California Online Casinos & Real Money Gambling

7. Are there related offenses?

There are three crimes related to 330 PC unlawful gambling. These are:

1. obtaining money by gaming fraud – PC 332,
2. bookmaking – PC 337, and
3. prostitution and solicitation – PC 647b.

Are there casinos in California?

God, yes. There are no fewer than 66 casinos operating in California, according to the California Gambling Control Commission. The 66 locations owned by 60-plus tribes are the third-most of any state, behind Nevada and (shockingly) Oklahoma. All of these casino locations in California are tribal — there are no commercial casinos in the state.

So, instead of trying to list every single casino in the state, we decided to list the biggest and brightest of the pack. Below, you will find blurbs about the five top casinos in California. Please note that there are several casinos that could have made this list. We ended up using a combination of gaming square footage, number of slot machines and tables, and any extra facilities to inform our selection. If your favorite casino isn’t listed here, it might have just missed the cut.

Cardrooms[edit]

Licensed cardrooms may offer approved card games in which players vie against each other (rather than against the house), such as poker.[1] As of 2019, there were 66 cardrooms operating in the state (and another 21 licensed but not operating).[2] Since 1995, there has been a moratorium on new cardrooms.[3][4] The industry generated $850 million in revenue after payouts in 2018.[3]

Non-banked card games such as poker have always been legal in the state.[5] The California Penal Code, enacted in 1872, prohibited several casino games by name, as well as all house-banked games, but did not outlaw poker.[6] Cardrooms also operate non-banked versions of card games such as pai gow poker and baccarat, where players can take turns playing the dealer hand against the other players.[7] However, in these cardrooms, an independent operator known in state law as a "third party provider of proposition services" usually acts as the "house" and the casino earns revenue on a fee charged to the proposition service provider and fees charged to players to play a hand.[8][9][10] Statewide cardroom regulations were enacted in 1984.[11] In 1997, the Gambling Control Act was adopted, which created the California Gambling Control Commission to regulate California cardrooms.[11]

FANDUEL

FanDuel has both an online sportsbook as well as a daily fantasy app and site. Since fantasy bets are legal in California, there is a strong chance that Fanduel will expand once California laws are finally drawn.

Golden State Warriors

In recent years, the Golden State Warriors have become one of the NBA’s winningest franchises. The franchise has won seven NBA titles during its history, with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green leading the team to three in four years from 2015-2018, then a fourth title in 2022.

When sports betting comes to CA, you’ll be able to place futures bets on the Warriors winning another championship, the Western Conference and/or the Pacific Division. You’ll also be able to make a wide range of single game bets every time they play, including lots of props and parlays.

Our most frequently asked questions about California legal betting

💻 Can I gamble online on sports in California?

No, not legally. Online sports betting is not legal in California and there is no legislation for online sports betting in the state currently.

🥇What is the best sports betting site in California?

Other than Fantasy Sports betting sites there are no sports betting sites available in California at all. Gamblers that want to try out online sports betting in California will have to use Fantasy sports sites to do so.

🕰 When did legal sports betting in California open?

Betting on horse races became legal in 1933, but other sports betting is not legal currently. Even though the Supreme Court made it legal to wager on sports online, there hasn’t been a law passing California legal sports betting.

❓Where can I sports bet in California using my mobile device?

There is no location in California to play using a mobile device. There are some other states such as New Jersey that allow mobile sports wagering though.

🤷 Who is responsible for regulating California online sports gambling?

Since California legal betting is not allowed, there is no regulatory body in charge of the activity. If it does become legal in the future a government-run organization will be responsible for regulating the activity.

IS FANDUEL LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA?

FanDuel is expected to go live with a sports betting platform in CA if a 2022 ballot measure passes to legalize commercial online sportsbooks. FanDuel DFS is legal in California.

San Manuel-backed sports betting initiative cleared to gather signatures

January 22, 2022

A sports betting initiative backed by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and three other tribes has been cleared by the California Secretary of State to begin collecting signatures for the November ballot. The initiative requires petition signatures from 997,139 registered voters by June 30, 2022.

This sports betting initiative is backed by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (Yaamava' Resort Casino), Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians (Harrah's Resort Southern California), the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (Graton Resort & Casino), and Wilton Rancheria (Sky River Casino).

SUMMARY

• California tribes will have exclusive rights to operate sports betting inside tribal casinos and online statewide.

• 10% of gross gaming revenue will be paid to the state's Homelessness and Mental Health Fund.

• 10% of gross gaming revenue will be paid to the Tribal Sports Wagering Revenue Sharing Fund.

FOURTH PROPOSALThis initiative is the fourth proposal for legalizing sports betting in California. The other three proposals are:

1. Sports betting will only be in-person at tribal casinos and four racetracks. This measure titled "California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative" has qualified for Nov. 8th ballot. Details

2. Major cardroom operators would operate online and in-person sports betting and add new card and tile games.

3. National sportsbook operators, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, would partner with tribal casinos for online betting.

Back    Full Page > California Casinos | Updates 2022

Casino • Sports • Live Dealer • Poker • Promos#1 Choice of U.S. Players! $3,750 in Welcome Bonuses! BOVADA

Minnesota

Possible action in 2023

Minnesota came extremely close to legalizing sports betting in 2022 and lawmakers will likely take it up again in 2023.

A bill that would have given the state’s native tribes exclusive control over online and retail betting passed the House, but fell apart after Senators amended it to include racetracks and professional sports teams.

The tribes, which hold a significant lobbying presence in the statehouse, have for years opposed any legislation that wouldn’t give them a monopoly on sports betting. Once the Senate amended the House bill, they pulled their support.

The legislature adjourned for the year without the Senate voting on the bill.

Arizona

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Arizona passed its sports betting bill in April 2021, allowing for online wagering and some of the nation’s first in-stadium sportsbooks. Its quickly becoming one of the most popular states to place a bet.

The first online sportsbooks went live Sept. 9, the first day of the 2021 NFL season. 18 operators, including BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel, now operate in Arizona, with room for two more.

In March 2022 Arizona vaulted into the top 10 states in monthly handle (amount bet) for the first time.

Earlier that month FanDuel started taking in-person at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, while Caesars opened up its sportsbook at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

BetMGM is working on a similar venture at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, while DraftKings is expected to unveil a betting hub at the Scottsdale golf course that hosts the Waste Management Open.

California Sports Betting Bills

The Status of California Sports Betting Legislation for 2022

Despite the several failed attempts to legalize sports betting in California in the past, there is are two initiatives across the state that may signal an expansion of domestic gambling. While it is not yet official sports betting legislation, Proposition 26 carries the objective of allowing tribal casinos to legally conduct in-house retail sports betting. It does not authorize mobile or online betting.

The initiative has gained significant traction, garnering over 1 million signatures for the cause. These signatures proved enough to solidify the sports gambling movement and push it forward.

Proposition 27 is sponsored by some heavyweights in the US domestic sports betting arena who don't like the idea of being cut out of the party through Proposition 26, which prohibits non-tribal entities such as Draft Kings, FanDuel, and others, from providing sports betting action within the state. It includes mobile and online betting options.

Voters can expect to see these measures on their ballots in November of 2022. Both measures carry significant controversy from various parties. Much like Florida sports betting, the tribal interests are used to running the show with gambling in the state and have a strong voice concerning how the state moves forward with sports betting. We will provide updates as they are available and you can track the progress in real-time on our state bill tracker page.

“California is the holy grail of U.S. sports betting markets,” said Daniel Wallach, a Florida-based attorney who has advised various players in burgeoning sports wagering states. “This is going to be a half-a-billion-dollar battle for control of the most lucrative betting market in the world.”

Thirty-three states and Washington, D.C. have authorized sports betting, birthing a sector expected to generate tens of billions of dollars in revenue once those markets are fully operative. The explosive growth follows two-and-a-half decades in which Congress gave Nevada an effective monopoly on athletic wagering in America.

If California legalizes, sports betting is likely to become legal everywhere in the U.S. “A lot of people basically think the rest of the country will legalize if California does,” said Oklahoma State University professor John Holden, who has testified as an expert witness as states consider gambling legislation.

California must resolve its own differences first — no easy task for a state mired in longstanding gambling divisions that already blunted legalization efforts nearly two years ago.

Gamblers place their bets on sports for the first time at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., Thursday Sept. 30, 2021.|Susan Haigh/AP Photo

Native American casinos, horse tracks, card rooms and platforms such as FanDuel and DraftKings are vying for control of a market that could generate tens of billions of dollars annually, reprising a power struggle that has already played out in states like Florida.

The battle pits FanDuel and DraftKings, platforms that have dominated the new market, against incumbent tribes who warn their very sovereignty is at stake. Rival interests have moved hundreds of millions of dollars into a campaign that could challenge spending records.

Native American tribes had already qualified a ballot measure allowing sports bets on tribal land when international gambling companies made their play, committing $100 million to an initiative that would let them control online wagering. That measure is also expected to qualify for the November ballot given the pace of signature collection and the money at proponents’ disposal. The firms include BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Bally’s Interactive and other big names. The escalating standoff has also drawn in card rooms that offer limited gambling options outside of tribal land.

Control of online betting has become the crux of the dispute. After the betting platforms floated their online proposal, a trio of tribal chairs ominously warned colleagues they had to respond in kind or risk losing the larger struggle: the platforms prevailing “would accelerate the legalization of online gaming by non-tribal interests, threatening the existence of Indian gaming as we know it,” they wrote. Tribes have since begun gathering signatures to qualify another, online-focused measure, although they may have started too late to succeed.

A customer places a bet at one of the new sports wagering kiosks at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn on Sept. 30, 2021.|Susan Haigh/AP Photo

It’s not difficult to see why internet wagering is a paramount concern: For every $10 wagered on sports, $8 to $9 are placed online, said Becca Giden, director of policy for the research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming LLC. People have already become accustomed to placing their bets on the web rather than going to a bookie and risking their kneecaps.

“It’s very clear that people in 2021 and 2022 want to do things online,” Giden said.

The competing proposal from international gambling companies would require the online platforms to partner with tribes and give them a cut.

Gambling companies have framed this measure as an anti-homelessness initiative because a share of revenues would flow into local housing efforts — a sweetener that has brought on board big-city mayors, who have struggled to provide shelter for people during the pandemic. That may also play well with California voters, who routinely consider housing and homelessness among their top concerns.

“Our initiative is the only one that would raise hundreds of millions of dollars reach year in solutions to homelessness,” campaign spokesperson Nathan Click said. “Our measure provides a number of benefits to California tribal nations.”

Tribal leaders aren’t buying it. Eight months before the general election, they have matched gambling companies with a $100 million counteroffensive to block the competing initiative, calling it a power grab that violates the spirit of a 1998 California law that authorized tribal gambling and transformed tribes into formidable political players. An ad campaign warns the proposal from “out-of-state corporations” would “break the promise” between voters and tribes.

“The main fight for us is to ensure we keep the corporations out of state from coming in. That’s the best thing for all tribes here in California,” Jesus Tarango, chair of the Wilton Rancheria tribe, said in an interview. If the betting platforms prevail, tribes “may get a piece of it, but it would not be the same piece as if it was controlled by us and ran by us.”

Sports wagering advanced with inexorable momentum after the Supreme Court in 2018 struck down a federal law that had limited such gambling to Nevada. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who had moved to legalize sports betting at horse tracks and Atlantic City casinos, fought in court for years before convincing the justices the 1992 law violated state sovereignty.

MGM National Harbor, Gov. Larry Hogan and Joe Theismann launch sports betting in Maryland with BETMGM at MGM National Harbor on December 09, 2021 in Oxon Hill, Maryland.|Shannon Finney/Getty Images for MGM National Harbor

The ruling seemed to legitimize sports betting overnight — turning a vice long the purview of barroom bookies and offshore gaming sites into a new government revenue stream and a pillar of sports in the U.S. The NFL, NBA, MLB and other professional leagues that sued Christie over New Jersey’s efforts to legalize are now embracing the industry, even partnering with gambling companies.

Giden said the resulting market has seen “absolutely crazy levels of expansion” thanks in part to a “user-friendly reputation” and the opportunity for states to pad their budgets. Giden predicted virtually every state will legalize the practice in the coming years.

“This feels more like ‘when’ than ‘if’ for the vast majority of states,” Giden said. “A lot of people don’t view sports betting the same way they view slots and poker and roulette as gambling-gambling — that, plus the opportunities for incremental revenue, have allowed sports betting to expand much, much faster than other betting options.”

Competition from neighboring states has helped spur policymakers into action, Giden said, as elected officials fear missing out on the windfall. The returns can be enormous: after New York allowed sports betting to move online this year, it shattered New Jersey’s single-month record by registering nearly $2 billion in bets.

California could match or surpass that. A legislative analysis said residents illegally wagered roughly $18.7 billion in 2016, based on an American Gaming Association estimate. The prospect of that type of profit has galvanized California players to try and control the nascent market. Tribal interests blocked a legislative proposal backed by professional sports leagues and non-tribal gambling interests as state lawmakers in 2020 tried to forge a deal.

“The different factions, to date, just have never really been able to come together on anything. There’s such distrust between them,” said state Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), who carried failed legislation to authorize betting. With online betting portals now entering the picture, Dodd added, “it probably is going to make it tougher on everyone in some respects, but they’ve at least got the money to put together a legitimate campaign and their competitors have to recognize that. Maybe that brings some others to the table.”

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu shows his receipt after placing the first legal sports wagering bet on his mobile phone in Manchester, N.H., Dec. 30, 2019.|Charles Krupa/AP Photo

Platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel have been key players in shaping the national landscape. After popularizing daily fantasy sports, which effectively served as a precursor to sports betting, the companies partnered with professional sports leagues and casinos and pushed into states where legalization is on the table. Each company has contributed $16.7 million toward the initiative campaign, a combined $100 million — significant but not unprecedented spending for a California ballot campaign.

“They’re very prominent,” Holden said. “They spend a ton of money lobbying in virtually every state, and they are significant market players too: Even in states where we do have exclusively tribal operations, a lot of those tribes are contracting with DraftKings or FanDuel to run their sports books.”

Florida showed how the clash between entrenched tribes and newcomer platforms can play out. A judge recently dissolved a pact allowing the Seminole Tribe to control sports wagering. Then a ballot initiative from DraftKings and FanDuel — framed as a boon to schools in a parallel to the homelessness-focused California effort — failed to gather enough signatures. The Seminole Tribe responded by running an ad that was somewhere between a victory lap and a dunk on the platforms.

“The Seminole Tribe of Florida wanted to secure exclusive control over both brick-and-mortar and online sports betting,” Wallach said. “There are definite parallels between the objectives of California Indian tribes and Florida Indian tribes.”

Much of the action in California will be defensive as players will spend prolifically to block their opponents. The tribes’ longtime gambling nemeses — card rooms and the tax-satiated cities where they are located — look unlikely to qualify a measure giving them a slice. Nevertheless, they have loaded more than $24 million into a campaign committee battling the tribes, warning the measure contains provisions that expose card rooms to greater legal peril and decimate municipal budgets.

In the unfolding pandemic, economic crisis and reckoning on race, governors and mayors are shaping our shared future. Who are the power players, and how are they driving politics and influencing Washington?

Full coverage »

“All these vital services cities provide for their residents depend on the revenue from these card rooms that these cities host,” said Juan Garza, executive director of the California Cities for Self-Reliance Joint Powers Authority, noting the card rooms furnish roughly 10,000 jobs.

It’s possible California’s fight could produce a costly stalemate this year. Industry players are prepared to spend heavily to defeat their opponents, and voters often react to multiple initiatives on the same topic by voting for none of them. That would shift the conflict to the next election cycle — when competition could be even more fierce.

“The finish line is clearly in view and there’s a chance that each stakeholder, each ballot proponent could be on the losing side,” Wallach said. “In 2024, California’s 19 national sports teams are going to look at the landscape around the country and wonder, ‘Well, why can’t we have that, too?’ There will be more seats around the table than in 2022.”

5. Can a person get a conviction expunged?

An expungement is possible for persons convicted under this statute.

A defendant can get a conviction expunged if he completes either:

• probation, or
• his jail term (whichever is applicable).

An expungement is favorable because it removes many of the hardships associated with a conviction.

What is the legal age to bet on sports in California?

The proposed age requirement for betting on sports in California is 21. However, nothing has been finalized yet so that – and the rest of the bill – is still subject to change. It’s worth noting that 21 is the standard age for sports betting in most states.

In California, online casinos, online sportsbooks, and online poker gambling are all illegal. However, a few online gaming options are still available for California players including daily fantasy sports (DFS), sweepstakes online poker, sweepstakes online casino, and horse race betting.

For now, California gamblers are limited to brick-and-mortar tribal casinos and state-licensed cardrooms. However, a coalition of California cities recently pushed forward a sports betting proposal called the “California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act,” which may appear on the November 2022 ballot. If all goes well, the Golden State could see sports betting go live sometime in 2023.

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of what currently is and isn’t legal in terms of betting in CA: