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California Online Casinos
Martin Green
Content writer
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California has never legalized real-money online casinos. For years, many Californians instead turned to sweepstakes casinos, which allowed you to play with virtual currencies but to redeem for cash prizes. As of Jan 1, 2026, California no longer permits sweeps sites, either. However, Californians can still play casino-style games online and potentially win real-money prizes. This page will explain how.
Top options for online casino-style games in California
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The status of legal online gambling in California
Most forms of online gambling are still illegal in California. The Golden State does not permit online casinos, sweepstakes casinos, online poker, or online sportsbooks. Californians cannot buy online lottery tickets either.
Fantasy sports apps accept players based in California, although state law does not explicitly permit them to do so.
Online racebooks are also legally available in California through licensed platforms. As a result, parimutuel betting sites are legal, even when the betting results are displayed through mechanics that look like slot machines.
You can play at social casino sites as well, as those do not allow any redemptions for cash prizes at all.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the current online gambling situation in California:
| Type of Gambling | Status | Gambling Age |
|---|---|---|
| Online casinos | Unavailable | n/a, but likely 21 |
| Sweepstakes casinos | Unavailable | In other states, 18 at most sites |
| Social casinos | Available | 18 |
| Online lottery | Unavailable | n/a, but likely 18 |
| Online sports betting | Unavailable | n/a, but likely 21 |
| Online poker | Unavailable | n/a |
| Online horse racing | Available | 18 |
| Parimutuel Powered Games (Formerly Called Racing Slots) | Available | 18 |
| DFS | Available | 18 |
Here are a few more resources about gambling laws in California:
California online poker
Find out the status of California online poker and what current options are available.
Are online casinos legal in California?
As of December 2025, real money online casinos are not available in California. Despite being home to a robust tribal gaming industry and numerous cardrooms, the state has yet to pass legislation allowing online casinos to operate legally.
Over the past decade, there has been some movement for real-money online gambling in the Golden State. However, those efforts have mostly focused on online sports betting and online poker. None have succeeded, largely due to opposition from tribal casino stakeholders and political divisions about regulatory control and revenue sharing.
The strongest push has been for online sports betting, which even went to the voters in November 2022. But voters rejected both propositions by a strong margin.
Social and sweepstakes casinos in California
Social and sweepstakes casinos, such as WOW Vegas, were a viable alternative for California players for many years. Those offered players the ability to play slots, table games, and more with two currencies. One of those currencies could be redeemed for real cash prizes. Since you were playing with virtual currencies and because you could play for free, these sites operated under federal promotional sweepstakes laws.
However, California lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill 831 to outlaw these sites. The bill passed through the state’s legislature with very little resistance and was signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Oct 11, 2025. As of Jan 1, 2026, it is the law of the land.
Other options for online casino-style games
There are other platforms that are perfectly legal in California that offer games that look and feel like traditional casino games. And with one of those types of platforms, you can win real money. Here is a bit more information about the two types of online sites that offer casino-style games:
Social casinos
Social casinos are very similar to sweepstakes casinos in that you can play virtually any type of casino game: slots, table games, bingo, slingo, and more. And you are playing with virtual credits.
The main difference is that with social casinos, you cannot redeem any currencies for real-money prizes. These platforms are simply for fun and, as the name suggests, for connecting with other players. You can make purchases within the site, but you do not do any form of gambling with that money.
Here are a few platforms that operate with this model:
- BetRivers.net
- Hard Rock Jackpot Planet
- Gambino Slots
- The WSOP app
Parimutuel Powered Games (sometimes called Racing Slots)
Parimutuel Powered Games (PPG) are sites that feature games that look just like traditional online slot machines. However, the results are not based on random number generators. The results are based on real, live horse races. They just look like slots in order to make the mechanics a little easier for horse racing novices.
In essence, with PPG, you are gambling on horse racing, just like if you were at a track. (And, importantly, you are betting on live horse races, not historical horse racing.) As a result, these sites are fully legal in California.
The most popular site for this type of online gambling is Horseplay Casino (formerly called b spot). However, another site, called GiddyUp, is set to launch soon to give Horseplay some competition.
Will California legalize real-money online casinos in the future?
In many states, sweepstakes bans have also come with legislative conversations about introducing legal online casinos.
Unfortunately, in California, the legalization landscape for online casinos is as complicated as ever. It’s much easier for the state to ban sweeps than it is to bring about regulated real-money online casinos. Right now, all the energy is about prohibition, not gaming expansion.
What about sports betting?
While there’s no active legislation for online casinos in 2025, momentum around legal sports betting may eventually reopen the conversation around broader online gambling. With California’s massive population and market potential, many industry experts see it as a future iGaming powerhouse — but only once a consensus is reached among key stakeholders.
In every other state that has legalized real-money online casinos, online sports betting either came first or at the same time. So usually that is the first hurdle that needs to be cleared. And California isn’t close to clearing it yet.
Tribal leaders admit that there is an urgent need to move California gambling online, but they insist it needs to “benefit all tribes.” After all, they rely on the income they receive from their retail casinos, which support more than 184,000 jobs and deliver an annual economic impact of $34.56 billion, according to the American Gaming Association.
The companies that run the country’s largest online casinos and sportsbooks have also acknowledged that the tribes are in the driving seat. “Tribal sovereignty around gaming is sacrosanct, and that goes for iGaming [online casinos] as well,” said FanDuel President Christian Genetski at a conference in February 2024. “It will be tribally led if it does, about what do tribes want on iGaming, what timetable would they want, what shape or form would they like that to take.”
All parties will be keen to avoid a repeat of the messy situation that unfolded in 2022, when rival groups spent approximately $460 million promoting their measures and attacking the rival initiatives.
If online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks are to be legalized, the tribes will need to control the industry, while also finding a way to placate the commercial cardroom owners. They could then all unite behind one ballot measure seeking to introduce online gambling, which would stand a significantly better chance of gaining voter approval than Prop 27.
Indian Gaming Association conference chair Victor Rocha believes that in-person sports betting could begin in 2026, followed by online sports wagering in 2028. Johnny Hernandez Jr., vice chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, acknowledges that online sports betting will “eventually lead into iGaming,” but that may take several years to play out.
Legalization timeline
Here’s a brief list of relevant gambling legalization efforts that have occurred in California in recent years:
2026: Sweepstakes casino ban takes effect on Jan. 1.
2025: Sweepstakes casinos are facing a state-wide ban after AB 831 is signed into law by Gov. Newsom in October.
2024: Tribal leaders in California said they feel an “urgency” to roll out online gambling in the Golden State, but they said they will take the time to do it right.
2023: Two proposed ballot initiatives were filed with California’s attorney general, both seeking to provide Native American tribes the exclusive rights to control in-person and online sports betting in the state.
2022: Californians voted “no” to Prop 26 and Prop 27, rejecting the chance to introduce legal sports betting.
2021: Dozens of California tribes joined forces for a campaign to legalize in-person sports betting on tribal lands, and they gathered enough signatures to place a measure on the 2022 ballot. Online sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel spearheaded a separate campaign seeking to legalize online and in-person sports betting.
Options for online casino-style games in California
Social casinos in California are similar to online casinos. They allow you to play slots, table games, instant wins games, and every other type of game you would find at a real-money site. However, you play entirely for free, using a virtual currency.
Racing slots are also similar to online casinos in that the games look like slots and can be played for real money. However, the results are based completely on live horse races, not random number generation.
Here is more detail about the sites that we consider the best options for Californians:
BetRivers.net
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BetRivers.net is a top pick for Californians who want a true “casino floor” feel without real-money stakes. It’s a play-for-fun social casino packed with 1,000+ games, including 850+ slots and 25+ live dealer titles. Unlike many sites, you’re not just limited to reels; you can also jump into live-style tables for a more authentic vibe.
New players can grab a 250 VC$ welcome offer, and there are plenty of repeatable freebies (like a daily wheel that can award up to 1,000 VC$). Just keep in mind these Virtual Credits can’t be cashed out—it’s purely for entertainment.
BetRivers.net is polished and mobile-friendly, with a strong mix of slots, tables, and live dealer options for a social platform. However, we’d like to see a dedicated native app and more “social” community features beyond sharing wins.
Hard Rock Jackpot Planet
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Hard Rock Jackpot Planet is the best choice in California for players who want a sleek, app-first social casino experience with heavy progression and rewards. It’s built around virtual slots inspired by Vegas-style games, with variety across formats like Megaways, progressives, classic 3-reel slots, and Slingo. Plus, missions, clans, and collectible card sets keep you chasing the next unlock.
The welcome bonus is big: 10,000,000 free Coins when you download and register. These are in-game coins (not redeemable), and Hard Rock is very clear the app doesn’t offer real-money gambling. Where it stands out is perks: you can link Unity by Hard Rock to earn loyalty benefits tied to eligible in-app purchases.
The user experience is stylish and on-brand, but the lobby guides you to try certain titles. That’s great if you like leveling up, but it’s less ideal if you prefer instantly browsing hundreds of games.
Horseplay Casino
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Horseplay Casino is the most distinctive option for Californians because it isn’t a standard social/sweepstakes casino model. Instead, Horseplay operates as an advance deposit wagering (ADW) service, and its casino-style games are powered by real horse racing results. When you buy credits, you’re effectively placing horse-race bets, then using the games to reveal what those wagers won (if anything).
Horseplay is available in California because it legally operates via a pari-mutuel/horse-racing framework rather than sweepstakes laws or real-money online casino gambling. New users can claim a 100% match bonus up to $250 on a first credit purchase (with a $10 minimum).
Horseplay’s UX is clean and mobile-forward, and you get to play for real money. However, the library is smaller (around 100 games), so Horseplay lacks the depth you’ll see at big social casinos—especially if you’re looking for live dealer tables or a massive slot catalog.
What online casino games are available in California?
Social casinos and horse racing slot platforms in California offer hundreds of games. Many are similar to the games found at online casinos in regulated states, but there are also some unique options.
Slots
You can play online slots at every online casino-style platform in California. Some of them replicate the slot machines on offer at brick-and-mortar casinos run by tribes in the Golden State. You simply spin the reels and hope to match up symbols on one or more paylines.
There are also lots of innovative games, many of which are still uncommon at tribal casinos in the Golden State. The slots at sites in California follow lots of different themes, and they can also have different features, volatility levels, and theoretical payout rates.
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular table games in California, as it offers a simple format, a low house edge, and fast-paced action. You can play blackjack in-person at tribal casinos and cardrooms, but it is often quicker and easier to play online at a social casino.
The goal is simply to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going bust. However, you need to follow the optimal strategy in order to reduce the house edge as low as possible.
Roulette
Online roulette is another hugely popular casino game in California. If you play in-person, tribal casinos must introduce cards into the mix, but you won’t find this wrinkle online.
Simply watch the ball spinning around the wheel and wait for it to nestle into a pocket.
You’ll find variants like European roulette (single zero) and American roulette (double zero) at social casinos.
Video Poker
In video poker, you compete against the house rather than your fellow players. However, the format is similar to live poker, and you are rewarded for compiling the best hand possible.
Unlike live poker, you do not have to visit a cardroom and wait for a game or tournament to begin. You can dip in and out whenever you like, and there is no need to bluff or set traps, so it may appeal to anyone that struggles to maintain a poker face.
Poker-style table games
There are also various table games in which you play against the dealer or house.
Some are similar to the poker-style table games found at California cardrooms, such as:
Other table games Californians can play are
Live dealer
These games connect Californians with real dealers based in dedicated studios. You can play on your phone or computer, from anywhere in the Golden State, and you can interact with the dealer throughout.
Live dealer games include blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and poker-style games.
Tip:
Keep track of California's efforts to legalize online gambling with our casino bill tracker.
Why you should choose legal California online casino options
If you search for online casinos in California, you may encounter several sites claiming to be legal online casinos in the state. Sites like Bovada and BetOnline are slick, convincing, and professional.
However, these sites are not legal in the United States. Because they are often based in Costa Rica or Curaçao, we usually refer to them as “offshore” casinos.
Offshore casinos are unregulated, meaning they have no legal permission to operate in the United States. You are not covered by any state or federal consumer protection laws if you play casino games at those sites, so you have no recourse if they scam you.
This consumer vulnerability presents two major issues. First, you cannot trust the casino games hosted at those sites to deliver fair, accurate results. Licensed, legal online casinos in the United States can only host games that are independently verified for fairness and accuracy at labs approved by American regulators. That is not the case at offshore casinos.
Secondly, you cannot rely on an offshore casino to pay out if you request a withdrawal. They may simply decide not to pay you, and you cannot report them to any state or federal authorities, as they are unregulated. For those reasons, it is wise to steer well clear of offshore casinos. Stick to the legal options in the US.
California retail casinos & cardrooms
There are 89 cardrooms and 66 tribal casinos in California. These are the three largest retail casinos to visit.
Responsible gambling in California
California provides a range of free resources for anyone that wants to learn more about responsible gambling. The California Office of Problem Gambling site offers tips and advice, along with warning signs that could indicate a gambling problem.
If you have a gambling problem, you can get free help from a certified gambling counselor or licensed therapist in California. This service is normally free. Visit the California Council on Problem Gambling to learn more.
There is also a state-funded, no-cost inpatient treatment program in California, where you will live in a residential facility and receive around-the-clock care.
California residents can also use the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP) website. The site offers many helpful services, including self-exclusion tools and helping players find local support groups and therapy services.
California Online Casinos FAQ
As of Jan 1, 2026, sweepstakes casinos are not allowed in California. Instead, California players can use parimutuel powered games at sites like Horseplay and GiddyUp to win real money on games that resemble slots.
Californians can also play on social casinos, such as BetRivers.net and Hard Rock Social casino. However, while those sites offer way more games types than a parimutuel site, you cannot gain any prizes whatsoever from social casinos.
Players must be at least 18 years old to play at both parimutuel powered game sites and at social casinos.
There are a few different gambling regulators in California. The California Gambling Control Commission oversees card rooms in the state. It also works with the Bureau of Gambling Control and the California Tribal Gaming Agencies to regulate tribal casinos. The California Horse Racing Board regulates pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, while the California Lottery Commission runs the state lottery.
The minimum gambling age in California is 18. Players who are 18 or older can play casino games, buy CA lottery tickets, or bet on horse racing. However, many retail casinos serve alcohol, which means you must be 21 or older to visit them.
There are 76 retail casinos on tribal lands in California. The Golden State also has five mini-casinos, along with 72 state-licensed card rooms. The largest tribal casinos in California include Yaamava’ Resort Casino, Pechanga Casino, and Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.
Yes. If you end up with net winnings, you must pay taxes on gambling activities in California. The IRS deems gambling winnings to be taxable income. However, you only need to pay tax if you end the year with an overall profit.
It is unwise to try to gamble online with a VPN if you are in California. Legal real money online casinos have sophisticated software that will detect your VPN, and you will not be accepted. A VPN may allow you to play at certain offshore casinos, but they are best avoided, as they may not pay out if you win.
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