Are Casinos Legal In California
California has what could be considered a very liberal approach to the regulation of gambling. With over 70 tribal run land-based casinos, legalized Daily Fantasy Sports, a state lottery and one of the only states in the US that has 18+ casinos there is a lot to like about the Californian approach to gambling.
In this page we will outline the current legal status of all popular forms of gambling in CA and the legal gambling age California requires to participate in each of the legal gaming formats. We will also impart some insight into any future gambling law reforms that might be on the horizon for the Golden State.
California Gambling Laws. Casinos on Indian reservations are permitted, while all games outside of these locations (outside of slots) cannot be used for gambling. This law legalized the state lottery in 1984, while further amendments have required 34% of lottery revenue to be spent on public education. Find legal gambling age in California. We teach you the age you need to be to enter casinos, place sports bets & gamble online all in one guide.
| Casinos Age Limit | Sports Betting | Online Casinos | Online Sports Betting | Online Poker | Poker Rooms | Bingo | Lottery | Daily Fantasy Sports | Pari-Mutuel / Horse Race Betting Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/21 | illegal | illegal | illegal | illegal | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
In the table above we have outlined the legal gambling ages associated with each form of legalized gambling in California. If there is not an age listed under a particular form of gambling this then means that this form is not currently legalized.
In the sections below we will go into further details regarding the legal status of each form of gambling listed in the table above and discuss the legal gambling ages in California associated with each.
Casino Age in California
Contents
- Casino Age in California
- Frequently Asked Questions
Historically California was not welcoming to casinos, however after legislative change in 2000 California legalized land-based casinos on tribal lands. Before this legislation was passed the only thing close to casino gambling available in California were card-table rooms. The first casinos opened in 2001 and there are currently 77 land-based casinos operated by local California tribes. These casinos are licensed to offer a wide range of Class III casino games, slot machines and electronic gambling machines.
The legal casino age in California is 18 as dictated by the state legislation. However, the vast majority of casinos set their entry age to 21 as they serve alcohol onsite, and the legal drinking age across the US is set at 21.
By legalizing land-based casinos on tribal lands California was able to reverse antiquated laws established in the early 20th century that outlawed traditional casino card games such as Blackjack, Baccarat and other card games in which players play against the house. Before this the only legal card gambling allowed within California were the games offered in card houses, these were legalized in 1984 and can only offer card games in which players play against each other and not the house.
What are The Casinos In California that accept 18 Year Olds?
While most of the states in the US have set the entry age to gamble at casinos to 21 as that is the legal gambling age. Under the legislation that established the right for tribal land-based casinos to operate in California, tribes were also given autonomy over the entry ages to their particular casinos – obviously within current state laws which dictates that there must be a minimum entry age of 18.
As casinos can be autonomous on their age limits a lot have stuck with the traditional entry age of 21 to mirror the legal drinking age – but 18 year olds shouldn’t be discouraged, there are still 20+ casinos in California that allow entry to those who are 18 years and older, we have listed the addresses of the top eight below.
| 18+ Casino | Address |
|---|---|
| Barona Resort and Casino | 1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040 |
| Gold County Casino & Hotel | 4020 Olive Highway, Oroville, CA 95966 |
| Sycuan Casino | 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019 |
| Eagle Mountain Casino | 681 South Tule Road, Porterville, CA 93258 |
| Golden Acorn Casino | 1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo, CA 91906 |
| Lucky Bear Casino | 12510 CA-96, Hoopa, CA 95546 |
| Chumash Casino Resort | 3400 CA-246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 |
| Morongo Casino | 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, CA 92230 |
Sports Betting In California
California is known as a state that, like many other US states, is very passionate about sport and specifically its local sports franchises. It does seem incongruous then that there are still quite a few limitations on resident’s abilities to place sports bets.
Since 1933 residents have been able to place pari-mutuel bets on horse racing within the state, however this has for a long time been limited to in person betting only and has only recently been taken online. The most recent significant legal development was in 2000 with the advent of Proposition 1A, under which tribal casinos are able to take sports bets onsite.
The legal betting age for all current sports betting in California is 18. The same age limit is applied to the only fully online type of sports betting that has an implied legality in California – Daily Fantasy Sports , which we will discuss this in more detail later on on this page.
Sports fans should not be disheartened though, as recently as May 2020 a new bill has been proposed to the California state legislature that proposes the legalization of online sports betting. The bill proposes that both land-based casinos and four racetracks in California bet set up to take sports bets, while also all being linked to the same online platform for those residents who wish to place bets online. The status of this bill is still TBC but we will update this page as soon as there is a definitive decision made.
CA Online Gambling Age
The one area of law California hasn’t definitively legislated on is online gambling. As California hasn’t made any definitive legal statement of the status of online gambling it exists as grey area of law. As the state hasn’t definitively ruled on web-based casino’s legality most would assume that it is not legal – however there are many operators who have set up shop offering casino games within California for those residents who want to wager.
As there hasn’t been any definitive ruling on online gambling’s status there technically isn’t an California online gambling age limit, however many online casinos operating within California have set theirs at 21 – once again mirroring the legal drinking age.
While California residents who want to gamble online are undoubtedly very happy that they are able to enjoy casino classics such as Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat from the safety of their own homes because of this legal grey around, there are certain things players should be wary of.
Firstly, as there is no definitive ruling on online casino’s legal status they are not regulated nor do they answer to any gambling authority – therefore any players are not covered by any current California consumer protection laws. Secondly, the status of internet gambling in California could change and if the state does rule to make online casino gambling illegal players current activities would then by this ruling also become illegal.
In regards any future developments to California making a definitive ruling on the legality of online casino gambling, the recent bill that has been proposed to the state legislature which includes proposed legality of online sports betting is a step in the right direction. If this proposed bill does pass, this could be the impetuous needed to force the California state legislature to make a ruling on online casino gambling’s legality once and for all – whether this happens though remains to be seen.
Online Poker/Poker Gambling Age
One area in which California is quite unique compared to the majority of other US states is that they have legalized card rooms in which players have been able to legally gamble since 1984.
Card rooms have operated within California for over three decades and offer gamblers the opportunity to engage in card games in which players are playing each other and not the house, the most popular of these games is poker. The fact that players play each other and not the house is the rationale on which card rooms legality is based on. In order to play in these card rooms players legally have to be over 18 years of age.
In accordance with California’s current anti online gambling stance there are no online poker rooms legally available in the state. However, as mentioned before, as the gambling in California exists in such a legal grey area some operators do offer online poker but these operators are not regulated by the state and playing with them could be a risky undertaking for players.
Since the advent of California’s land-based casinos there has been a tension between card rooms and tribes running the casinos. The tension has arisen through the fact that the tribes who own the casinos believe there is too much leeway given to card rooms and that they encroach on the casinos turf. This tension is set to further escalate if a recently proposed gambling reform bill is passed, included in this bill is a provision that will cement that card rooms can continue to operate without the threat of tribal lawsuits – which local tribes are not happy about.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily Fantasy Sports, like most online gambling in California exists in a legal grey area. While there are no laws explicitly outlawing Daily Fantasy Sports in California there are also none that legalize it either. Instead Daily Fantasy Sports appears to operate under an implied legality within the Golden State. In line with the legal drinking age players have to be 21 to play Daily Fantasy sports in California.
In 2015 there were moves by the California State Legislature to legalize Daily Fantasy Sports when a bill was presented to the state senate. However, as major gambling powers cannot agree on the technicalities of the bill, this bill is still in limbo. These major players being the tribes who run the casinos, race-tracks and card rooms, any legislation passed on Daily Fantasy Sports will impact these three parties as it could take gamblers away from them.
Legal Age to Play the Lottery in California
California has run a state lottery since 1985 with all revenue raised going towards state educational charities. Players have to be over 18 years of age to participate in the state lottery and when participating they have the choice of many different types of lottery to engage with such as lottery pools, local draws and scratch cards. The state lottery is regulated and run by calottery. Currently the only way to purchase any lottery tickets is physically in person.
While there are no current moves to take the California lottery online, there is already an app made available by calottery on which players are able to check their lottery ticket numbers. Therefore, it only seems to be a matter of time before players are also able to purchase tickets through the app or web-browser. But as the current revenues the state draws from the state lottery don’t seem to be hindered by the lack of an online purchase offering, the state legislature isn’t in a rush to legalise an online lottery soon.
California Gambling Laws & Future Outlook
Currently California is viewed as a very liberal state when it comes to gambling laws. The state’s gambling laws can be found within the California state Penal Code 330 and Bus and Prof Code 19400. Under the Penal Code illegal gambling is defined as, ‘dealing, playing, or conducting, games of faro, monte, roulette, lansquenet, rouge et noir, rondo, tan, fantan, seven-and-a-half, twenty-one, hokey pokey, or any banking or percentage game played with cards or dice.’
Gambling activities that fall outside of the penal code such as card-room games, land-based casinos, state lottery and pari-mutuel horse race betting each have specific legislature explicitly outlining its legality. Whereas other forms of gambling not mentioned in the penal code such as Daily Fantasy Sports and online gambling operate in a grey legal area through an implied legality which is sometimes justified by its omission from the penal code.
In California there is no legislated gambling tax applied to gambling winnings across all legalized forms of gambling. Instead any winnings players might earn through gambling is taxed at each individual’s personal income tax bracket when the winnings are declared to the IRS. One tax residents of California should take note of though is the 24% federal tax that is applied to all lottery winnings alongside the state personal income tax.
| California Population | 39,510,000 |
| Most Popular Casino | Barona Resort and Casino |
| Gambling Authority | California Gambling Control Commission |
| Tax on Gambling Winnings | 1-13.3% |
| Popular Sports Teams in California | LA Lakers, Oakland Raiders. LA Galaxy, SF Giants, SF 49ers |
As mentioned several times on this page, California has very liberal gambling laws and are making moves to further liberalize them. There is currently a bill before the state legislature that proposes the legalization of online sports betting and further gambling amendments that include the concreate legalization of the card games offered by card rooms.
While it would appear on face value that the bill should pass through easily as legalizing sports betting would open up further opportunities for two of the major power players in the California gambling landscape, these being racetracks and tribal casinos. However, as card rooms are left out of the equation with sports bets, and the high likelihood that tribal casinos will protest at the concessions made to further cement card rooms legality, the bill might take some time to pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope we have been able to give you a good insight into the legal forms of gambling allowed in the state and the gambling age California has set for each. Should you have any further questions we have answered some of the most frequently answered questions below. To check out other states, head to our USA gambling age guide.
What is the California legal gambling age?
The legal age of gambling in California varies from 18-21 dependent on the form of gambling that is undertaken. Individuals only have to be 18 to participate in the state lottery, place pari-mutuel bets, play bingo, enter card-rooms and even enter some casinos. Whereas players must be 21 to enter a lot of land-based casinos and play Daily Fantasy Sports even though this last form operates in a very grey area of law.
Are there casinos in California that accept 18 year olds?
Yes, California is one of the few states in the US that has casinos that allow 18 year olds to enter. While the majority of the land-based casinos limit their entry age to 21+, there are still over 20 casinos in California that allow entry to 18 year olds. To discover the legal gambling ages for each form of legalized gambling in California check out our easy to read gambling ages table above.
Can I gamble online using the site of another state?
No, you cannot gamble online using the site of another state. Individuals computer IP addresses will mean that players cannot access out of state websites. Even if individuals can access an out of state gambling website they will not be covered by state consumer laws as the site is not registered in California.
Is online gambling legal in California?
Online gambling is not explicitly legal in California nor is it illegal, instead it sits in a very grey area of law. Players can access online gambling sites within California but as it is not a regulated form of gambling players have no recourse to consumer protection laws so using these sites is not advised.
Can I use the FanDuel or DraftKings app in California?
Yes, players can use FanDuel and DraftKings while in California. Players should note that Daily Fantasy Sports exists in a very grey area of law in the Golden State and while they are able to access the Daily Fantasy Sports platforms they are doing so while the legality of Daily Fantasy Sports remains in limbo.
Contents
When it comes to online gambling laws and regulations, the US is probably the most confusing country in the world. This is because each state approaches this topic in a different way.With cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, California hosts a wide array of land-based casinos and resorts, allowing both the residents and tourists to enjoy the casino experience to the fullest.
Given that the number of states that are regulating the online gambling industry is on the rise, California might feel the pressure to resolve that matter as well. If we take the word of some experts, California might be one of the next states that will introduce a legalized online casino system within its borders.
However, since we can’t predict the future, there is no right answer to this burning question. On the bright side, the residents can still enjoy some forms of online gambling. Keep reading to find out exactly what your options are when it comes to online casinos in California.
Top 5 California Online Casinos
Is Online Gambling Legal in California?
Currently, the state of California has no strict laws that prohibit online gambling. On the other hand, the governing bodies of California haven’t yet introduced a law that regulates the industry.
What this means is that, legally, you won’t get into any trouble if you choose to play online casino games. The state doesn’t have a regulated system, so there is no way for the authorities to stand in your way.
There have been attempts to legalize online casinos in California; however, all of them have run into some obstacles. The main reason for that is the opposition of tribal casinos. Their stance regarding the regulation of the online casino industry has been an issue for quite some time.
Fortunately, Californians have certain options when it comes to online casinos. You can run into a large number of online casinos that operate in California. But, the best option for playing online casino games at the moment is the Sweepstakes online casino and poker websites.
These platforms have reinvented old sweepstakes laws and applied them to the online gaming industry. Now, all players can enjoy casino games and win real prizes with the so-called sweepstakes cash. The websites that promote this type of online gambling allow the players to enjoy online slots and table games, as well as blackjack and video poker.
Another option players from California can turn to is offshore online casinos. Most of these online gambling websites accept players from the US. If you’re wondering if it’s legal to play using real money in offshore online casinos — the answer is yes. These online casinos operate outside the US, so it’s not illegal for you to open an account there.
Future of Online Gambling in California
As time passes, this is becoming less of an if and more of a when the government will legalize online casinos in CA. While all the attempts up to this point were futile, the tides seem to be changing. Hopefully, a bill that will be put into motion in the near future might just be the one to change the online casino landscape in California.
Of course, we have to understand that the state of California has much more serious problems to deal with at the moment — debts, as well as constant and severe drought. So, we can’t overlook that, but we can hope the government will understand that legalizing online casinos in the state can actually be beneficial to the state itself.
However, as already mentioned, online casinos that welcome players from California are not regulated by the law. Still, that doesn’t make them untrustworthy. Most of those online casinos are extremely popular. So, if you decide to open an account in an online casino, make sure you do thorough research and only join those that are reliable and have a great reputation.
Brick-and-Mortar Casino Options in California
Are Casinos Legal In California
In the state of California, there is quite a large number of land-based casinos. Interestingly, one thing all these casinos have in common is that they are all run by Native Americans. That implies that most of them are located on Native American soil. You might be surprised since California is considered to be among the most liberal states in the US. We thought so too, at some point. But, CA is not so conservative as it might seem.
Californian brick-and-mortar casinos offer a wide selection of classic casino games to its players. These include slots, baccarat, keno, roulette, and blackjack, among others. Land-based casinos are also known as cardrooms in California. They are located all over the state and their number keeps getting bigger.
The dominant game in these cardrooms is usually poker, but you can run into other offers, such as blackjack and its variants. Naturally, cardrooms are not limited to these two types of games. If you know a game that’s centered around the cards, you will most likely find it in a cardroom. Understandably, the offer of one cardroom isn’t the same as in others.
Is Chumba Casino Legal In California
We were really surprised to learn that if you opt for another form of gambling in a cardroom, you will notice that the so-called bank you are playing against is actually a person paid to be there. We can only suppose that it’s not completely legal to do that, but, in the end, that doesn’t affect the outcome. You are still free to enjoy the game.
Another interesting fact is that, in recent years, there have been numerous attempts to expand the presence of land-based casinos in California, but so far, these attempts have been fruitless. This is quite odd since we’re talking about a state that’s considered one of the most liberal ones in the country.
Land-Based Casinos in California
Below, you can see what some of the biggest brick-and-mortar casinos that currently operate in the state of California are.
| Name | Slot Machines | Table Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pechanga Resort and Casino | 5,000 | 158 |
| 2. | Cache Creek Casino | 2,300 | More than 120 |
| 3. | Morongo Casino Resort | 2,700 | 60 |
| 4. | Red Hawk Casino | 2,500 | More than 75 |
| 5. | Table Mountain Casino | 2,000 | 40 |
| 6. | Pala Casino Resort | 2,200 | 87 |
| 7. | Barona Casino and Resort | 2,500 | 120 |
| 8. | Thunder Valley Casino | 3,400 | 125 |
| 9. | Viejas Casino and Turf Club | 2,500 | 35 |
| 10. | San Manuel Casino | 4,900 | More than 130 |
Of course, keep in mind that this is just a small part of the actual number of land-based casinos that operate in California. To find a casino you like the most, you’ll need to do some additional research. Also note, the age restrictions can also vary depending on which casino you go to. Some allow 18+ and some are further restricted to 21+.
FAQ
Since the online gambling industry isn’t regulated in California, we can base this answer on two things — the CA lottery age limit and the cardroom age limit. In order to participate in lotteries, you must be over 18 years old. However, if you want to enter a cardroom, you must be at least 21. So, the safest bet is to say you should be over 21 to play in online casinos in California.
Given that the online gambling landscape in California isn’t actually legalized or regulated, it’s completely normal to have doubts about joining an online casino. If you want to play in an online casino, you need to be thorough while you research the one you like. Be thorough and patient, and you will surely find reputable and trustworthy online casinos in California.
Lately, a lot of online casinos have been introducing this new section on their platforms. Live casino games have become very popular because of the genuine casino experience they offer to their players. Of course, not all online casinos in California have a Live Casino section, so you should look for the ones that do.
The online casino industry is very competitive and innovative, meaning there are multiple types of casino games at your disposal. Simply put, any casino game you can think of already has an online version. What’s more, online casinos are full of surprises, so you might run into some games you’ve never even heard of.
In order to meet the needs of their players, most online casinos offer a wide selection of payment methods. This allows for easy and safe online payments. Naturally, the processing time will depend on the payment method you decide to use.