CA is home to nearly 100 real money poker card rooms, 68 tribal casinos and a plethora of horseracing tracks and thanks to all those real cash gambling options, many people say California, and not Las Vegas, is the gambling capital of the United States. High stakes poker betting pros and rich businessmen alike flock to the state to play in some of the biggest real cash poker and casino games and tournaments in the world. Gigantic casinos like the Commerce attract millions of tourists to California each and every year, rivalling historic landmarks like the Hollywood Walk of Fame in popularity. Remember though, all these 2020 betting options are at land based casinos not poker websites or Internet casinos.
Due to its nearly 38 million residents, California is on the radar of just about every state that has already passed, or is in the process of passing, laws that legalize regulated Internet gambling and lawful real money Internet poker. Interstate compacts involving California would do wonders for the popularity of online poker websites in the United States.
Instead, the federal laws associated with online gambling restrict US citizens from using US-based financial facilities to fund online casino play. Saying that, if you are able to fund an online casino using an overseas account, you must make sure that you are also following any state laws in respect to gambling in general.
However, although committees have been trying to hash out a plan that would bring legal Internet poker to California for some time, no new gambling legislation has actually been passed yet. But make no mistake; California is undoubtedly the state most likely to pass an iGaming bill in the very near future and open up casinos and poker websites to CA residents.
Avid poker players in The Golden State will have no trouble at all signing up for an account at any one of our real money US poker sites.
PokerStars Forges Historic Partnership With Morongo Tribe, California Cardrooms
Quick Jump
- 6 The Facts
In a display of impeccable timing, the release was issued during a hearing held by the State Assembly’s Committee on Governmental Organization to discuss the fiscal and public policy implications of legalizing online real money poker in California.
Currently in 2020, the bills up for consideration by legislatures both call for a “bad actor” clause, which would effectively eliminate the world’s biggest Internet poker gambling provider, PokerStars from the equation.
The bad actor issue may inevitably delay the passage of a regulatory gaming act in California and cause serious delays on bringing legit poker gambling on the Internet to long suffering players in CA.
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New Jersey online poker has been struggling to find its footing in the Garden State. This isn’t breaking news, of course: ever since the state produced impressive Internet…
Can Players from California Play Online Poker?
Yes. Although online Internet poker will likely not be regulated by the state of California for another year, players are free to sign up with over a dozen real-money poker websites offering real money poker gambling to United States citizens, which is great news for poker gambling fans. Compare this to other states, like New York and Washington that make it difficult for players to start betting on Internet poker anywhere.
Is Online Poker Legal in California?
Although we are not an authority on the legality of Internet poker in California, we have researched this issue extensively. Listed below are several points of interest concerning 2020‘s current California real cash gambling laws:
- Online poker is not regulated by the state of California.
- Commercial casinos are authorized by the state of CA, however games where the outcome of each bet is determined by dice alone, such as craps, cannot be operated by card rooms that offer games like real money poker.
- Tribal casinos are authorized by the state and can house non-card games like craps.
- Sports betting is not authorized by the state of California.
- Various forms of lotteries are authorized by the state
- All forms of real money poker gambling are authorized by the state, except online Internet poker.
- There is no California law directly prohibiting or criminalizing the act of placing a wager at a poker websites online.
- Internet horseracing is authorized.
For a more comprehensive look at California gambling laws, interested parties are encouraged to read the latest edition of the Gambling Law, Regulations, and Resource Information – 2020 edition [1].
Poker players in California are advised to research the CA state laws before concluding as to whether online Internet poker is legal or not. Remember, there is a distinct difference between something being ‘prohibited’ and ‘non-regulated.’ Brian Mickers wrote a great article on the topic of lawful poker websites; one that provides in-depth insight into the issue of Internet poker [2].
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Recent Developments
In 2013, three separate pieces of real cash Internet poker legislation were introduced in California. They were:
- SB 51 – Senator Roderick Wright’s “Internet Gambling Consumer Protection and Public-Private Partnership Act of 2013”
- SB 678 – Senator Lou Correa’s “Authorization and Regulation of Internet Poker and Consumer Protection Act of 2013”
- The Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2013 – An online poker bill sponsored by eight California tribes.
The Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2015 was filed by Assemblyman Mark Gatto. The bill would legalize Internet poker but keep the ‘bad actor’ clause which bans poker operators who have violated the law before.
Besides Gatto’s 2015 Act, the he aforementioned lawful poker bills have all failed to generate much momentum in government, largely because of the influx of infighting among California State’s varied gambling interests at the time. Tribal casinos enjoy several tax advantages in the real money betting world, and may not be willing to give up a piece of revenue generated through real cash poker website profits. They’re also adamantly against interstate compacts and racetrack participation. Others feel that online Internet poker companies should only be allowed to operate through card rooms based in CA and bring betting fans a slice of the Internet Texas Hold’em action.
That, and there was little evidence from other states besides California as to the viability of a lawful Internet poker market.
Joe Correa made SB 678 severable. This means that if any portion of the gambling websites bill is deemed unacceptable it can be made invalid immediately. By taking this urgent measure, Correa hoped to get SB 678 enacted into law before the September 6, 2013 deadline. It didn’t work, and the issue of legit real money Internet poker was put off until 2014 [3].
Then, at the February 2014 legislative deadline, two new poker gambling website bills were introduced:
- SB 1366: Effectively a rehash of SB 678; backed by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
- AB 2291: Introduced by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, AB 2291 is essentially the assembly version of SB 1366.
Unfortunately, all parties could not reach an agreement about the terms of the new regulations before the end of the 2014 session, meaning the bills were dumped.
In December 2014, Assemblyman Mike Gatto took over the online poker cause and filed a new bill, AB9. Its full title is the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2015 and it aims to bring regulated legal online poker to CA.
Notable aspects of the bills include:
- The real cash poker Internet bill would require provisions that would ensure the safety of player funds.
- The minimum age to play online Internet poker in the state of California would be 21.
- Players must be located within the State of California in order to start gambling on real money poker websites.
- Betting companies that violate federal law would not be permitted to set up poker gambling and casino operations.
- All online poker website software would have to include self-exclusion features such as loss limits and time-outs for real cash poker players to implement themselves.
- Licenses for real money Internet poker would be valid for 10 years, non-transferable and cost $5 million.
- Regulations would go into effect within 270 days of passage.
The Facts
The History of Gambling in California
18501850
Even before California became a state, card rooms have been up and running since 1850. These were also known as “California Casinos” or “Card Clubs”.
19331933
California’s gambling industry grew in 1933, with the introduction of horse race wagering. The California Constitution was amended for this to take place and 6 major horse racetracks were introduced to the state. In addition, over 30 off-track betting locations were spread throughout the state.
19841984
California Slot Machine Laws
Due to Proposition 37, State lottery was introduced to California, which has been incredibly successful to this day.
19881988
The ‘Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’ was the main reason why gambling became even more popular throughout the State in the late 90’s. As a result of this, negotiations began with tribes (more than 50) and Bingo type games were the premise of these negotiations.
20002000
A law was passed in this year which fully legalised casino gambling on tribal lands. This gave the tribes an opportunity to negotiate their compacts and come to an agreement of what machines and table games they can offer in their casinos.
20102010
With the rise of internet gambling , California joined the craze and introduced horse racing betting over the internet. Which ultimately led to other forms of internet gambling being introduced in the near future.
20122012
The Californian Senate had a busy year with various bills to legalize and regulate online poker being put forward. It wasn’t clear whether the tribes would be a part of regulating and licensing online poker operators, but the idea was definitely being pushed forward.
20142014
Due to other states in the country legalising online poker, California was beginning to look like the next one on the list as two more bills were introduced to the Senate. Online poker is still up in the air in this state, but it is showing signs of potential for the near future.
California’s gambling roots can be traced all the way back to the gold rush and the ever popular Texas Hold’em poker game. As early as 1850, the predominately male population of prospectors and miners in CA demanded a masculine form of entertainment. Within mere months, licensed and unsolicited card rooms offering real cash poker games began popping up everywhere. Throughout the next several decades gambling’s popularity died down in California, not re-emerging until the early 1930’s.
In 1907, the Santa Anita Park – one of the most prestigious horseracing tracks in the entire world – opened its doors. However, it wouldn’t be until 1933 that real money gambling on horseracing was legalized in CA. Its legalization caused the relatively dormant poker betting and casino gambling industry to thrive. With the passing of a proposition in 1984 that legalized a statewide lottery, gambling became somewhat of a leisurely, everyday activity for real cash poker fans in CA and for other betting fans.
Around this time countless casinos were constructed; many of them home to poker rooms featuring upwards of 100 to 200 tables and offering classic Texas Hold’em real money poker games and many other popular poker variants. At 240 tables strong, the Los Angeles Commerce Casino [4] houses one of the largest poker gambling rooms not only in California but in the entire world.
Native American owned casinos became popular in the early 2000s. Tribal casinos enjoy several distinct advantages over traditional real cash legit poker card rooms including tax regulation, governing lease arrangements and the ability to offer legal gambling games besides real money poker, such as craps and roulette.
Poker players in California have a good chance of eventually being able to play poker online at legal US poker rooms.
Regulated Gambling Options In California
California is home to more gambling facilities than every state in the US outside of Nevada. It features over 100 legal poker card rooms, 68 tribal casinos, six racetracks and over 21,000 retail outlets licensed to sell lottery tickets. All told, citizens of the Golden State can rarely walk a block without running into some sort of lawful gambling outlet.
The Future Of Regulated Online Gambling In California
Right now, residents of California are permitted to engage in Internet betting on horseracing. All other forms of gambling, including online Internet poker for real cash, are not regulated by the state in 2020. However, it does appear that most of the CA State’s gambling powers are finally on board with online Internet poker-only website legislation. Expect them to come to terms shortly.
The Bottom Line
Given its massive population, if California passes legislation legalizing online poker in The Golden State the Federal Government would be forced to notice – especially if it decides to hold firm on its stance regarding interstate compacts. In fact, some say that California could easily dominate the real money Internet poker website market.
California will undoubtedly enter the Internet poker and gambling arena at some point. The real question is when the legal poker and casino betting websites will start to hit the web. Before PokerStars re-entered the picture, it appeared as though CA State was on target for a mid-2015 launch of legit Internet poker. Now, whether legal online poker comes to California depends on how quickly rival factions can come to terms regarding the inclusion or exclusion of a bad actor clause.
References
[1] ↑ California – Gambling Law, Regulations, and Resource Information
[2] ↑California Online Poker Bill Filed Away Until Next Year
[3] ↑The Commerce Casino and Hotel
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Introduction to California Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
California slot machine casino gambling consists of 65 tribal casinos, the third-largest number of casinos in any U.S. state after Nevada and Oklahoma.
I’ve dedicated this weekly series to slot enthusiasts such as yourself as you master casino slots and win your way to success by using this State-By-State Online Resource to improve your slots gambling performance by reviewing your state’s slots gaming industry.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in California*
The minimum legal gambling age in California depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 18 or, if serving alcohol, 21
- Poker Rooms: 18 or, if serving alcohol, 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Slot Machine Private Ownership in California
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in California if it is 25 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in California
The California Gambling Control Commission supports the regulation of tribal gaming through oversight activities as defined in California’s 61 tribal-state compacts.
Further, the Bureau of Gambling Control within California’s Department of Justice provides state law enforcement authority with jurisdiction over gambling activities.
Non-slots-related gaming control boards include the California Horse Racing Board and the California Lottery Commission.
Casinos in California
California has 65 American Indian tribal casinos, ten racetracks without gaming machines, numerous card rooms also without gaming machines, and cruise ships with onboard casinos to Hawaii, Alaska, and international destinations.
The largest casino in California is San Manuel Casino having 4,800 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Pechanga Resort Casino with 4,000 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in California
There are no commercial casinos with slot machines in California.
Tribal Casinos in California
California’s 65 tribal casinos are:
- Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Palm Springs, 115 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage, 115 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Augustine Casino in Coachella, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Barona Resort & Casino in Lakeside, 15 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Bear River Casino Resort in Loleta, 10 miles south of Eureka;
- Black Oak Casino Resort in Tuolumne, 100 miles southeast of Sacramento.
- Blue Lake Casino Hotel in Blue Lake, 10 miles north of Eureka.
- Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, 35 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- Cahuilla Casino Hotel in Anza, 30 miles south of Palm Springs.
- Casino Pauma in Pauma Valley, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Cher-Ae Heights Casino in Trinidad, 25 miles north of Eureka.
- Chicken Ranch Casino in Jamestown, 100 miles southeast of Sacramento.
- Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, 35 miles north of Fresno.
- Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, 40 miles northwest of Santa Barbara.
- Colusa Casino Resort in Colusa, 75 miles north of Sacramento.
- Coyote Valley Casino in Redwood Valley, 115 miles north of San Francisco.
- Desert Rose Casino in Alturas, 100 miles north of Susanville.
- Diamond Mountain Casino Hotel & Brewery in Susanville, 160 miles northeast of Sacramento.
- Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, 60 miles southeast of Fresno.
- Elk Valley Casino in Crescent City, 84 miles north of Eureka.
- Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Feather Falls Casino & Lodge in Oroville, 100 miles north of Sacramento.
- Fort Independence Travel Center & Winnedumah Winns Casino in Independence, 90 miles east of Fresno.
- Garcia River Casino in Point Arena, 130 miles north of San Francisco.
- Gold Country Casino Resort in Oroville, 100 miles north of Sacramento.
- Golden Acorn Casino Travel Center in Campo, 40 miles southeast of San Diego.
- Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, 50 miles north of San Francisco.
- Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Sacramento at Fire Mountain in Wheatland, 36 miles north of Sacramento.
- Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Havasu Landing Resort & Casino in Havasu Lake, 200 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Hidden Oaks Casino in Covelo, 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort in Jackson, 50 miles north of Los Angeles.
- Jamul Casino in Jamul, 10 miles east of San Diego.
- Konocti Vista Casino Resort in Lakeport, 120 miles north of San Francisco.
- Lucky 7 Casino Hotel in Smith River, 100 miles north of Eureka.
- Mono Wind Casino in Auberry, 30 miles northeast of Fresno.
- Morongo Casino Resort Spa in Cabazon, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, located 50 miles north of San Diego.
- Pit River Casino in Burney, 190 miles north of Sacramento.
- Quechan Casino Resort in Winterhaven, 170 miles east of San Diego.
- Rain Rock Casino in Yreka, 250 miles north of Sacramento.
- Red Earth Casino in Salton Sea Beach, 114 miles southeast of Riverside.
- Red Fox Casino in Laytonville, 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- Red Hawk Casino in Placerville, 40 miles east of Sacramento.
- Redwood Hotel Casino in Klamath, 65 miles north of Eureka.
- River Rock Casino in Geyserville, 75 miles north of San Francisco.
- Robinson Rancheria Resort, Casino & Bingo in Nice, 115 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- Rolling Hills Casino Resort in Corning, 115 miles north of Sacramento.
- Running Creek Casino in Upper Lake, 120 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- San Manuel Casino in Highland, located 65 miles east of Los Angeles.
- San Pablo Lytton Casino in San Pablo, 15 miles north of Oakland.
- Sherwood Valley Casino in Willits, 130 miles north of San Francisco.
- Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, 130 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Sycuan Casino & Resort in El Cajon, 10 miles east of San Diego.
- Table Mountain Casino in Friant, 15 miles north of Fresno.
- Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, 50 miles south of Fresno.
- Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, 35 miles northeast of Sacramento.
- Tortoise Rock Casino in Twentynine Palms, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Twin Pine Casino & Hotel in Middletown, 100 miles north of San Francisco.
- Valley View Casino & Hotel in Valley Center, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine, 25 miles east of San Diego.
- Wanaaha Casino in Bishop, 130 miles northeast of Fresno.
- Win-River Casino & Resort in Redding, 163 miles north of Sacramento.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying California slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering California is:
- North: Oregon Slots
- East: Nevada Slots and Arizona Slots
- South: The country of Mexico
- West: Pacific Ocean
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to California.
Our California Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in California? If so, join our California slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group community.
There, you can meet online and privately share your slots experiences with local slots enthusiasts about playing slot machines in California. Join us!
Payouts and Returns in California
Tribal-state gaming compacts negotiated between the state of California and its 61 tribes do not include theoretical payout limits nor require public reporting of return statistics.
Summary of California Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
California slot machine casino gambling consists of 65 tribal casinos generally located on remote tribal reservations throughout the state.
Annual Progress in California Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Over the last year, Thunder Valley Casino Resort has fallen from second-largest casino to fourth largest after San Manuel Casino, Pechanga Resort Casino, and Graton Resort & Casino.
Also, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain has, at long last, opened.
Finally, one casino has permanently closed and another underwent a name change:
- Lucky Bear Casino in Hoopa has permanently closed.
- Paiute Palace Casino in Bishop is now the Wanaaha Casino.
Related Posts from Professor Slots
Other States from Professor Slots
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- Next: Colorado Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC