online. Different sites
often provide their members with different gaming options. Spend some time
finding a website that offers the games you want to play.

Helpful Customer Support System

The last feature you will want to find in California online casinos is a
helpful customer support system. If you have any questions during your gambling
experience, it's important to know that the site you play through will help you
out. More often than not, the better a website's customer service, the better
the entire site actually is.

Good websites will usually provide a live chat feature. This form of customer
support allows you to speak with a website representative instantly over chat.
It's a very useful tool to have your questions answered.

Other California online casinos will let you speak with employees over the phone.
This is another great customer service feature you should look for. Don't settle
with a site that only allows email support. This can often take weeks to answer
any questions you need answers for.

There's a very good chance you will never even have to utilize these site's
customer support systems. If, however, you have any issues that come up with
making bets or collecting payments, it's important to know you have a site that
will help you. Never disregard the importance of customer service!

California Online Casinos Are Growing in Popularity

Many people in California are realizing how great online casino gambling can
really be. There was a time when only a few casino sites operated in this state.
Today, players here have access to some of the best gaming companies in the
world.

Best Online Casino For California

We've asked many Californians why they choose to gamble online, rather than
inside of a local casino. There are two factors that continue to pop up. Below
are the two most common reasons that are contributing to the rise in California
casino sites right now.

Convenience of Making Bets From Home

California is a big state. There are over 160 land-based tribal casinos
operating here, many of which provide players with a wide range of different
gambling options. Even with the many brick-and-mortar gaming options, many
people here prefer the ability to simply make bets from home.

California online casinos allow you to make bets from anywhere with an
internet connection. Many of these online casinos even let you play on-the-go
using a smartphone! There's nothing better than playing your favorite games,
anytime you want.

California casino sites are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You
will never have to worry about whether or not the games you want to play are
available. If you enjoy placing bets on your own time without the need to drive
miles to a casino, online gaming is probably for you.

Wide Range of Different Gaming Options

Another reason why so many people love casino websites is the massive amount
of different games offered every single day. The top CA casino sites provide
literally thousands of different gaming options to members. You can find just
about every slot and table game through these websites.

Generally speaking, California casinos online will always offer more games than even the
biggest land-based casinos. As we just mentioned, these games are available
24/7. You'll never have to worry about making the trip to a casino, only to find
that the game you wanted to play is not available.

Some casino sites in California will focus more on certain games than others.
One website may provide hundreds of different slots, while others focus
primarily on their table gaming options. Check out a few different websites to
see just how many different games are available online right now.

Is Online Casino Gambling in California Actually Allowed?

California is well-known for its liberal laws. Strangely, officials here have
been somewhat reluctant to begin opening up the online gambling industry. At the
moment, only tribal casinos are legal throughout the state.

Lawmakers in California passed Proposition 1A in the year 2000. This allowed
tribal casinos to offer traditional casino games such as slots and blackjack. In
2014, bills AB 2991 and SB 1366 were presented. If passed, these will allow for
the regulation of online poker throughout the state.

There have been no steps taken to begin regulating the online casino industry
in California. Fortunately, there are no laws that specifically prohibit
individuals from playing through California casino sites. The legality may lie
in somewhat of a gray area, yet most agree this market is completely open.

It's extremely unlikely. As we just mentioned, there is nothing in
the state's criminal code that specifically bans playing California online casinos.
We have not come across a single case of any individuals facing legal trouble
for playing casino games online here.

How Do I Stay Safe Playing Online Casino Games in CA?

Online casino gambling in the US is generally very safe. Word spreads quickly
in the internet gaming industry, and any websites caught withholding payment
from members or charging unusual fees will be called out. For that reason,
casino sites in California work hard to always provide their members with
safety.

Oftentimes, the best way to stay safe online is by monitoring your own
gambling activities. Our experts are listing five of the best tips that will
help to keep you perfectly safe while playing internet casino games in
California.

Play Through Reputable Websites

The easiest way to protect yourself is to only play through
legit US casino websites
that have solid reputations. And all the safe California casino sites will take
steps to protect your gambling experience. Head back up to the top of this page
to see the California online casinos that we highly recommend.

Track How Much You Are Gambling

One of the best things about casino sites in California is that they are just
so fun! Unfortunately, this can lead to some gamblers betting more than they
should. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, always keep track of how much
money you are actually wagering.

Only Bet on Games That You Understand

Many players who are new to online casino gaming will jump right into games
before they even know the rules. We don't recommend this. It's always a good
idea to only play games that you understand. It will significantly lower your
chances of losing.

Read the Details of Every Promotion Before You Use Them

Promotions, in case you are unaware, are simply bonus offers that different
casino sites in California will offer to their members. These can be a fantastic
way to boost the amount of money into your betting account. Occasionally, they
can also make it difficult to actually withdraw your winnings. Make sure that
you read the terms and conditions of every promotion before you decide to
utilize them.

Always Be Willing to Reach out to Customer Service

A good customer support system is hugely important when you play online casinos games in California. We
highly recommend reaching out to customer service representatives if you ever
need to. It's the easiest way to always have your questions answered.

California Online Casinos FAQ

What Are the Most Important Features of California Casino Sites?

Casino sites are better now than ever before. When it comes to where to play casino games in California, we highly recommend making sure
that any website you plan to join provides safe payment options, a great design,
the games that you want to play, and a helpful customer support system.

Are Casino Sites in California More Popular Than Land-Based Casinos?

The popularity of California online casinos is growing rapidly. California
has a particularly large online casino fanbase. Most people state that the
convenience of betting from home and the wide range of different betting odds
are what push them to gamble online.

Do Casino Sites in CA Offer Online Poker Games?

For the most part, yes. Many online casino companies recognize that poker is
extremely popular throughout the state. These California casino sites will often
provide different poker gaming options to their members.

Certain lawmakers in California are pushing to regulate the online poker
industry. Until this happens, poker fans will need to play through the various
casino sites currently available. Many of these websites put on major poker
tournaments offering huge payouts.

How Can I Stay Safe Playing Online Casino Games Here?

Casino sites in CA are safer now than ever before. The best ways to protect
yourself while casino gaming is to only play through reputable sites, track how
much you're betting, bet on games that you understand, read the details of every
promotion offer, and always reach out to customer support if you need it.

Conclusion

California has one of the biggest gambling markets in the world. Strangely,
lawmakers here have not taken any steps to begin regulating this industry. Laws
surrounding online gambling are always changing.

To stay up-to-date on internet gambling laws in California, make sure to
follow our industry news page. Don't forget to check out the top California casino sites that we've recommending at the top of this page. Good
luck making your bets.

California is the most populous state in America, with almost 40 million people living there.

California is sometimes portrayed as having a vacation lifestyle and being carefree. Because of this, it's hard to believe that any casinos other than tribal ones are prohibited. They also have strict laws regarding race betting, slot machines and other forms of gambling.

One type of gambling that's completely legal in California, though, is online gambling.

You can learn everything you need to know about California gambling sites on this page.

Online Gambling and California Law

Is Online Gambling Legal in California?

Yes, online gambling is legal in California.

In fact, California laws don't prohibit, regulate, or ban any type of online gambling. You can feel free to play on any online casino and enjoy your favorite casino or card games that you can't find in the state.

The only law regarding online gambling in California is the age limit. You must be 21 years or older to legally gamble online.

Can I Get Arrested for Gambling Online in California?

No, but starting an online casino or gambling business in California is illegal – you can definitely get arrested for that.

You can also be arrested if you don't pay taxes on revenue earned from any online gambling you do.

If you're just a player and not an owner, and if you pay your taxes, you're in the clear.

Also On This Page

More Gambling Laws in California

• Casino Games (Legal)
• Slot Machines (Illegal)
• Sports Betting (Legal)
• Racing Betting (Parimutuel Only)
• Lottry (Legal)
• Bingo (Legal With Restrictions)
• Draw Poker (Legal With Restrictions)
• Social Gambling (Illegal)

Section 19801 of The Gambling Control Act says:

'(a)State law prohibits commercially operated lotteries, banked or percentage games, and gambling machines, and strictly regulates parimutuel wagering on horse racing. To the extent that state law categorically prohibits certain forms of gambling and prohibits gambling devices, nothing herein shall be construed, in any manner, to reflect a legislative intent to relax those prohibitions.

(b)The State of California has permitted the operation of gambling establishments for more than 100 years. Gambling establishments were first regulated by the State of California pursuant to legislation which was enacted in 1984. Gambling establishments currently employ more than 20,000 people in the State of California, and contribute more than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in taxes and fees to California's government. Gambling establishments are lawful enterprises in the State of California, and are entitled to full protection of the laws of this state.'

Casino games: Legal

California only allows tribal casinos. The tribal casinos usually offer poker, blackjack, bingo, keno, video poker and slot machines.

Card rooms are allowed in California. These are different from casinos because players bet against each other and not the house. These establishments make their money by charging players a fee to play. This often takes the form of a 5% contribution from each pot, which is called the rake.

Card rooms are state regulated, and offer games like poker and pai gow.

Here's what the State of California Department of Justice says about card rooms:

'All controlled games (pai-gow, poker, etc.) and gaming activities (jackpots, bonuses, tournaments, etc.) must be approved by the Bureau and must comply with local gaming ordinances prior to their play at a licensed gambling establishment within California.'

Slot Machines: Illegal

Slot machines are illegal to own unless they're antiques. Antique slot machines must be over 25 years old, and must not be used for real money gambling.

Here's what section 330.7 of the California Law, Regulations, Resource Information says about antique slot machines:

'(a) It shall be a defense to any prosecution under this chapter relating to slot machines, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 330b, if the defendant shows that the slot machine is an antique slot machine and was not operated for gambling purposes while in the defendant's possession. For the purposes of this section, the term 'antique slot machine' means a slot machine that is over 25 years of age.'

Sports betting: Legal

Betting on sports in California is legal, but accepting bets on sports or bookmaking is illegal.

Here's what section 337a of the Penal Code says about bookmaking:

'Except as provided in Section 336.9, every person who engages in one of the following offenses, shall be punished for a first offense by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than one year or in the state prison, or by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both imprisonment and fine:

(1)Pool selling or bookmaking, with or without writing, at any time or place.'

Online sports betting is legal in California. No legal sports book in the United States takes bets online because of the Federal Wire Act. But you can find plenty of online sports books who would be happy to take your action from California. We suggest several trustworthy offshore California gambling sites. You can play at any of them with confidence.

Racing betting: Parimutuel Only

What is parimutuel betting?

It's when player's bets are put together in a pool, the taxes and track fees are deducted and the pool is then divided among the winning players.

Here's what section 19590 of the Business and Professions Code says about wagering on horse racing:

'The board shall adopt rules governing, permitting, and regulating parimutuel wagering on horse races under the system known as the parimutuel method of wagering. Parimutuel wagering shall be conducted only by a person or persons licensed under this chapter to conduct a horse racing meeting or authorized by the board to conduct advance deposit wagering.'

Dog racing is illegal in the state of California.

Lottery: Legal

California has a state regulated lottery that provides a variety of games. A few of these games include SuperLotto Plus and Mega Millions.

Here's what section 8880.1 of the California Government Code says about the lottery:

'The People of the State of California declare that the purpose of this Act is support for preservation of the rights, liberties and welfare of the people by providing additional monies to benefit education without the imposition of additional or increased taxes. The People of the State of California further declare that it is their intent that the net revenues of the California State Lottery shall not be used as substitute funds but rather shall supplement the total amount of money allocated for public education in California.'

Bingo: Tribal Casinos and Charitable Games Only

You can find regular gambling bingo in approved tribal casinos.

You won't find regular bingo halls in California–the only approved bingo is when played for charity. Charitable bingo games can only be held once per year, and no cash prizes can be given out.

Here's what section 19985 of The Gambling Control Act says about nonprofit organization fundraisers:

'(a)Nonprofit organizations provide important and necessary services to the people of the State of California with respect to educational and social services and there is a need to provide methods of fundraising to nonprofit organizations so as to enable them to meet their stated purposes.

(b)The playing of controlled games for the purpose of raising funds by nonprofit organizations is in the public interest.

(c)Uniform regulation for the conduct of controlled games is in the best interests of nonprofit organizations and the people of this state.'

Social Gambling: Illegal

Illegal forms of gambling in California include:

• Faro
• Monte
• Roulette
• Lansquenet
• Rouge et noire
• Rondo
• Tan
• Fan-tan
• Seven-and-a-half
• Twenty-one
• Hokey-pokey

If you're caught betting in any of these games you can end up paying $1,000 in fines and spending six months in jail.

Here's what section 330 of the California Gambling Law, Regulations, and Resource Information says about illegal forms of gambling and the punishment for it:

'Every person who deals, plays, or carries on, opens, or causes to be opened, or who conducts, either as owner or employee, whether for hire or not, any game of faro, monte, roulette, lansquenet, rouge et noire, rondo, tan, fan-tan, seven-and a-half, twenty-one, hokey-pokey, or any banking or percentage game played with cards, dice, or any device, for money, checks, credit, or other representative of value, and every person who plays or bets at or against any of those prohibited games, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by a fine not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment.'

Draw Poker: Legal With Restrictions

California counties that have more than 4 million residents prohibit draw poker.

Here's what section 337 of the California Law, Regulations, and Resource Information says about it:

'(a) This section applies only in counties with a population exceeding 4,000,000. (b) Every person who deals, plays, or carries on, opens, or causes to be opened, or who conducts, either as owner or employee, whether for hire or not, any game of draw poker, including lowball poker, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(e) The Legislature finds that in counties with a large, concentrated population, problems incident to the playing of draw poker are, in part, qualitatively, as well as quantitatively, different from the problems in smaller counties. The Legislature finds that counties with a population exceeding 4,000,000 constitute a special problem, and it is reasonable classification to adopt prohibitory legislation applicable only to such counties.'

Gambling Venues in California

65 active tribal casinos and 94 gaming establishments or card rooms operate in California.

Here are some of the current tribal casinos in the state:

1) Win-River Casino

2100 Redding Rancheria Road

Redding, California 96001-5530

2) Winnedumah Winn's Casino

135 South Highway 395

Independence, California 93526

3) Table Mountain Casino

8184 Table Mountain Road

Friant, California 93626 800-541-3637

4) Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino

17225 Jersey Avenue

Lemoore, California 93245-9760

5) San Pablo Lytton Casino

13255 San Pablo Ave

San Pablo, CA 94806

6) Santa Ysabel Resort and Casino

25575 Highway 79 PO Box 600

Santa Ysabel, California 92070

7) Red Fox Casino & Bingo

200 Cahto Drive

Laytonville, California 95454

8) Red Hawk Casino Free slot games with bonus spins.

1 Red Hawk Boulevard

Placerville, CA 95667

9) Paiute Palace Casino

2742 North Sierra Highway

Bishop, California 93514

10) Pala Casino Spa Resort

11154 Highway 76

Pala, California 92059

History of Gambling in California

Horse race betting becomes legal at six tracks and many offtrack betting establishments.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act helps bring casino gambling business to California by forming compacts with over 50 tribes. The tribes start their casinos with bingo-style games.

The only law regarding online gambling in California is the age limit. You must be 21 years or older to legally gamble online.

Can I Get Arrested for Gambling Online in California?

No, but starting an online casino or gambling business in California is illegal – you can definitely get arrested for that.

You can also be arrested if you don't pay taxes on revenue earned from any online gambling you do.

If you're just a player and not an owner, and if you pay your taxes, you're in the clear.

Also On This Page

More Gambling Laws in California

• Casino Games (Legal)
• Slot Machines (Illegal)
• Sports Betting (Legal)
• Racing Betting (Parimutuel Only)
• Lottry (Legal)
• Bingo (Legal With Restrictions)
• Draw Poker (Legal With Restrictions)
• Social Gambling (Illegal)

Section 19801 of The Gambling Control Act says:

'(a)State law prohibits commercially operated lotteries, banked or percentage games, and gambling machines, and strictly regulates parimutuel wagering on horse racing. To the extent that state law categorically prohibits certain forms of gambling and prohibits gambling devices, nothing herein shall be construed, in any manner, to reflect a legislative intent to relax those prohibitions.

(b)The State of California has permitted the operation of gambling establishments for more than 100 years. Gambling establishments were first regulated by the State of California pursuant to legislation which was enacted in 1984. Gambling establishments currently employ more than 20,000 people in the State of California, and contribute more than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in taxes and fees to California's government. Gambling establishments are lawful enterprises in the State of California, and are entitled to full protection of the laws of this state.'

Casino games: Legal

California only allows tribal casinos. The tribal casinos usually offer poker, blackjack, bingo, keno, video poker and slot machines.

Card rooms are allowed in California. These are different from casinos because players bet against each other and not the house. These establishments make their money by charging players a fee to play. This often takes the form of a 5% contribution from each pot, which is called the rake.

Card rooms are state regulated, and offer games like poker and pai gow.

Here's what the State of California Department of Justice says about card rooms:

'All controlled games (pai-gow, poker, etc.) and gaming activities (jackpots, bonuses, tournaments, etc.) must be approved by the Bureau and must comply with local gaming ordinances prior to their play at a licensed gambling establishment within California.'

Slot Machines: Illegal

Slot machines are illegal to own unless they're antiques. Antique slot machines must be over 25 years old, and must not be used for real money gambling.

Here's what section 330.7 of the California Law, Regulations, Resource Information says about antique slot machines:

'(a) It shall be a defense to any prosecution under this chapter relating to slot machines, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 330b, if the defendant shows that the slot machine is an antique slot machine and was not operated for gambling purposes while in the defendant's possession. For the purposes of this section, the term 'antique slot machine' means a slot machine that is over 25 years of age.'

Sports betting: Legal

Betting on sports in California is legal, but accepting bets on sports or bookmaking is illegal.

Here's what section 337a of the Penal Code says about bookmaking:

'Except as provided in Section 336.9, every person who engages in one of the following offenses, shall be punished for a first offense by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than one year or in the state prison, or by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both imprisonment and fine:

(1)Pool selling or bookmaking, with or without writing, at any time or place.'

Online sports betting is legal in California. No legal sports book in the United States takes bets online because of the Federal Wire Act. But you can find plenty of online sports books who would be happy to take your action from California. We suggest several trustworthy offshore California gambling sites. You can play at any of them with confidence.

Racing betting: Parimutuel Only

What is parimutuel betting?

It's when player's bets are put together in a pool, the taxes and track fees are deducted and the pool is then divided among the winning players.

Here's what section 19590 of the Business and Professions Code says about wagering on horse racing:

'The board shall adopt rules governing, permitting, and regulating parimutuel wagering on horse races under the system known as the parimutuel method of wagering. Parimutuel wagering shall be conducted only by a person or persons licensed under this chapter to conduct a horse racing meeting or authorized by the board to conduct advance deposit wagering.'

Dog racing is illegal in the state of California.

Lottery: Legal

California has a state regulated lottery that provides a variety of games. A few of these games include SuperLotto Plus and Mega Millions.

Here's what section 8880.1 of the California Government Code says about the lottery:

'The People of the State of California declare that the purpose of this Act is support for preservation of the rights, liberties and welfare of the people by providing additional monies to benefit education without the imposition of additional or increased taxes. The People of the State of California further declare that it is their intent that the net revenues of the California State Lottery shall not be used as substitute funds but rather shall supplement the total amount of money allocated for public education in California.'

Bingo: Tribal Casinos and Charitable Games Only

You can find regular gambling bingo in approved tribal casinos.

You won't find regular bingo halls in California–the only approved bingo is when played for charity. Charitable bingo games can only be held once per year, and no cash prizes can be given out.

Here's what section 19985 of The Gambling Control Act says about nonprofit organization fundraisers:

'(a)Nonprofit organizations provide important and necessary services to the people of the State of California with respect to educational and social services and there is a need to provide methods of fundraising to nonprofit organizations so as to enable them to meet their stated purposes.

(b)The playing of controlled games for the purpose of raising funds by nonprofit organizations is in the public interest.

(c)Uniform regulation for the conduct of controlled games is in the best interests of nonprofit organizations and the people of this state.'

Social Gambling: Illegal

Illegal forms of gambling in California include:

• Faro
• Monte
• Roulette
• Lansquenet
• Rouge et noire
• Rondo
• Tan
• Fan-tan
• Seven-and-a-half
• Twenty-one
• Hokey-pokey

If you're caught betting in any of these games you can end up paying $1,000 in fines and spending six months in jail.

Here's what section 330 of the California Gambling Law, Regulations, and Resource Information says about illegal forms of gambling and the punishment for it:

'Every person who deals, plays, or carries on, opens, or causes to be opened, or who conducts, either as owner or employee, whether for hire or not, any game of faro, monte, roulette, lansquenet, rouge et noire, rondo, tan, fan-tan, seven-and a-half, twenty-one, hokey-pokey, or any banking or percentage game played with cards, dice, or any device, for money, checks, credit, or other representative of value, and every person who plays or bets at or against any of those prohibited games, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by a fine not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment.'

Draw Poker: Legal With Restrictions

California counties that have more than 4 million residents prohibit draw poker.

Here's what section 337 of the California Law, Regulations, and Resource Information says about it:

'(a) This section applies only in counties with a population exceeding 4,000,000. (b) Every person who deals, plays, or carries on, opens, or causes to be opened, or who conducts, either as owner or employee, whether for hire or not, any game of draw poker, including lowball poker, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(e) The Legislature finds that in counties with a large, concentrated population, problems incident to the playing of draw poker are, in part, qualitatively, as well as quantitatively, different from the problems in smaller counties. The Legislature finds that counties with a population exceeding 4,000,000 constitute a special problem, and it is reasonable classification to adopt prohibitory legislation applicable only to such counties.'

Gambling Venues in California

65 active tribal casinos and 94 gaming establishments or card rooms operate in California.

Here are some of the current tribal casinos in the state:

1) Win-River Casino

2100 Redding Rancheria Road

Redding, California 96001-5530

2) Winnedumah Winn's Casino

135 South Highway 395

Independence, California 93526

3) Table Mountain Casino

8184 Table Mountain Road

Friant, California 93626 800-541-3637

4) Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino

17225 Jersey Avenue

Lemoore, California 93245-9760

5) San Pablo Lytton Casino

13255 San Pablo Ave

San Pablo, CA 94806

6) Santa Ysabel Resort and Casino

25575 Highway 79 PO Box 600

Santa Ysabel, California 92070

7) Red Fox Casino & Bingo

200 Cahto Drive

Laytonville, California 95454

8) Red Hawk Casino Free slot games with bonus spins.

1 Red Hawk Boulevard

Placerville, CA 95667

9) Paiute Palace Casino

2742 North Sierra Highway

Bishop, California 93514

10) Pala Casino Spa Resort

11154 Highway 76

Pala, California 92059

History of Gambling in California

Horse race betting becomes legal at six tracks and many offtrack betting establishments.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act helps bring casino gambling business to California by forming compacts with over 50 tribes. The tribes start their casinos with bingo-style games.

Casino gambling is fully legalized on tribal land. Individual compacts are formed with each tribe to agree on the type and number of games the casinos can run.

Horse race betting online is officially legalized for California residents.

Best Online Casino California Buffet

Attempts to regulate online poker are put before the California Senate. They fail.

Best Online Casino For Us Players

Another attempt to regulate online poker is put before the California Senate. They fail again.

Additional Resources

California's Gambling Future

Brick and mortar establishments are pushing heavily for state regulated online gambling. Because of the large population, having state regulated gambling would allow huge online tournaments and promotions at California gambling sites.

One setback of the state regulated online gambling is the tribal casinos. The tribal casinos have run casino gambling in California for years, so they want to be responsible for online gambling too.

Aside from regulating online gambling, we don't foresee much change in the California gambling law. You can find plenty of casinos and card rooms throughout the state. The state lottery and horse racing venues aren't going anywhere soon, either.