- Jun 22, 2020 The bill, which would have allowed online and in-person sports betting to launch, reached the Senate Appropriation Committee earlier this month after the California Senate Governmental Organization Committee voted to pass it. The bill would have needed a two-thirds vote from the legislature before it could have gone in front of voters.
- No laws prohibit, ban, or regulate online gambling in California. 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.
- Feb 02, 2021 Right now, land-based sports betting is not legal in California, as the state has yet to implement any local laws establishing the rules and regulations for the pastime. There are a few hurdles when it comes to establishing a local sports betting industry in CA, too.
California’s legal sports betting age is 18. In order to partake in sports betting at online sportsbooks, you must be at least 18 years of age or older. Online sportsbooks will not allow sports bettors to wager without legal identification that proves they are at least the required legal sports betting age.
With such a large population, legal online gambling for California residents represents an enormous market share. California is one of the more progressive states when it comes to online gambling, with locals partaking in all types of popular gambling. In terms of regulation, California has taken greater strides than just about any other state. Several bills have gone through the State Assembly, but none have actually emerged. The Tribal entities in the state, as well as opponents to gambling on a whole, have blocked most attempts at actually regulating gambling.
In spite of their efforts to stop a regulatory body from being created, there are still a handful of gambling sites that accept residents of California. Our primary objective here is to show you some insight about the legalities of online gambling in California, as we want to clear the air of any misconceptions you may have.
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Online Gambling Age For California Residents
As with many states, gambling in California is subject to a variety of different gambling age limitations. California is somewhat more confusing than some other states due to the fact that the state has set the bar lower than what some casinos will follow. What this means is that the state only requires residents to be 18 before they can engage in most forms of gambling, though the gambling business itself may have a higher requirement. In the event that this higher requirement is in place, it actually supersedes the state law. For land-based casinos and poker rooms, the age can be either 18 or 21. The same goes for online casinos and poker rooms. Playing bingo, the lottery and dog/horse races also requires you to be only 18. Online sports betting has a firm 21 year limit on the age requirement. Remember to check the minimum age required by your preferred gambling location, as this could be higher than your state's requirements.
California Online Gambling Laws
The online gambling laws in California are, as of now, nonexistent. There has yet to be a law written specifically covering online gambling. The state statutes reflect no ban on online gambling as far as we can tell, which is why it is generally understood that there are no penalties for online gambling. That having been said, PASPA has recently been repealed and it is possible that online sports betting could come to California in the upcoming years. If it continues in the footsteps of other states, California will likely regulate land-based, mobile, and online gambling. If you want to take a look for yourself at the current general laws, browse through Title 9, Chapter 10, of the California Penal Code
California Gambling Taxes
Unfortunately, you are supposed to pay taxes on all income that comes in, and that includes paying taxes from online gambling revenue in California. With that being said, right now there is no regulation for online gambling in California, so they really have no way of knowing that you brought the money in. The best thing you can do if you want to follow the law (which we suggest) is to pay taxes on all profits that you earn for the year.
Gambling Sites That Accept California Residents
When we started looking into the industry of legal USA online gambling, we had looked into quite a few different online gambling sites that accept residents from California. With such a large population, indeed a fairly wide reach of gamblers, it would be silly to overlook such an extensive market. We have only brought the best sites available into our list, as player protection is one of our primary purposes.
Bovada: Bet On All California Teams
One of the best online gambling sites is Bovada. One reason why is because of the variety of stuff that you can place your wagers on and win money. Along with sports, there is also an online casino available as well. With those options is a live dealer for those who want to play and experience the live feeling of being at a casino online. This is a great option for those who don’t want to leave home but do want to participate in betting options. Still have slots and blackjack games that open up many other winning chances as well. Signing up for Bovada also rewards its players with many promotions so make sure to take advantage of that while you have the chance to. It doesn’t take that long to sign up so just make sure you are 18 and older and you will be making money in no time.Go To Bovada!
BetOnline: NFL In Game Betting On Your Phone
The golden state is the most populated state in the union, and you can bet that a large subsection of the folks use BetOnline, the best overall gambling site for California residents. Since there are no sportsbooks in California, people need to either take a trip to Nevada or go online to a legal sports betting site. BetOnline is not only the best online sportsbook; it’s also the best poker site and virtual casino. The developers know what they are doing, having been at it for over ten years strong.
One of the many reasons to join BetOnline today is that they are offering a 100% poker signup bonus that will reward you just for joining the family. Make a first deposit of $50 or more, and you will be eligible to receive a 100% match bonus. Email freeplay@betonline.ag with “NEWBOL” in the subject line to let them know that you are interested. This is a prime time to join BetOnline and start throwing bones. Go To BetOnline!
Betting Sites | Bonuses | Features | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|
50% - $250 | Poker / Casino Games | ||
50% - $1,000 | Poker / Casino Games | ||
50% - $1,000 | Poker / Casino Games | ||
50% - $520 | Live Dealer Casino |
US Casinos | Bonuses | Bonus Codes | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|
400% - $4K | LUCKYRED400 | ||
100% - $777 | BIGSLOT | ||
200% - $500 | SLOTS500 | ||
100% - $500 | HELLOSLOTS | ||
200% - $2K | No Code Needed | ||
200% - $1K | USA1000 |
Poker Sites | Bonuses | Features | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|
100% - $1,000 | Sports Betting / Casino | ||
100% - $1,000 | Sports Betting / Casino |
Latest Legal USA Gambling News for California
Online Casinos That Accept California Residents
While you could probably drive up the block and find a casino, there are also many online casinos in the state, casinos that offer all of the same games - generally with different themes (in the case of slots) and definitely with higher pay rates. These casinos offer players safe and fun ways to entertain themselves. See all online casinos that accept USA players.
Online Sports Betting Sites That Accept California Residents
Unless you live close enough to the Nevada border, it is generally impossible to bet on sports. This is no longer true due to online sports betting, where you can wager on sports with no real complications. We expect our readers to be able to bet without any trouble, as all of the sites we share are trustworthy and safe. See all sports betting sites accepting USA players.
Online Poker Sites That Accept California Residents
Though the number of legal online poker is somewhat limited at this point, there are still a few viable options out there. Even if the industry of online poker has taken a few hits over the past few years, it has continued to thrive. We are going to share with you only the best poker rooms for Californian residents, so you should not have too much trouble getting at the felts if you follow our advice.
Online Bingo Sites That Accept California Players
Bingo players can pull up their computer chair and hit the cards with no trouble, as we have secured a list of online bingo sites where real money play is not only accepted but also encouraged. Though these are not the most popular of the California gambling sites, they are still available for those who want to participate.
Is Online Gambling Legal In California?
Online gambling is legal in California when you use reputable online gambling sites. We have thoroughly explored both the California Constitution and the California Penal Code and there are no laws that mention using the internet to gamble. CA is similar to most states that have opted to rely on federal stipulations when it comes to certain types of gambling, though none of these laws make gambling on the internet illegal for bettors. Any statute regarding online gambling applies to operators and/or other US businesses.
California residents do not have to be fearful of laws that do not exist and therefore cannot effect how you gamble. Our only caveat is that you should never use a local bookie to bet on anything. The law does strictly prohibit gambling with land-based bookmakers that are not licensed. Stick to the legal offshore gambling sites featured on our page when you are ready to start wagering.
Can California Residents Safely Gamble Online?
Regardless of any online gambling laws in California lead you to believe, it is safe for any resident of California to gamble online for real money. You will have a problem if you decide that you want to start your own online or offline gambling business, however. We do not recommend this to anyone especially if you plan on basing your operation inside the state. So, as long as you are just a consumer and you stick the recommendations we have on this page (all are safe and trusted), you will not need to worry about any consequences from gambling online in California.
Are Online Casinos Legal In California?
With no blanket ban on online gambling, it is fair to assume that there are legal online casinos in California. These online casinos will provide you with a way to participate in a handful of games, providing you with just about everything you would find in a live casino – and more. You will not run into any issues of legality when using reputable casino gaming sites that are based offshore.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In California?
The industry of sports betting is more scrutinized by the government, but the California government has done nothing to specifically make it illegal for players to bet on sports in California. Since federal laws like the Wire Act effectively make it so those 'in the business of bookmaking' are held liable, you as a player can generally safely make wagers. Also keep in mind that numerous states have started to regulate the industry, which means legal California sports gambling sites could be licensed by the state sooner than later.
Is Online Poker Legal In California?
California residents are one of the largest groups of online poker players. While the state has not passed any online poker laws as of late, there are still a wide range of options for legal online poker gambling in California. Numerous sites accept local residents every day for real money poker games and tournaments. BetOnline has one of the most popular online poker rooms, but California residents may also like the poker room at SportsBetting.
Can I Bet On Horse Racing In California?
California has a booming horse racing industry where residents are free to bet on the ponies as often as they’d like. The state offers regulated pari-mutuel and simulcast horse wagering opportunities to horseplayers at various locations. While you can visit Santa Anita and spend the day at the races, it is not feasible to make this trip every single day. That is where online racebooks come in to provide you with 24/7 horse racing betting action. You can bet on tracks in California or those scattered all throughout the nation.
Funding Your Legal Online Gambling Account
Once you have registered at a site, you can move on to funding your legal online gambling account. There are several convenient deposit methods that you can choose from, through the specific banking limits will vary from site to site. The best funding method across the board is bitcoin. Bitcoin is a digital currency that is extremely fast and equally as reliable. You make deposits of anywhere between $10 and $50,000 almost instantly. All you have to do is transfer your BTC to the bitcoin wallet address provided by the cashier at the site, and your funds will be available for wagering.
For high roller betting, we suggest using bank wire transfers. Bank wires take money from your checking or savings account and send it directly to the online cashier. While there are bank-dependent fees for using this method, there is no maximum limit when it comes to making a deposit. Your cash should be reflected in your account within 72 hours.
Aside from these methods, you can also use money orders, checks, and credit cards for deposits. Check with your preferred online gambling site for processing speeds and other details.
California Gambling FAQS
How Much Does The Membership Cost?
Online gambling sites do not charge any membership fees for new customers. Hard to believe considering how valuable their gambling products and exclusive promotions are, but there is no reason to ever pay to join a site. Operators want you to spend your money on gambling rather than having to pay exorbitant miscellaneous fees. The best online gambling sites value their players and show this by offering their services at no charge.
Do I have to submit a new Credit Card Authorization Form every time I use my credit card?
No, you only have to submit a credit card authorization the first time you use your credit card. Safety is extremely important at the top online gambling sites. Cashiers ask for verification forms as a way to protect your account and to ensure that your card is not being used fraudulently. Once the operator has your authorization on file, you can use the same credit card to make instant deposits.
Do Bitcoin Sportsbooks Offer Mobile Betting?
Bitcoin sportsbooks offer mobile betting for players that want to bet on the go. These apps are completely free, and many times do not require any additional download. For example, you can just visit 5Dimes.eu from your handheld device to be redirected to the mobile site. You can still bet on Golden State, make a fast BTC deposit, or request a payout with just a few swipes. Mobile sports betting is compatible with most devices, including iPhones, BlackBerrys, Android, and Windows devices.
Will I go to jail for online gambling in California?
No, it is extremely unlikely that a casual bettor would ever fo to jail for online gambling in CA. There is no precedent that we can cite that would make us believe that online gambling has ever gotten someone arrested in the state of California. No, you have nothing to worry about.
Welcome to our page that reviews the best California sports betting sites and tells you about the sports betting laws in the state. California residents may be able to bet on sports by jumping the border into Nevada, but this simply does not carry the convenience of the online sports gambling sites accepting California residents. Those who wish to bet on sports in California may do so quite easily by simply visiting the sportsbooks online, and we have examined the laws related to sports betting in the state of California and on a federal level alike. If you are going to bet on sports, you may as well be aware of what trouble can come from these games.
But it's not just about the trouble that we want you to be aware of. While important, there are certainly some other factors that players should learn as well, such as the sites that accept California residents. Sites where they are allowed can be found here below, as well as reasoning behind California residents being allowed to play there. This page is not just about informing, it's also to lay out options to sports bettors in the state.
Is It Legal To Bet On Sports In California?
The penal code in California has not actually made it a crime for you to wager on sports on the Internet. You will not encounter any trouble solely for gambling on sports. Even with the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and the Wire Act alike, it has not become a crime for you, the California resident, to gamble on sports over the Internet.
California is not currently capable of authorizing a sportsbook, however, so you will be left out of the loop in terms of a regulated gambling experience. You will have to wait until the PASPA is overturned or made flexible before California residents can actually openly bet on sports under a regulatory body based out of the state.
Where Can I Bet Online In California?
Bettors in California interested in wagering online have ample opportunities to do so. These sportsbooks where they are accepted will operate offshore, as there are no current state-regulated sports betting sites in California. These offshore sites though are some of the best, and most comprehensive online sportsbooks that can be found.
With that being said, there are plenty of betting sites out there for our readers, and we have looked into each of them in order to bring only the best to the forefront. Fair odds, easy deposits and total security are all parts of these betting sites. Should you decide to play with our sites you will not have to worry about much other than what you want to bet on, how much to risk on it, and which sportsbook funding method you can use to load your account.
We came to Bovada for our betting, as they accept residents of California provided they are above the legal age to gamble. Bovada has given their users some of the most generous of all promotions, with a 100% new player deposit bonus good for as much as $250 which starts the player off with a fairly large bankroll boost. Few other sportsbooks are quite as generous.
Bovada boasts a variety of features, ranging from a mobile betting site to a live in game gambling site. Should you decide to stick with Bovada you will be given a solid set of odds to play with, with some of the highest paying wager lines online.
As for the financial end of things, this sportsbook is equipped with a variety of options that allow users to not only fund their accounts instantly, but also to get payouts from their accounts in an efficient manner.
BetOnline is another betting site that has been around for several years and they've always welcomed residents of the great state of California. There, users will have all forms of sports betting lines delivered, including bets on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and much more.
Should you decide to stick to BetOnline you will immediately be met with up to $900 every single time you make a deposit thanks to a 15% or 25% (depending on deposit method used) reload bonus. This will boost your bankroll significantly, offering you a solid bit of cash to take to the lines.
BetOnline also offers a mobile betting site, live wagering, and also a supply of betting trends that will show you were players are placing their bets. In the end, BetOnline is one of the most generous gambling sites around.
SportsBetting provides their players with a betting site that is great for casual and professional bettors alike. Should you decide to join up with this online betting site, you will be able to bet on any number of sports ranging from professional, amateur and college sports are available through SportsBetting.
Online Sports Betting In California
Should you join up with SportsBetting, know that deposits are also incredibly easy. E-checks, VISA + AmEx, as well as money orders, cashier's checks, and wire transfers can all be used to make payments directly into your account.
Bovada Sports
SportsBetting offers their players one of the most impressive sets betting odds around, making for one of the highest paying online bookmakers around. They are also one of the California accepted online sportsbooks that do not limit the maximum bet players may make.
CA Sports Betting Sites | Bonuses | Top Sports To Wager | Visit |
---|---|---|---|
Bovada Sportsbook | 100% Match To $250 | NFL, College Football | VISIT |
BetOnline Sportsbook | 50% To $2,500 - Every Deposit | NFL, MLB, MMA, NHL | VISIT |
SportsBetting Sportsbook | 75% To $1,000 Each | NBA, NASCAR, UFC | VISIT |
5Dimes Sportsbook | 50% To $520 Match | College Sports, NBA, MLB | VISIT |
How Do I Get Money Into Online Sportsbooks - How Do I Get Money Out?
When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal In California
One of the questions that you may have about online sports betting in California might be about the methods in which a player can play for money, i.e. fund their account. This is an important issue to be addressed when using sportsbooks or any other California gambling sites.
California Sports Betting News
The short answer is that online sportsbooks where California players are accepted can have different ways for their players to deposit. There is not a uniform way to deposit into a sports betting site. This is obviously good and bad. It's good because there won't be one way to do something. It can backfire a bit for a sportsbook though if they don't have a preferred method of a player. In general though, credit cards, and other electronic transfers are accepted.
Legal Online Sports Betting California
And then when it comes to the sportsbook paying the player out, California residents will always have the option to receive a check. How it's delivered can vary, whether through the mail or a courier. But in addition to that, other electronic wire transfers are potential choices at different sportsbooks.