California

Although interactive online gambling has yet to be authorized and regulated, that has not stopped some Californians from playing at online casinos. Although everyone has their reasons, online gambling has certain advantages compared to land-based casinos. Of course, this doesn’t mean playing at just any online casino. Our experts have put together a top list of online casinos considered safe and trustworthy within gambling laws.

Casino	Deposit Bonus	Get Started
	250% up to $1000	Play Now
	350% up to $2500	Play Now
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Best Bonuses in California Casinos

The best bonuses in California casinos are only a click away. Choose your favorites from the list below, offering a welcome match deposit, free spins, or both.

An online casino bonus package is more than just pretty wrapping. Look underneath, and you’ll find fair bonus terms and conditions, including wagering requirements that fall towards the lower end of the range.

Besides the welcome bonus, Californians will also benefit from other perks like loyalty programs, VIP programs, tournaments, etc.

Because there is more to a casino than just the bonus, each casino we promote comes with our in-house review covering the most important considerations.

Best New Casinos in California

California has close to 70 Class III tribal casinos. Hence, many Californians have plenty of choices when it comes to land-based casinos. Still, not everyone has a casino in their backyard or care for the particular establishment(s) even if they do.

Fortunately, California casino players can also turn to USD and BTC casinos online from the comfort of their (Android & iOS) device or Windows/Mac PC.

We list a selection of the best new casinos in California, offering a wide variety of popular slot machines. We know Californians also love their card rooms, which is why they can find plenty of variants: 3 Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack, et cetera.

Getting started is easy. All you need to do is register a new player account at one of the trustworthy casinos below, which takes less than 10 minutes. You might even qualify for a no deposit! Make your first deposit (or sometimes first few) US dollar or Bitcoin deposits to be eligible for a match deposit bonus and free spins.

All these casinos are licensed and trustworthy under gambling laws and offer a selection of online casino payment methods and other perks. Why not explore them for yourself?

California Gambling Overview

Known as ‘The Golden State,’ California borders the Pacific Ocean on the west coast.

Article IV of the California Constitution makes most gambling illegal. However, some exceptions which permit gambling exist and are regulated by the state or Native American tribes. These include bingo, horse race wagering, pari-mutuels, lotteries, card rooms, and Indian casinos. California does not have any online gaming legislation, and non-sports betting and mobile gambling are prohibited but a recent change in federal gambling laws allows states to make their own decisions on online gambling, and state gambling laws are changing.

Legal forms of gambling mainly fall under legislation concerning the Gambling Control Act (GCA) (California Business and Professions Code §§ 19800 et seq. (West)).

California has no state law that explicitly defines gambling, and therefore no laws which specifically prohibit online gambling. Still, case law has determined the three elements necessary to constitute gambling. These include a prize, awarded through an event of chance in exchange for a consideration. That would cover sports betting, among other things, and most forms of internet gambling.

Card Rooms

No explicit laws prohibit poker in California since it’s considered a game where players compete against each other rather than the bank (which would otherwise be illegal gambling). Poker is legally permitted at Indian casinos and card rooms. Not-for-profit poker games are also legally allowed. At present, there are 86 such private betting clubs that are licensed to offer card rooms.

Lotteries

Lotteries in California were legalized in 1984 after a state referendum. The California State Lottery runs state wide lotteries (draw games and scratch cards). Participation in interstate lotteries such as Mega Millions games and Powerball is also possible under federal law.

Social Gaming

No specific laws exist for social gaming in California. Still, it is legal, provided that there is no prize consideration and is a game of skill. Defining social gaming as a skill game has been challenged in federal law courts but shot down each time. Casino games are permitted in this case, as long as they are not played for prizes.

Charity Games

California Penal Code § 326.5(o) defines bingo as a game of chance with prizes. Furthermore, a player must have a tangible card with symbols or numbers. These are marked or covered, corresponding to numbers randomly drawn and announced by a live caller. Aside from bingo, charity raffles and poker are also permitted.

Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel

Horse race wagering and pari-mutuel wagering are governed by California Horse Racing laws. They are the only legal forms of online sports betting, set out in the California Business and Professions Code §§ 19590-603. Pari-mutuel wagering on horses is allowed online, at off-betting facilities and racetracks.

Land-Based Casinos in California

Commercial casinos in California are unlawful, and in recent years no attempts have been made to change this even since the change in federal law. However, there are presently 66 tribal casinos scattered throughout the state. Regulations, limitations, and terms concerning tribal casinos are set out in compacts between the state of California and individual tribes. Tribes work with the CGCC to develop regulations in line with the tribe–state compacts.

Tribal Casinos	Address	Website
Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs	140 North Indian Canyon Drive – Palm Springs, California 92262	www.sparesortcasino.com
Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage	32-250 Bob Hope Drive – Rancho Mirage, California 92270	www.hotwatercasino.com
Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City	68960 E Palm Canyon Dr – Cathedral City, CA 92234	www.aguacalientecasinos.com/cc/
Desert Rose Casino	901 County Road 56 – Alturas, CA 96101	www.desertrosecasino.net
Augustine Casino	84-001 Avenue 54 at Van Buren – 3 Miles East of PGA West Coachella, California 92236	www.augustinecasino.com
Barona Resort & Casino	1932 Wildcat Canyon Road Lakeside, CA 92040	www.barona.com
Bear River Casino	11 Bear Paws Way Loleta, CA 95551	www.bearrivercasino.com
Gold Country Casino	4020 Olive Highway Oroville, CA 95966	www.goldcountrycasino.com
Mono Wind Casino	37302 Rancheria Lane – Auberry, California 93602-1060	www.monowind.com
Konocti Vista Casino Resort, Marina & RV Park	2755 Mission Rancheria Road – Finley, CA 95435	www.konocti-vista-casino.com
Wanaaha Casino	2742 North Sierra Highway – Bishop, California 93514	www.wanaaha.com
Blue Lake Casino	777 Casino Way – Blue Lake, CA 95525	www.bluelakecasino.com
Harrah’s Northern California Casino	4650 Coal Mine Road, Ione, California 95640	www.caesars.com/harrahs-northern-california
Fantasy Springs Casino	84-245 B Indio Springs Dr., Indio CA 92203	www.fantasycasino.net
Colusa Casino Resort	3770 Highway 45 – Colusa, California 95932-1267	www.colusacasino.com
Red Fox Casino & Bingo	200 Cahto Drive Laytonville, California 95454	N/A
Cahuilla Casino	52702 Highway 371 – Anza, California 92539	www.cahuillacasino.com
Golden Acorn Casino	1800 Golden Acorn Way – Campo, CA 91906	www.goldenacorncasino.com
Havasu Landing Resort & Casino	1 Main Street – Havasu Lake, California 92363	www.havasulandingresortcasino.com
Cher-Ae Heights Bingo & Casino	27 Scenic Drive – Trinidad, California 95570-9767	www.cheraeheightscasino.com
Chicken Ranch Casino	16929 Chicken Ranch Road – Jamestown, California 95327-9779	www.chickenranchcasino.com
Coyote Valley Casino	7751 North State Street – Redwood Valley, CA 95418	www.coyotevalleycasino.com
River Rock Casino	3250 Highway 128 East – Geyserville, California 95441	www.riverrockcasino.com
Elk Valley Casino	2500 Howland Hill Road – Crescent City, California 95531-9241	www.elkvalleycasino.com
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento At Fire Mountain	3317 Forty Mile Road, Wheatland, CA, 95682	www.hardrockhotelsacramento.com/casino
Graton Resort & Casino	288 Golf Course Dr W, Rohnert Park, CA 94928	www.gratonresortcasino.com
Running Creek Casino	635 E. Highway 20 – Upper Lake, CA 95485	www.runningcreekcasino.com
Lucky Bear Casino	Shopping Center, Highway 96 – Hoopa, CA 95546	www.hoopa-nsn.gov/enterprises/lucky-bear-casino
Hopland Sho-Ka-Wah Casino & Bingo	13101 Nokomis Road – Hopland, California 95449-9725	www.shokawah.com
Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort	12222 New York Ranch Road – Jackson, California 95642	www.jacksoncasino.com
Jamul Casino	14145 Campo Road – Jamul, CA 91935	www.jamulcasinosd.com
Rain Rock Casino	777 Casino Way, Yreka, CA 96097	www.rainrockcasino.com
Garcia River Casino	22215 Windy Hollow Road – Point Arena, CA 95468	www.thegarciarivercasino.com
Twin Pine Casino	22223 Highway 29 – Middletown, California 95461-9754	www.twinpine.com
Feather Falls Casino & Lodge	3 Alverda Drive – Oroville, California 95966-9379	featherfallscasino.com
Morongo Casino Resort Spa	49750 Seminole Drive – Cabazon, California 92230-2200	www.morongocasinoresort.com/casinomorongo
Pala Casino Spa Resort	11154 Highway 76 – Pala, California 92059	www.palacasino.com
Rolling Hills Casino	2655 Barham Avenue – Corning, California 96021	www.rollinghillscasino.com
Casino Pauma	777 Pauma Reservation Road – Pauma Valley, California 92061	www.casinopauma.com
Pechanga Resort & Casino	45000 Pala Road – Temecula, California 92592-5810	www.pechanga.com
Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino	711 Lucky Lane – Coarsegold, California 93614	www.chukchansigold.com
Pit River Casino	20265 Tamarack Avenue – Burney, California 96013-4064	www.pitrivercasino.com
Quechan Casino Resort	525 Algodones Road – Winterhaven, CA 92283	www.playqcr.net
Win-River Casino	2100 Redding Rancheria Road – Redding, California 96001-5530	www.winriver.com
Harrah’s Resort Southern California	777 Harrah’s Rincon Way – Valley Center, CA 92082	www.caesars.com/harrahs-socal
Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino	1545 East Highway 20 – Nice, California 95464-8619	www.rrrc.com
San Manuel Casino	777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA 92346	www.sanmanuel.com
Valley View Casino	16300 Nyemii Pass Road – Valley Center, California 92082	www.valleyviewcasino.com
Tachi Palace Casino Resort	17225 Jersey Avenue – Lemoore, California 93245-9760	www.tachipalace.com
Chumash Casino Resort	3400 East Highway 246 – Santa Ynez, California 93460-9405	www.chumashcasino.com
Sherwood Valley Casino	100 Kawi Place – Willits, California 95490-4674	www.svrcasino.com
Red Hawk Casino	1 Red Hawk Boulevard – Placerville, CA 95667	www.redhawkcasino.com
Soboba Casino	22777 Soboba Road – San Jacinto, CA 92583	www.soboba.com
Diamond Mountain Casino	900 Skyline Drive – Susanville, California 96130	www.dmcah.com
Sycuan Casino	5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019	www.sycuan.com
Table Mountain Casino	8184 Table Mountain Road – Friant, California 93626	www.tmcasino.com
Lucky 7 Casino	350 North Indian Road – Smith River, California 95567	www.lucky7casino.com
Red Earth Casino	3089 Norm River Road Salton Sea Beach, CA 92274	www.redearthcasino.com
Eagle Mountain Casino	681 South Reservation Road Porterville, CA 93257	www.eaglemtncasino.com
Black Oak Casino	19400 Tuolumne Road North – Tuolumne, California 95379-9724	www.blackoakcasino.com
Spotlight 29 Casino	I-10 at Dillon Road – 46-200 Harrison Place Coachella, California, 92236	www.spotlight29.com
Tortoise Rock Casino	73829 Base Line Rd – Twentynine Palms, CA 92277	www.tortoiserockcasino.com
Thunder Valley Casino	1200 Athens Avenue – Lincoln CA 95648	www.thundervalleyresort.com
Viejas Casino	5000 Willows Road – Alpine, California 91901	www.viejas.com
Cache Creek Casino	14455 Highway 16 – Brooks, California 95606-0065	www.cachecreek.com
Redwood Hotel Casino	171 Klamath Blvd – Klamath, CA 95548	www.redwoodhotelcasino.com

California Casinos Map

California Gambling History

Non-banked card games, including poker, were considered legal since 1872 by virtue of the fact that they were excluded from mention in the Constitution as prohibited gambling forms.

A voter referendum in 1933 legalized horse race wagering, followed by off-track betting at fairgrounds in 1985, off-track betting elsewhere in 2008, and online race betting in 2002.

In 1984, a voter referendum approved the California State Lottery. A decade later, in 1995, a moratorium on card rooms started that only ended in 2020.

The California Constitution was amended in 1976 to legalize charitable bingo. There were further amendments in 2000 to allow raffles and again in 2007 to enable charity poker.

In 2000, Proposition 1A amended the California constitution to allow tribal casinos to offer slots and card games on Native land.

In 2018, The US Supreme Court struck down The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (1992), allowing individual states to decide whether to legalize online sports betting.

The last few years have seen several failed attempts to legalize online poker, sports betting and other online games. Sen Bill Dodd attempted to introduce legislation in 2020 (Bill ACA 16) to legalize sports betting through a referendum. He was forced to retreat after opposition from California’s tribal casino operators.

Before that, Assembly Bill 2863 was introduced in 2016, which would legalize online poker. It ran into opposition from horse racing and state tribes, both fearing the potential loss of revenue, and did not pass into California gambling law.

California Gambling FAQ

What is the California legal gambling age?

California’s legal gambling age is 18, except where alcohol is served that raises it to 21.

Are Tribal Casinos or Commercial Casinos legal in California?

The California Gambling Control Commission only allows tribal casinos in the state, which are covered by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

Are winnings at land-based casinos subject to tax in California?

No, there are no California tax laws covering casino gambling wins. However, all gambling winnings are subject to federal income tax.

Are state lotteries or interstate lotteries legal in California?

Yes, California offers a state lottery and interstate lotteries.

Is sports betting legal in California?

No, sports betting is not legal under California law.

What gambling forms in California are legal?

California law permits charity games, tribal casino gambling, pari-mutuel & race betting, lotteries, card rooms, and social gambling.

Conclusion

Californians are pretty lucky, with close to 70 land-based casinos to choose from. Of course, casinos are not the only form of gambling available in the state. California has legalized pari-mutuel wagering, charitable gaming, a state lottery, card rooms, and social gaming, and there is the potential for future gambling laws to change with regard to online gaming services.

The gambling situation in California, as with other states, is fluid and continues to change. This is why we recommend visiting our page periodically for updates. Furthermore, players from California can find our latest list of recommended casinos and casino bonuses. These may also change from time to time as we discover better options.