2024 Legal Online Poker In California
Poker betting in California has existed since before the Gold Rush of 1849 filled the state with prospectors looking to strike it rich. The state is currently home to over 70 brick-and-mortar poker rooms, which are also commonly called California card rooms. Such venues offer anywhere from just a few seats to hundreds of live poker tables. However, because these operations are not allowed to offer online poker, California card players will have to venture to legal offshore casinos to play over the Internet.
While legal online poker has nowhere near the history offered by physical poker betting in the state, to play poker online for money, California residents now frequently turn to overseas venues for the convenience, multi-table play, huge tournament payouts, and valuable bonuses that these sites offer – and which local CA card rooms just can't match. The same goes for California casino gambling, as well as sports betting in California. Convenience is king, and online is as convenient as it gets.
Is Playing At California Poker Rooms Legal?
Thanks to the Golden State's pro-gambling stance, there are many opportunities to play poker for real money throughout California. There are physical poker rooms and poker casinos across the state, with the former being commercial enterprises while the latter are on tribal lands in Class III facilities. Among both, you have well over 100 options for brick-and-mortar poker across CA.
Because California sees poker as a game of skill and not a game of luck that most other gambling markets entail, it has received more respect from the industry and enjoys a strong player base. Bet despite the sheer number of legal poker venues, CA is a huge landmass, and for most players, it's impractical to travel to any card room or casino just to play a few hands in your spare time.
Best Online Poker Sites for California Players In 2024
| Casino Name | Bonus Offer | CA Accepted? | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker | 100% Up To $500 | Visit Site | |
| Betonline Poker | 100% Up To $1,000 | Visit Site |
What is the Legal Gambling Age for Playing Poker in California?
California gambling laws require that individuals who desire to engage in real money poker must be at least 21 years of age. While some gambling markets in CA allow participants to be as young as 18, poker is not included among them.
This rule is taken very seriously and is enforced strictly in order to protect minors and underage players from becoming involved in the gambling scene. All legitimate segments of the gambling industry are in strong support of enforcing the legal gambling age rules that are in place.
Is Online Poker Legal in California?
Legal online poker is a current topic of discussion among players, state officials and individuals who both support and oppose the possibility of state-licensed online poker sites. While it is currently illegal to operate an online poker site within the state's borders, there is a large movement to legalize online poker in California.
As of mid-2020, four states – DE, NJ, NV, and PA – have successfully launched their own online poker offerings and are enjoying the revenue boosts and benefits that come with it. As for when CA gets on board, just check back here regularly, because we'll keep you up-to-date on all California online poker news.
Though state-sponsored online poker is not yet available, there are a number of legally licensed online poker sites located outside of the US which have been compliance-certified by industry auditors. These offshore poker rooms are subject to regulatory oversight by their own home nations, and most of them accept CA poker players.
There are no US or California gambling laws that bar CA residents from engaging in online poker activity at these types of licensed and regulated poker sites. Some of them have been offering their services to the US market for decades and have become trusted destinations for enjoying legal online poker tournaments and cash table play. Best of all, you only have to 18 or older to sign up!
How To Play Poker Online In California
No matter where you are in this beautiful state, California online poker sites are available via your home computer, tablet, or smartphone, by which you can also access all other gambling markets that make up California betting online. For iPhone poker and Android poker, it doesn't get any better than this!
Signing up is simple, fast, and free, though you will need to make a deposit before you can play at cash tables or join poker tournaments. Just click or tap the link to any of the sites listed here, select the "Join" option, put in your personal details (don't worry – it's all encrypted and secure!), make a deposit, select an optional poker bonus, and pull up a chair at the digital felts. The entire process takes five minutes, and you can play the best online poker California has to offer, 24/7/365.
Online Poker Game Types
The best online poker sites for California residents typically offer the three most popular variants of the game for cash and tournament play. If you've ever played poker before, these poker games will be familiar to you, but for beginners, each online poker room has a primer on the rules for each:
- Texas Hold 'Em (aka Texas Holdem or simply Holdem)
- Omaha
- Omaha Hi/Lo
Where To Play Poker in Northern California 2024
For the traditional poker player, sitting down at a physical poker table offers a unique experience that can't be matched by the online audio-visual elements which comprise California online poker betting.
In Del Norte County in the north of the state, those players looking for brick-and-mortar poker in California can head to the Elk Valley Casino in Crescent City or the Lucky 7 Casino and Lucky 7 Fuel Mart in Smith River.
These three tribal poker venues offer games like Blackjack, Spanish 21, Three Card Poker and the popular Texas Hold 'Em poker games, and they offer poker tournaments on a daily and weekly basis. And when the cards are not going your way, you can enjoy slot machines and bingo as well!
Where To Play Poker in Southern California 2024
Move to the southern part of the state in San Diego County, and you'll find no fewer than 10 Indian casinos offering "sit down" poker betting in California. As such, many SoCal card sharps are never more than a stone's throw away from their favorite poker games.
Full Las Vegas style casino facilities are offered at Native American casinos like the Golden Acorn in Campo, the Valley View Casino in Valley Center, and the massive Pala Casino Spa and Resort in San Diego. The Pala Casino is open 24 hours a day, and it is home to an 11-table poker room as well as more than 2,000 slot machines.
Non-Tribal Poker Rooms in California 2024
The state also licenses brick-and-mortar non-tribal poker rooms to offer a wide variety of poker games. Right down the road from the Pala Casino is the popular Palomar Card Club, which calls itself the "San Diego Home of No Limit Poker." They offer daily, weekly and monthly tournaments, and their Progressive Hold 'Em jackpot starts at $5,000 and increases by $500 a day.
Back up in the north part of the state you will find Angie's Poker Club, where sole proprietor Angela Harris has offered her intimate California card room setting to poker players in the Chico area since 1997.
Whether online or off, the Golden State delivers multiple poker wagering options throughout the state of California, offering something for everyone. Several of the brands featured here also offer robust casino betting options as well as online horse race betting for CA players.