While it’s true that many online poker sites choose to provide their players with the possibility of unlocking different amounts as they play and reach specific tiers, this isn’t the case with BetOnline. Instead of having a tier system, you just play real money pot games or enter tournaments and earn Comp Points for such.
Last Updated: January 2, 2020
It is safe and legal to gamble online in California. While the California state legislature has dithered on passing online poker laws for the past decade, CA officials do not prosecute individuals fif they play online for real money. It’s illegal to start your own online gambling business. Also, all residents must pay taxes on any revenue earned from online gambling. Otherwise, you can play online with no legal consequences.
This article discusses CA gambling laws, including casino, iPoker, bookmaker, and daily fantasy sports gaming. We provide a timeline of California gambling history, along with an CA gambling FAQ for readers who have questions. We also provide reviews of the best online casinos, poker rooms, and legal sports betting sites for Californians.
Best California Online Gambling Sites 2020 – Casinos, Sportsbooks & Poker Sites
California Online Gambling Quick Menu:
Gambling is Better With Bitcoin. Learn How to Get Started!California Online Gambling Laws
No California laws prohibit, ban, or regulate online gambling. Residents are not arrested or prosecuted for gambling online. California requires residents to be 18 years of age to play the lottery. The legal age of gambling in California is 21 years of age to play in online casinos, sportsbooks, poker rooms, and bingo halls.
Advice For Online Poker, Casino Games & Sports Betting in California
Many gambling sites accept Californians. Offshore online poker, casinos, and sportsbooks accept Californians. We list online gambling sites that are safe, trusted, entertaining, and accept California residents. Our reviews discuss signup bonuses and deposit bonuses.
Land-based tribal casinos are the biggest legal gaming dens in California. Tribes own casinos in areas like San Diego and Sacremento. Commercial poker clubs like the Bicycle Club and Commerce Club exist in Los Angeles. Those who wish to play CA poker online won’t be prosecuted or fined, but should read honest reviews by other players to find the safe and trusted online card sites.
Types of Gambling – Legal/Licensed – Notes & Restrictions
- Online Gambling– No – Online poker bill debates since 2010, but tabled for 2018. Online poker bills might happen in 2020.
- Land-Based Casinos– Yes – Over 160 tribal casinos, poker clubs, racetracks, off-site betting, and bingo halls. Several have thousands of slot machines.
- Charitable Gaming– Yes – Bingo. No other charitable games allowed. Gaming machines like pull-tabs not allowed.
- Lottery Betting– Yes – California allows sales of Powerball and Mega Millions tickets at thousands of vendors.
- Minimum Gambling Age– California players must be 18 for casinos, lottery, bingo, pari-mutuel bets. 21 for most poker clubs, though 18 is allowable.
Online bingo sites are not as popular as online casinos, sportsbooks, or poker rooms in the state of California, but there are a few who still enjoy them. For those who wish to join an online bingo hall, we have provided you with safe and entertaining choices in our list of online gambling sites. Join one today for fun, carefree, entertaining bingo games.
Is Sports Betting / Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in California?
Sports wagering is not regulated in California at the moment, but legal sports betting exists. On May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court repealed a 46-state federal ban on sports betting. California could follow suit in the next two years, though CA legalization efforts are stymied by competing industry interests.
The Californian legislature could legalize sports betting in 2019 or 2020, just as New Jersey, Delaware, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia passed single-game sports bet laws. All proposed bills so far would protect California’s horse racing industry.
Bills introduced to legalize DFS in the State of California
- Internet Fantasy Sports Game Protection Act (AB 1437)– 2016 – Assemblyman Adam Gray
Though unregulated, California residents will find most online betting sites in California provide a safe and legal gaming, reliable payouts, and generous welcome bonuses.
Is Online Poker Legal in California?
Online poker is unregulated in California, but passing regulations is complicated by land-based gaming interests. Despite the lack of regulations, online poker is perfectly legal for Californians.No one faces prosecution for playing online cards for real money. California online casinos and sportsbooks also exist, but you should read our reviews to pick the safest CA online casinos.
California Online Poker Laws
Every attempt to pass iPoker legislation foundered over the bad actor clause, despite several attempts to find a compromise. Roderick Wright left California politics in 2013, but Sen. Lou Correa championed internet poker. Correa eventually ended his active support in 2015, but Reggie Jones-Sawyer and Mike Gatto madeseveral attempts to pass California online poker laws. No attempts have worked to this date.
The Bicycle Club is the most famous commercial poker room in Los Angeles.
List of Licensed Poker Rooms in the State of California
California is home to over 100 different poker rooms, many of them available if you run a Google search of “Card rooms near me”. This list includes addresses, phone numbers as well as how many poker tables are available in the poker room along with table games.
| Poker Club / Location | Casino Details |
|---|---|
| 500 Club | Clovis | 12 Poker Tables, 6 Table Games |
| The Aviator Casino | Delano | 12 Poker Tables |
| Artichoke Joe’s Casino | San Bruno | 51 Poker & Table Games Tables |
| Bankers Casino | Salinas | 5 Poker Tables, Racebook |
| Bay 101 Casino | San Jose | 23 Poker Tables, 26 Table Games |
| The Bicycle Hotel & Casino | Bell Gardens | 5 Poker Tables, Racebook |
| California Grand Casino | Pacheco | 14 Poker Tables, 5 Table Games |
| Cameo Club Casino | Stockton | 3 Poker Tables, 5 Table Games |
| Capitol Casino | Sacramento | 10 Poker Tables, 7 Table Games |
| Cameo Club Casino | Stockton | 3 Poker Tables, 2 Table Games |
| Casino M8trix | San Jose | 49 Poker Tables & Table Games |
| Casino Club | Redding | 5 Poker Tables |
| Casino Marysville | Marysville | 4 Poker Tables, 2 Table Games |
| Crystal Casino | Compton | 42 Poker Tables and Table Games |
| Club One Casino | Fresno | 16 Poker Tables, 35 Table Games, Racebook |
| Casino Monterey: Marina Club | Marina | 3 Poker Tables, 7 Table Games |
| Commerce Casino | Commerce (Los Angeles) | 200 Poker Tables, 70 Table Games |
| Casino Real | Manteca | 6 Poker Tables, 7 Table Games |
The Pechanga tribe opposes PokerStars’ entry in CA online poker.
Online Gambling California FAQ
For those who might have missed basic information in the guide above, we include a “frequently asked questions” section with a few of the most common questions readers have about California online gambling. Read through this handy set of Q&A’s to learn about major legal concerns you might have about playing at online poker sites, casinos, and sportsbooks in California.
Can California residents safely gamble online?
California residents can gamble online, but they need to be choosy about the online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites they use. California has an unregulated online gambling industry, so you’ll be playing at offshore sites. Use due diligence to make sure a website is trusted, safe, and entertaining.
Are online casinos legal in the state of California?
Online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms operate in a legal gray area. The California legislature has not legalized online gaming sites, but no ban exists on iGaming, either. Lawmakers in California have tried to have such laws passed and have failed so far, because the many land-based gaming interests can’t agree on new laws.
Are online sportsbooks legal in California?
The U.S. Supreme Court decision which struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) gave each state the right to pass their own sportsbook laws, including land-based bookmakers, online sportsbooks, and mobile sports betting apps. California’s lawmakers have not taken advantage of the new legal situation yet, so California sports bettors play in an unregulated online bookmaker market. Gamblers can bet at offshore online bookmakers, but do not have the consumer protections they would in a regulated sports betting market. Read our reviews carefully before choosing an online sports betting site.
Will I go to jail for gambling online in the state of California?
California authorities do not arrest online gamblers. While no residents of California have ever gone to jail for gambling online, that does not mean it might not happen in the future. US operators might face prosecution, but only the most radical public figures (in Pennsylvania) have called for law enforcement to prosecute gamblers. Before you bet online for real money, please make certain of the federal, state, and local laws on gambling.
Reggie Jones-Sawyer introduced the most recent California online poker bill in 2017.
Timeline of California Gambling Bills
February 2010 | Roderick Wright Sponsors 1st California Online Poker Bill
Sen. Roderick Wright introduced Senate Bill 1485, which would have legalized California iPoker.
January 2012 | Roderick Wright Sponsors 2nd California Online Poker Bill
Sen. Wright sponsored a second version of SB 1485. The California Online Poker Association (COPA) backed the bill.
February 2013 | Roderick Wright Sponsors 3rd California Online Poker Bill
Sen. Wright re-introduces SB 1485 to the legislature. COPA has split into two factions.
February 2013 | Lou Correa Introduces His Own Online Poker Bill
Sen. Lou Correa sponsored Senate Bill 678, which was backed by the Morongo Tribe and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
March 2014 | Reggie Jones-Sawyer Sponsors AB 2291
Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer introduced the California Online Poker Bill 2014, also known as AB2291.
August 2014 | Lou Correa Introduces Modified Online Poker Bill
Sen. Lou Correa sponsored Senate Bill 1366 in an attempt to bridge the gap between the Morongo and Pechanga factions.
September 2014 | Roderick Wright Resigns from Office
California lost its greatest online poker advocate when Roderick Wright resigned amid scandal.
February 2015 | Lou Correa Sponsors 2015 Online Poker Bill
Sen. Lou Correa reintroduces SB 1366, but it failed to gain traction.
March 2015 | Reggie Jones-Sawyer Reintroduces AB 2291
Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer sponsors the California Online Poker Bill 2017, but it failed to gain approval.
February 2016 | Reggie Jones-Sawyer Sponsors AB 167
Jones-Sawyer backs a modified online poker bill, but tribal politics again wreck his plan.
December 2016 | Mike Gatto Sponsors Assembly Bill 9
Mike Gatto introduces his own online poker bill, hoping to add special provisions that would please both factions. AB9 was dead on arrival.
February 2017 ] Reggie Jones-Sawyer Sponsors Internet Poker Protection Act
Reggie Jones-Sawyer backs the Internet Poker Protection Act of 2017. When the bill petered out in August 2017, Jones-Sawyer recommended a cooling off period in 2018 and 2019. He suggested 2020 might be a time for a new California iPoker bill.
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Four separate state lawmakers — Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Mike Gatto, Lou Correa, Roderick Wright — have introduced a total of 11 different online poker bills over the past 9 years, but each bill failed to pass out of committee. A longstanding dispute between two blocks of tribal casinos undermined several bills sponsored by PokerStars. One faction is led by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, who support PokerStars. The other faction is led by the Pechanga Resort, which opposes PokerStars.
Eric Hollreiser, a spokesman for PokerStars, pointed out the bad actor clause would give certain tribes a competitive advantage: “We seem to be the only company that meets that standard.”
Reggie Jones-Sawyer said a CA online poker bill could be possible in 2020 after a 2-year cooling off period.
Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who now is the most prominent supporter of California iPoker, said he might introduce a new version of the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act in 2020. Jones-Sawyer said, as of 2019, both sides need a “cooling off” period before that happens. Thus, no California online poker law seems eminent.
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What is a Freeroll Poker?
Freeroll poker is the best way for new players to play poker online and start building a bankroll. After all, freeroll poker allows those new to the game to play online poker tournaments at the best online poker sites for free. While these freeroll poker tournaments cost nothing to enter, they do, however, offer small prize pools for the winners.
Many players have built up poker bankrolls playing Texas hold ‘em and other poker games at free poker sites. To show that it can be done, some well-known poker pros have even taken up the freeroll poker challenge. They subsequently show poker novices that it’s possible to enhance their poker skills and review their play without first having to play real money poker games. In other words, poker freerolls bonuses are a low risk way of gaining experience at the online poker tables. They do this while opening the doors for many potentially lucrative ventures at the poker tables.
In addition to free poker tournaments, new poker players have other great ways to help them learn the game without spending real money. One of these freeroll poker options include using play money to gain experience at ring games. The skills they learn at these play money poker tables they can later apply at real money online ring games. This includes such games as Texas hold ‘em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud and Razz.
Professional Poker Players Who Got Their Start Playing Freerolls Only
Online poker phenom Annette Obrestad of Norway won millions of dollars in her poker career. However, when she began to play poker online in her teenage years, she started by playing freeroll poker at the best online poker sites. She was not old enough to deposit poker money on her own, so she played free poker tournaments to start building a bankroll. As she improved and earned real money, she moved up in stakes, ultimately collecting more than $500,000 on PokerStars and several hundred thousand dollars on other sites before she cashed out. She also took advantage of other poker bonuses and maxev options along the way, including rackeback.
Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, founder of Full Tilt Poker and longtime poker pro, took on a freeroll poker challenge to prove it could be done. He decided to build a $10,000 bankroll playing online poker at free poker sites without any money in his account. Ferguson accomplished this over the course of 2006 and 2007, and he had to start by playing freeroll poker only. He took free poker tournaments very seriously, too. It initially took him a few weeks to earn his first $2 in real money. When he got that amount to $22, Ferguson then played micro-stakes real money poker games, $1 tournaments, and ultimately met his goal.
Disciplined Bankroll Management Key
These are not a few isolated incidents, only the most publicized. The internet population of successful high stakes players is filled with players who won free poker tournaments and then used disciplined bankroll management and improving skills to progress in stakes. Moreover, the experience subsequently gained is more valuable than anything else in the learning process. That’s because it teaches the discipline and patience that are vital in becoming and remaining a successful poker pro.
Just remember, poker freerolls play very differently than real money poker games. Winning freerolls doesn’t mean you’ll be a successful real-money player, but it is a solid start if used to move slowly up in small buy-in tournaments going forward.
US Poker Sites with Great Freerolls
Freerolls are tougher to find in 2020 than in previous years. PokerStars always offers freeroll poker – every day at various times of the day. And some of the sites in New Jersey and Nevada put freeroll tournaments on their schedules. But offshore sites have removed many of their freeroll tournaments due to an abundance of players competing who would sometimes overload their servers.
BetOnline used to have lucrative daily freerolls but withdrew them at the beginning of 2018. Instead, players making their first poker deposit on BetOnline can take advantage of a New Player Freeroll bonus that offers up to $10,000. It runs on the second Sunday of each month, and new players are given a free ticket to enter. There is also a Happy Hour Freeroll every Monday evening. However, it pays out in chips that can only be used on the live casino part of the site.
Ignition Poker also removed many of its freeroll poker games, though it does offer a weekly $2,500 freeroll tournament every Thursday for players who participate in the free rewards program and have earned Chrome status.
Likewise, 888 poker offers daily freeroll Texas hold ‘em tournaments. In fact, up to $50,000 in prizes are up for grabs at 888 poker every week.
These represent just some of the incredible poker bonuses available for players wanting to visit the best online poker sites for free, and play free poker tournaments, while having the chance to win real money.
Legal Poker Rooms and States
If located in New Jersey, PokerStars is a great option for those players who would like to play poker freerolls. These are offered on a regular basis and can be found in the tournament lobby in brown lettering.
Players in New Jersey and Nevada will find freerolls on the WSOP poker site. There is a daily $100 freeroll bonus, though player numbers are limited to 600 each on a first-come basis. There is also a monthly Hero Freeroll bonus offered to verified members of the US Armed Forces, police departments and fire departments in the US.
When the new poker sites launch online in Pennsylvania, there will likely be numerous freeroll poker bonuses to lure new players and introduce them to the poker sites. Regardless there are plenty of options for online poker.
US Poker Sites with the “Best Value” Freerolls
Since many offshore sites have removed most of their freerolls, it is best to take advantage of any that appear on BetOnline or Ignition Poker. And if located in New Jersey or outside of the US, PokerStars has the absolute best value freerolls.
It should be noted that players have a lot of influence with online poker sites. They want to keep their US poker customers. Therefore, it’s important to review these sites and let them know if you’d like to see more freeroll poker games. Contacting customer service or tagging the sites on social media, such as on Twitter, is a good way to review these poker rooms. It’s also a good way to let them know how you feel. And that you’re more likely to play on their sites and deposit poker money if there are freeroll bonuses and opportunities available.
Author:Cliff Spiller
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