California Online Poker
Californians have long enjoyed poker at tribal casinos and famous California cardrooms such as The Commerce Casino and The Gardens Casino. As such, many would love to see California online poker. Unfortunately, online poker for any sort of cash or prizes is not available in the Golden State. The only options for Californians is online poker that is completely for fun, such as BetRivers.net.
Real-money online poker has never been available in California, like it has been in states such as Nevada, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Online poker for cash and prizes at sweepstakes sites was available for many years. However, they are restricted in California as of Jan 1, 2026.
This guide will discuss the current legal situation and examine what the future might hold for online poker in California.
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Can I play online poker in California?
You cannot play online poker for real money or for any prizes in California. The only option available for California players are sites where you are playing purely for fun and pride.
The best online poker option in California
Traditional online poker sites like PokerStars are not currently permitted to accept players in California. However, we have identified one high-quality social casino site that welcome players in the Golden State.
BetRivers.net
BetRivers.net is Rush Street Interactive’s play-for-fun social casino, built around Virtual Credits (VC$) rather than real money. The site is strictly entertainment-only (21+), and it’s upfront that you can’t cash out—Virtual Credits have no real-world value and can’t be redeemed for money or prizes.
Poker-wise, BetRivers.net is all about casino-style poker rather than a full peer-to-peer poker room. You won’t find ring games with real opponents or a tournament lobby like a traditional online poker site—instead, the “poker” menu is anchored by video poker (including multi-hand options) plus casino poker table games (like Casino Hold’Em).
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Video poker available (examples you’ll see in the lobby include Poker Royale! Jacks, Poker Royale! Deuces, Poker Royale! Regal Double, Poker Royale! Deuces Elite, and Double Double Bonus Poker 100 Hand)
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Casino poker table games are part of the broader table/live-dealer mix (e.g., Casino Hold’Em is listed among the table options in reviews of the .net lobby)
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Formats: single-hand video poker plus faster multi-hand variants (including 100-hand styles)
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Bankroll/stakes: VC$ bet sizing varies by title, with the familiar “coin” style wagering typical of video poker; VC$ is displayed as $1 for gameplay, but remains non-redeemable
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Competitive play: BetRivers.net runs site-wide promos and tournament-style events (commonly centered on slots/leaderboards), but it’s not a traditional poker MTT schedule
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Free credits: you can claim periodic VC$ refills and daily bonuses, with optional purchases if you want to keep playing
Can I play with players in other states?
As BetRivers.net is currently constructed, you are playing video poker, not poker against other players. However, if the site ever decides to offer peer-to-peer play, you will definitely be able to play against players in other states. BetRivers.net accepts players in all 50 states.
Nearby options
Real money online poker rooms are legal in neighboring Nevada. It is the only state west of the Mississippi River that has legalized traditional poker sites and apps.
If you drive from California to Nevada, you can play poker at WSOP Online. That is the only legal online poker room in the Silver State.
You can also play sweepstakes poker on sites such as Global Poker and Clubs Poker in neighboring states Oregon and Arizona. At those sites, you play with virtual currency, but if you win, you can exchange that currency for real cash and prizes.
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Potential online poker sites
If California legalizes online poker, the country’s leading poker sites will likely expand into the Golden State. These are the potential CA poker sites that could launch in the future.
PokerStars
PokerStars is the world’s most popular poker site, with more than 13 million customers on a global basis. Flutter Entertainment owns PokerStars, along with renowned sites like FanDuel and TVG.
This online poker room is live in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and it would be a leading candidate to expand into the Golden State. PokerStars offers a superb user interface, a busy schedule of signature tournaments and cash games, and fast, reliable payouts, so it could emerge as the No. 1 online poker room in California.
WSOP Online
WSOP Online is the digital arm of the World Series of Poker series, which Caesars Entertainment hosts in Nevada each year. The site is already available in Nevada, New Jersey, and Michigan and pools players from all three states.
Caesars Entertainment has strong relationships with several influential tribes in California, so it is another leading candidate to run online poker in the state if CA gambling laws change.
BetMGM Poker
BetMGM Poker is a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Entain, which runs the PartyPoker brand. The site runs on the PartyPoker US network, along with sister sites Borgata Poker and PartyPoker.
If California legalizes real money online poker rooms, BetMGM Poker is likely to bid for a license. Along with FanDuel and DraftKings, BetMGM is one of the country’s top three online gambling brands by market share, and it would not want to miss out on online poker in California.
Retail poker rooms in California
You can play poker at tribal casinos and commercial cardrooms in California. These are the five largest poker rooms in the Golden State.
The Commerce Casino & Hotel
The Commerce Casino is the world’s largest poker room. There are 210 poker tables spread across a 90,000 sq. ft. gaming floor, with “Cal games” and other card games available.
Cash games suit all budgets, with stakes ranging from $1/$2 to $400/$800 and a renowned high-stakes room. You will find a dazzling array of games, including Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple, Razz, and many more options.
Tournaments are hosted on a daily basis, often with 1,000 players. Famous names like Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth are frequent visitors, especially when signature events such as the World Poker Tour (WPT) Celebrity Invitational, WPT LA Poker Classic, and the California State Poker Championship are running at Commerce Casino.
- Address: 6131 Telegraph Road, Commerce, CA 90040
- Open 24/7
- Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple, Razz, mixed games, 7 Card Stud, Lowball, Draw Poker, 5 Card Stud, Open-Face Chinese Poker available
- Always hosts $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em, $2/$3 No Limit Hold’em, $5/$5 No Limit Hold’em, $3/$5 No Limit Hold’em, and $5/$10 No Limit Hold’em, plus $4/$8 Limit Hold’em, $8/$16 Limit Hold’em, and $20/$40 Limit Hold’em
- Blinds can go up to $400/$800 on No Limit Hold’em games and mixed games, which have a minimum buy-in of $4,000
- There are several daily tournaments, including $150, $300, $400, and $600 No Limit Hold’em events
- Signature tournaments include the WPT LA Poker Classic, the Los Angeles Poker Open, the Commerce Hold’em Series, and the California State Poker Championship
Parkwest Bicycle Casino
This is another huge poker room, which hosts high-profile events such as the WPT Legends of Poker series, WPT Circuit events, and the Ladies International Poker Series.
Parkwest Bicycle Casino is even larger than Commerce Casino, with a 100,000 sq. ft. gaming space, although it does not pack in quite as many tables. There are 185 tables at the Bike, including “Cal games,” poker cash games, and daily tournaments.
- Address: 888 Bicycle Casino Drive, Bell Gardens, CA 90201
- Open 24/7
- Available games
- Always hosts $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em, $2/$3 No Limit Hold’em, plus $6/$12 Limit Hold’em, $8/$16 Limit Hold’em, $20/$40 Limit Hold’em, and $12/$24 Big O/Stud 8, with minimum buy-ins ranging from $10 to $400
- Lots of other stakes and games are available on a regular basis, too
- There are multiple daily No Limit Hold’em tournaments to suit most budgets
- Notable annual tournaments include WPT Legends of Poker series, WPT Circuit events, the Ladies International Poker Series, and the Big Poker Oktober event
The Gardens Casino
The Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens has a 150,000 sq. ft. gaming space, featuring 110 tables. You can play cash games, daily tournaments, card games like blackjack and baccarat, and table poker games like 3 Card Poker and Pai Gow Poker.
High-profile events at The Gardens Casino include WPT Gardens Poker Championship and the WPT Gardens Poker Festival.
- Address: 11871 Carson St., Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716
- Open 24/7
- Offers Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, mixed games
- Always hosts $2/$3 No Limit Hold’em and $5/$5 No Limit Hold’em, plus $4/$8 Limit Hold’em and $8/$16 Limit Hold’em, with various other options available during busier hours
- Hosts No Limit Hold’em tournaments each day
- Major tournaments include WPT Gardens Poker Championship, the WPT Gardens Poker Festival, and the SoCal Fall Special
Hollywood Park Casino
This is yet another enormous poker room in the Los Angeles area, with more than 100 tables in a 100,000 sq. ft. gaming space.
You can play Hold’em and Omaha games, plus 7 Card Stud and mixed games. There are all the usual “Cal games,” including blackjack, baccarat, and poker-style games.
- Address: 3883 W. Century Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90303
- Open 24/7
- Hold’em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud, mixed games
- Always hosts $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em, $8/$16 Limit Hold’em, $4/$8 Limit 5 Card Omaha, and $20/$40 mixed games, with several additional options available at weekends and during the evenings
- There are one or two No Limit Hold’em tournaments per day at this poker room
- The $12,000 Friday Night Challenge is an eagerly anticipated event
Hustler Casino
This popular poker room is on the grounds of the old El Dorado Club, one of the original six card clubs in Gardena. Late owner Larry Flynt helped put the poker room at Hustler Casino on the map, as he presided over high-profile 7 Card Stud games.
Hustler Casino now has more than 70 tables, making it one of the five largest cardrooms in the state.
- Address: 1000 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., Gardena, CA 90247
- Open 24/7
- Hold’em, Omaha, mixed games available
- Always offers $1/$3 No Limit Hold’em, $2/$3 No Limit Hold’em, $5/$5 No Limit Hold’em, and $2/$5 No Limit Hold’em, plus $4/$8 Limit Hold’em, $8/$16 Limit Hold’em, and $6/$12 Limit 5 Card Omaha
- Daily tournaments
- Tournament series/notable annual tournaments (if any)
Underground poker rooms and unregulated poker sites in California
It is important to avoid unlicensed poker rooms in California. Players can be arrested, fined up to $1,000, and put in jail for up to six months for participating in illegal gambling in the Golden State.
We also highly recommend steering clear of unregulated poker sites in California. These sites are based overseas and have no permission to operate in the United States, but they still try to target Californians.
Unfortunately, many American poker players and casino players have been scammed after registering with unlicensed gambling sites. You have no legal recourse if an unregulated site steals your money, as they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the state or federal government, so it is sensible to avoid these sites and play at social online poker rooms instead.
Future outlook for online poker in California
We expect to see online poker legalized in California, but it could take several years. In 2022, California voters rejected the chance to legalize online sports betting after the state’s powerful Native American tribes opposed the plans.
However, the tribes now accept that there is an “urgency to move gaming online.” They believe online sports betting will be legalized first, followed by online casinos and poker rooms.
The country’s largest online gambling operators, including FanDuel, have now accepted that “tribal sovereignty around gaming is sacrosanct.” As such, the tribes are highly likely to control California’s regulated online poker market if it materializes, but they could host sites like PokerStars and WSOP Online on their master gaming licenses.
Bart Shirley
