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California Gambling Laws

This guide breaks down the various California gambling laws. We will explain which forms of gambling are permitted and prohibited and delve into the key legal developments that have shaped the modern California gambling industry.

What are the penalties for breaking California gambling law?

Illegal gambling is considered a misdemeanor under Penal Code 330 PC in California. All participants, including the hosts, dealers, and players, face being arrested if they are found to be playing “any banking or percentage game played with cards, dice, or any device, for money, checks, credit, or other representative of value.”

The law states that the punishment for engaging in a banking or percentage is “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.” A judge can award a misdemeanor probation in lieu of jail time.

What legal gambling locations are available in California?

Tribal casinos and cardrooms are the main legal gambling locations in California. You can also place pari-mutuel bets at a handful of racetracks, and there are more than 23,000 licensed lottery retailers in the Golden State.

This chart highlights the legal gambling locations in California. We have highlighted the location of each venue and the types of games you can play.

VenueLocationGames offered
500 Club CasinoClovisBaccarat, Blackjack, Hold’em
Ace & VineNapaBlackjack, 3 Card Poker
Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral CityCathedral CitySlots, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker
Agua Caliente Casino Palm SpringsPalm Springs3 Card Poker, Let It Ride, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Caribbean Stud, Hot Water Craps, Mystery Card Roulette, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Crazy 4 Poker
Agua Caliente Casino Rancho MirageRancho Mirage3 Card Poker, Let It Ride, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Caribbean Stud, Hot Water Craps, Mystery Card Roulette, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Crazy 4 Poker
Artichoke Joe’sSan Bruno3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Cal Blackjack, Hold’em
Augustine CasinoWest CoachellaSlots, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack
Bankers CasinoSalinasHold’em, Omaha, 3 Card Poker, EZ, Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Barona CasinoLakesideSlots, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud, Casino War, Craps, EZ Baccarat, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Card Roulette, Poker Room
Bay 101 CasinoSan JoseLimit and No Limit Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Pai Gow Tiles, Crazy 4 Poker, Golden Frog Baccarat, Face Up Pai Gow Poker
Bear River CasinoLoletaSlots, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Card Roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Poker Room
Black Oak CasinoTuolumneSlots, 3 Card Poker, 4 Card Poker, Blackjack, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Spanish 21, Casino War, Poker Room
Blue Lake Casino HotelBlue LakeSlots, Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Pai Gow Poker, Texas Hold’em, Bingo Hall
Cache Creek CasinoBrooksSlots, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Poker Room
Cahuilla Creek CasinoAnzaSlots, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack
Cal-Expo Race TrackSacramentoPari-Mutuel Betting
California GrandPachecoTexas Hold’em, Blackjack, Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker
Capitol CasinoSacramentoPure 21.5 Blackjack, Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Texas Hold’em, Omaha
Casino M8trixSan JoseLimit and No Limit Hold’em, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Casino War, Crazy 4 Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Casino MarysvilleMarysvilleBlackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Pai Gow Poker
Casino PaumaPauma ValleySlots, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Poker Room
Central Coast CasinoGrover BeachNo Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha
Chicken Ranch CasinoJamestownSlots, Blackjack, Spanish 21, 4 Card Poker, 3 Card Poker, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, Bingo Hall
Chukchansi Gold Resort & CasinoCoarsegoldSlots, Blackjack, Progressive Face Up Pai Gow, Dai Baccarat, Let It Ride
Chumash CasinoSanta YnezSlots, 3 Card Poker, 4 Card Poker, Blackjack, EZ Baccarat, Mystery Card Roulette, Pai Gow, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Mississippi Stud
Commerce Casino & HotelCommercePot Limit Hold’em, No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Big O, Mexican Poker, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, Lowball, Mixed Games, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, EZ Baccarat, Blackjack, Blackjack Switch, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, 3 Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Crazy 4 Poker, Casino War
Coyote Valley CasinoRedwood ValleySlots, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Single Deck Blackjack, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Poker Room
Crystal CasinoCompton7 Card Stud, Blackjack, Double Down Stud Poker, Draw Poker, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Let It Ride, Hold’em, Omaha
Del Mar FairgroundsDel MarPari-Mutuel Betting
Del Rio & CasinoIsletonThree Card Poker
Desert Rose CasinoAlturasSlots, Blackjack
Diamond Jim’s CasinoRosamond3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Fortune Pai Gow, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Diamond Mountain Casino & HotelSusanvilleSlots, Blackjack, Poker Tables, Bingo Games
Eagle Mountain CasinoPortervilleSlots, 3 Card Poker, 4 Card Poker, Face Up, EZ Baccarat, 21 Stud, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, I Luv Suits Poker
Elk Valley CasinoCrescent CitySlots, Blackjack, Poker Room, Bingo Games
Empire Sportsmen’s AssociationModesto3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Double Hand Poker, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Hold’em
Epoch CasinoRancho CordovaBaccarat, Blackjack, Face-Up Pai Gow, Ultimate Texas Hold'Em, 3 Card Poker
Fairplex ParkPomonaPari-Mutuel Betting
Fantasy Springs CasinoIndioSlots, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud, EZ Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Pan, Spanish 21, Bingo Hall
Garcia River CasinoPoint ArenaSlots
Garlic City CasinoGilroyLimit and No Limit Hold’em, Blackjack, EZ Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Pan
Golden Acorn Casino & Travel CenterCampoSlots
Golden West CasinoBakersfieldNo Limit Hold’em, Limit Hold’em, Omaha, 3 Card Poker, EZ, Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Graton Resort & CasinoRohnert ParkSlots, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Pai Go Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Poker Room
Harrah’s Resort Southern CaliforniaValley CenterSlots, Rincon Craps, Craps No More, Mystery Card Roulette, 6 Card Poker, Fortune EZ Pai Gow, Face Up Pai Gow, Blackjack, EZ Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Let It Ride
Havasu Landing Resort CasinoNeedlesSlots, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack
Hidden Oaks CasinoCoveloSlots
Hollywood Park CasinoInglewood3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Crazy 4 Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Pan-9, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud, Chinese Poker, Mixed Games
Humboldt County FairgroundsFerndalePari-Mutuel Betting
Hustler CasinoGardenaBlackjack, Limit and No Limit Texas Hold’em, No Collection EZ Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker
Kings Card ClubStocktonEZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Buster Blackjack X, 3 Card Poker, Texas Hold’em
Lake Elsinore CasinoLake ElsinoreHold’em, Omaha, Pure 21 Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, Spanish 21, Crazy 4 Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, 7 Card Stud, Pai Gow Poker, EZ Baccarat
Larry Flynt’s Lucky Lady CasinoGardenaTexas Hold’em, Short Deck Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo 3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Pai Gow, EZ Baccarat
Limelight CardroomSacramentoBlackjack, Texas Hold’em
Livermore CasinoLivermoreHold’em, Omaha, Blackjack, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Pai Gow
Los Alamitos Race CourseCypressPari-Mutuel Betting
Lucky 7 CasinoSmith RiverSlots, Blackjack
Lucky Bear CasinoHoopaSlots
Lucky Chances CasinoColmaLimit and No Limit Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud, Pai Gow, Double Hand Poker, 3 Card Poker, Pure 21.5 Blackjack
Mono Wind CasinoAuberrySlots
Monterey CasinoMarina3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Texas Hold’em
Morongo Casino Resort & SpaCabazonSlots, 3 Card Poker, 7 Card Stud, Blackjack, Craps, EZ Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Poker Room, Bingo Hall
Napa Valley CasinoAmerican CanyonLimit and No Limit Hold’em, Omaha, Baccarat, Blackjack
Oaks Card ClubEmeryvilleLimit and No-Limit Hold’em, Omaha, Stud and also Blackjack, Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker
Ocean’s Eleven CasinoOceansideLimit Hold’em, No Limit Hold’em, Omaha, Blackjack, Dragon Dai Bacc, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Progressive Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Oceanview CasinoSanta CruzLimit and No Limit Hold’em, Omaha, Omahi Hi-Lo, Blackjack
Outlaws Card ParlorAtascadero3 Card Poker, Blackjack, No Limit Hold’em
Pala Casino Spa and ResortPalaSlots, Blackjack, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Pala Roulette, Pala Craps
Palace Poker CasinoHaywardLimit and No Limit Hold’em, 3 Card Poker, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Blackjack
Parkwest Bicycle CasinoBell Gardens3 Card Poker, 7 Card Stud, Blackjack, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Pan, Super Pan 9, Let It Ride, California Lowball, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Mixed Games
Parkwest CasinoManteca3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Texas Hold’em
Parkwest Casino 580LivermoreTexas Hold’em, Blackjack, Pan, Draw Poker, 7 Card Stud, Pai Gow Poker, Lo Ball
Parkwest Casino CordovaRancho Cordova3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Omaha, Texas Hold’em
Parkwest Casino LodiLodiBaccarat, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Texas Hold’em
Parkwest Casino SonomaPetalumaHold’em, Blackjack, Pai Gow
Pechanga Resort & CasinoTemeculaSlots, 3 Card Poker, 7 Card Stud, Blackjack, Craps, EZ Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, Let It Ride, Mini-Baccarat, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Poker Room
Pete’s 881 Club & Poker RoomSan RafaelLimit and No Limit Hold’em, Omaha
Pit River CasinoBurneySlots, Blackjack
Player’s CasinoVentura3 Card Poker, Blackjack, EZ Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Pleasanton Fairgrounds RacetrackPleasantonPari-Mutuel Betting
Quechan Casino ResortWinterhavenSlots, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Red Earth CasinoSalton CitySlots, Blackjack
Red Fox CasinoLaytonvilleSlots
Red Hawk CasinoPlacervilleSlots, Blackjack, Blackjack Switch, Fortune Pai Gow, Mystery Card Roulette, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, EZ Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat, Poker Room
Redwood Hotel & CasinoKlamathSlots
River Rock CasinoGeyservilleSlots, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Spanish
Robinson Rancheria Resort & CasinoNiceSlots, Blackjack, 3 Poker, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, Baccarat, Bingo Hall
Rogelio’s Poker Room IsletonIsletonTexas Hold’em, Omaha and Crazy Pineapple
Rolling Hills CasinoCorningSlots, 3 Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Blackjack
Running Creek CasinoUpper LakeSlots, Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
San Pablo Lytton CasinoSan PabloSlots
Santa Anita ParkArcadiaPari-Mutuel Betting
Seven Mile CasinoChula VistaLimit Hold’em, No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Blackjack, Fortune Pai Gow, EZ Baccarat
Sherwood Valley CasinoWillitsSlots
Soboba Legends CasinoSan JacintoSlots, 3 Card Poker, Chase the Flush, Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Sonoma County FairSanta RosaPari-Mutuel Betting
Spotlight 29 CasinoCoachellaSlots, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Mini-Baccarat, Mystery Card Roulette, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Stars CasinoTracy3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, Texas Hold’em, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Stones Gambling HallCitrus HeightsBaccarat, California Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Omaha, Texas Hold’em
Sycuan Resort & CasinoEl CajonSlots, Blackjack, Spanish 21, Free Bet, Mystery Card Roulette, Craps-Style Games, Poker Room, Bingo Hall
Table Mountain CasinoFriantSlots, 3 Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Face Up Pai Gow, EZ Baccarat, I Luv Suits, Blackjack, Bahama Bonus, Mystery Card Roulette
Tachi PalaceLemooreSlots, Blackjack, Stax Progressive, Spanish 21, 3 Card Poker, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, EZ Pai Gow Poker, Baccarat, Richer Roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Poker Room, Bingo Hall
The Aviator CasinoDelano3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Hold’em Mexican Poker
The Big Fresno FairFresnoPari-Mutuel Betting
The Casino Club ReddingReddingBlackjack, 3 Card Poker, No-Limit and Limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Pot Limit Omaha
The Deuce Lounge & CasinoVisaliaHold’em, Spanish 21
The Gardens CasinoHawaiian Gardens3 Card Poker, 7 Card Stud, Baccarat, Blackjack, Draw Poker, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Hold’em, Omaha
The Heights CasinoTrinidadSlots, Blackjack, Card Roulette, Poker Room, Bingo Hall
The Nineteenth HoleAntiochCard Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack
Thunder Valley CasinoLincolnSlots, Blackjack, Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, 4 Card Poker, DJ Wild Stud, Zappit Blackjack, Craps Card Game, Poker Room, Bingo Hall
Towers CasinoGrass ValleyPoker, Blackjack
Turlock Poker RoomTurlockHold’em, Mexican Poker, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Twin Pine CasinoMiddletownSlots, Blackjack, 3 Card Poker
Valley View Casino & HotelValley CenterSlots, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, 3 Card Poker, Richer Roulette
Viejas Casino & ResortAlpineSlots, EZ Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps-Style Games, Fortune Pai Gow, 3 Card Poker, 6 Card Poker, Mystery Card Roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Bingo Hall
Wanaaha Palace CasinoBishopSlots, Blackjack, 3 Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Win-River CasinoReddingSlots, 3 Card Poker, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Hold’em
Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San ManuelHighlandSlots, Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Pure 21 Blackjack, 3 Card Poker, Let It Ride, Spanish 21, Crazy 4 Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, 7 Card Stud, Pai Gow Poker, EZ Baccarat

If a gambling location is not featured on the list above, it is likely to be illegal. As mentioned earlier, you face being arrested if you participate in illegal gambling in California, and the punishment can be a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.

Timeline of legal gambling in California

These are the key laws that have shaped California’s modern gambling industry. Many have been amended in the ensuing years in order to keep up with technological and behavioral changes.

Pari-mutuel wagering was legalized via Assembly Constitutional Amendment 119 after voters approved a ballot measure in 1933. This law, known as the Horse Racing Act of 1933, added Section 25a to Article IV of the California Constitution, creating the California Horse Racing Board.

Several rules and regulations have been approved in the ensuing years to ensure the Horse Racing Board can effectively regulate pari-mutuel wagering. Satellite wagering was legalized at fairgrounds in 1985 and expanded to include private facilities in 2008.

Advance deposit wagering was legalized in 2002, allowing horseplayers to place wagers online or over the phone. However, unlike Colorado and New Jersey, California has not passed any laws that would permit fixed-odds betting on horse racing.

This act allows the state lottery to offer draw games and scratchers in California. Initially, the lottery was required to return 50% of its revenue to players in the form of prizes, with at least 34% going to public education and the rest spent on administrative expenses.

In April 2010, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 142, which amended the Lottery Act. This amendment reallocated lottery revenues.

It stated that at least 50% must be returned to the public in the form of prizes. Of the remaining funds, at least 87% must go to public education, and a maximum of 13% can go to administration.

In 1996, the state lottery had to stop offering keno games after the Supreme Court of California ruled that it was a house-banked game and not a lottery game. At the time, house-banked games were illegal in California, and they are now only permitted at tribal casinos.

The Legislature enacted this law in 1997 after recognizing the need for greater oversight over California’s gambling industry.

The Gambling Control Act created the Division of Gambling Control within the Attorney General’s Office and a five-member California Gambling Control Commission appointed by the governor.

In 2007, California’s Attorney General redefined the Division as a Bureau of Gambling Control, positioned in the Department of Justice’s Division of Law Enforcement, following the passage of Senate Bill 82.

In September 1999, 61 California tribes finalized tribal-state gaming compacts following years of negotiations.

California voters then approved Proposition 1A, the Gambling on Tribal Lands Amendment, in March 2000. This authorized the governor to negotiate tribal-state gaming compacts with federally recognized Native American tribes.

The tribal-state gaming compacts received approval from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs in May 2000 and became effective immediately. The compacts have been amended several times as the industry develops.

In 2024, the Assembly and the Senate approved SB 549, known as the Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act. The proposed law could give tribes in California the chance to sue cardrooms and their third-party service providers.

This could determine whether the cardrooms violate state law, which is supposed to give the tribes exclusivity over house-banked table games like blackjack and baccarat.

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