The California Code does not mention online gambling specifically. In most cases, participating in an illegal game of chance would be considered a misdemeanor, although the state has no interest in prosecuting individual players for gambling online in the privacy of their own homes. The only type of online gambling that is legally licensed in California is advanced-deposit horse race betting at selected sites.įor other types of online gambling games, the only option for Californians is to play at offshore sites.

Is Gambling Online Illegal in California? The minimum gambling age is 18, but most casinos don’t accept customers who are younger than 21 to comply with local alcohol licensing laws. Most laws related to gambling can be found in California Penal Code 330 et seq Bus and Prof Code 19400 et seq., and Gov't Code 98001 et seq. As it stands, the cardrooms are allowed to offer pari-mutuel betting and non-banked games (where the venue does not act as the 'house') like poker. The tribal operators have exclusivity on class III casino gaming, such as slots and blackjack, and are against any expansion of gambling that might include the commercial cardrooms.

On the other hand, there are many conflicts of interest preventing local businesses from forming a unified front that could lobby for favorable legislation and allow the industry to expand.Īt the center of the conflict are the state's tribal casinos and cardrooms. On the one hand, they have access to 60+ card rooms and 60+ tribal casinos, plus racetracks, and state lottery products. California boasts a rich and diverse land-based gambling industry, which is both a blessing and a curse for the state's gambling enthusiasts.

21 rules california casino