Are Online Casinos Legal in California?

For a broader look at all forms of online gambling in California, visit our California online gambling page.

Are online casinos legal in California right now?

They are not. California has never legalized real-money online casinos. The state does not issue licenses for internet-based casino gaming. The California Gambling Control Commission has no framework for it. Neither does the Bureau of Gambling Control.

The state constitution makes this especially hard to change. Expanding gambling in California requires a public ballot initiative. The legislature alone cannot do it. Voters have to approve it directly. That’s a high bar, especially given recent history.

In November 2022, California voters rejected two measures to expand gambling. Proposition 26 would have allowed tribal retail sportsbooks. Proposition 27 would have permitted commercial online betting. Both failed by roughly 70% margins. That sent a clear message. California voters are not ready to expand gambling.

Then came AB 831 in 2025. That bill targeted sweepstakes casinos specifically. These were platforms that used a dual-currency model to simulate real-money gambling via prize redemptions. Governor Newsom signed it in October 2025. The ban took effect January 1, 2026. California joined a growing group of states targeting dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. Tribal gaming coalitions drove the bill’s passage.

The bottom line: there are no state-regulated online casinos in California. No legislation to create them is pending. The most recent voter initiative failed decisively. The legal situation is more restrictive today than it was a year ago.

For official state guidance, see the California DOJ gambling overview.

Why California has tribal casinos but not online Casinos

California has more than 65 tribal casinos. Places like Pechanga, Yaamava’, Morongo, and San Manuel are world-class destinations. So why can’t Californians just play online? It comes down to tribal exclusivity and political power.

Under tribal leadership that actively supports online expansion, the chances of it happening are slim. Right now, they don’t. Tribal leaders told an ICE Summit in Barcelona in 2025 that they will not put California sports betting on the ballot in 2026.

For regulatory details, see the California Gambling Control Commission’s laws and regulations page. 

What Californians use instead of state-licensed online casinos

Since there are no state-regulated options, some California residents turn to alternatives. It’s important to understand what each option actually is and what the tradeoffs look like.

Some players use offshore casino sites that hold international licenses. These platforms are not licensed by California. They operate outside the state’s regulatory system. California law focuses on operators rather than individual players. But these sites carry risks that state-regulated platforms would not.

This page discusses several offshore options for California players:

• Bovada has been around for a long time. It offers casino games, poker rooms, and a sportsbook.
• BetOnline has built a strong reputation since 2004. It offers a broad range of games, poker rooms, and unique slots.
• BetUS was founded in 1994. It has one of the best mobile betting apps and strong casino offerings.
• MyBookie offers secure deposit and withdrawal methods, strong customer support, and generous bonuses for new and existing players.
• BookMaker offers an excellent mobile app. The casino side has good games and slots backed by frequent promotions.

Daily fantasy sports have operated in California, but their legal status is disputed after a 2025 California DOJ opinion. Free-to-play social casinos that use only virtual currency also remain legal.

Offshore casino sites: pros and cons

Players should understand the risks before using any offshore platform. These sites do not offer the same protections as a state-regulated casino would.

For the full picture on betting and gambling in the Golden State, check our California hub.

Are Bovada casino, PokerStars, and other casino brands legal in California?

This is one of the most common questions California players ask. The short answer: none of these brands is licensed by the state. Their status depends on where they’re licensed and how they operate.

Regulated iGaming platforms like DraftKings Casino and FanDuel Casino only operate in states with legal frameworks. California is not one of them. PokerStars is in a similar position. Sweepstakes brands (Chumba, Luckyland Slots, FunzPoints) were all banned under AB 831 effective January 1, 2026. Offshore sites accept California players but operate without state licensing.

Want to know if a specific brand operates legally in California? Check our California brand legality guide.

Land-based casinos vs. online casinos in California

California has a robust land-based casino industry. But online? Nothing regulated. Here’s how the three main types of gambling establishments compare.

If you want to play slots in California, your only regulated option is a tribal casino. Card rooms offer poker and player-banked table games, but not slots. Online casinos are not part of the regulated landscape. Only eight states currently offer legal online casinos. California is not close to joining that list. In-person play is the only fully legal path for casino-style gaming in the Golden State right now.

Visit our main California page for the complete guide to gambling options in the state.

Sweepstakes casinos and social casinos: are they the same thing?

No. And this distinction matters more than ever in California after AB 831.

Sweepstakes casinos used a dual-currency model. Players would buy one virtual currency (like Gold Coins) and receive a second currency (like Sweeps Coins) for free. Sweeps Coins could be redeemed for real cash prizes. That’s what made them feel like real gambling. It’s also what got them banned.

AB 831 specifically targeted this dual-currency structure. Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots, and FunzPoints Casino all operated as sweepstakes platforms. All three have exited the California market as of January 1, 2026. They can no longer legally serve California players.

Social casinos are different. They use only fun-play virtual currency. No cash redemptions. No prize payouts. You’re playing for entertainment only. Because no real money changes hands, they don’t fall under gambling laws. Social casinos like BetRivers.net remain legal in California.

The key test is simple. Can you cash out? If yes, it was a sweepstakes casino, and it’s now banned in California. If no, it’s a social casino, and it’s still legal. One platform worth watching is Card Crush. It launched in late December 2025 with a single-currency model designed to fall outside the scope of AB 831. Its legal status in California is not settled. Players should treat it as a fluid situation.

For more on what changed under AB 831, visit our California sweepstakes casinos page.

History of gambling in California

• 1970s – California revises its gambling laws, classifying games as either controlled or banked, and banning the latter. Player-organized poker remains permitted.
• 1980s – Pai-gow poker and blackjack are introduced to the state’s legal gambling offerings.
• 2000s – The Tribal-State Gaming Compacts Initiative takes effect, allowing slot machines and banked games on tribal lands after resolving earlier legal challenges.
• 2010s – The U.S. Supreme Court overturns the federal ban on sports betting, creating potential for expanded gambling opportunities in California.

Trent Reinsmith

Trent is a professional sports journalist specializing in UFC, MMA, and esports coverage. His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as USA Today Sports, Vice, Bloody Elbow, Fight! Magazine, UFC 360, and Narratively. Trent's connection to MMA dates back to the early days when he and his friends pooled their resources to purchase the pay-per-...

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