California Online Gambling Sites 2023
Online gambling in California can be done at many of the best sites for online gambling in the US like Bovada, Ignition, and BetOnline. These CA gambling sites take players from around the world, with that wide-ranging player base leading to the creation of many great online casinos, sportsbooks, and slot sites for California residents. This page will cover all the best gambling sites that accept California residents, with other sections dedicated to the types of gambling in the state, gambling bonuses, and mobile gambling in California.
StateCalifornia
Population49.51 Million
Largest Gambling CitiesLos Angeles, San Francisco
Number Of Land Based Casinos60
Gambling Revenue$8.4 Billion
State Licensed DFSYes
State Licensed Sports BettingNo
Land Based Poker Rooms86
Lottery ServicesYes
Mobile Betting OptionsNo
Best California Gambling Sites
What makes a website one of the best California gambling sites? The biggest requirement that needs to be met before joining any sites that offer online gambling in California is that they are legal and trusted. Players need to know that they can get timely and accurate payouts before gambling in California and putting their funds on the line. Other key features like transaction methods accepted, bonuses, and the gambling options available upon sign-up are key indicators of the best gambling sites for Californians.
Best Online Sportsbooks
Best USA Online Casinos
Best Online Poker Sites That Accept US Players
How We Pick The Best California Gambling Sites
Different Types Of Online Gambling In California
Best California Online Casino
California online casinos allow players that do not want to leave their homes to hit the casino. The best online US casinos also operate in California, with Bovada standing out because of its secure, real-money gambling experience that can be accessed from a mobile device. This mobile site can be used from anywhere inside of California, with no restrictions for anyone over the age of 18. With instant Bitcoin deposits and one of the biggest online casino bonuses in the USA that can be worth up to $3,750, Bovada offers California players more opportunities to potentially win big than some of the land-based ones in the state.
Benefits of Online California Casinos:
Best Online Sportsbook In California
With the most professional in-state sports teams in the US, there are many choices at California online sportsbooks. Bovada alone has thousands of different ways for them to get into the action, with that wide range of betting odds separating Bovada from the other top online sportsbooks in the state. Whether placing future wagers on the San Francisco 49ers or betting on the live spread during a Golden State Warriors and LA Lakers matchup, Bovada offers secure deposits and same-day payouts. There are also welcome bonuses for all new players to the sportsbook at Bovada that have up to $750 available for crypto deposits.
Benefits of California Online Sportsbooks:
Best California Online Poker Site
For all California players that want to compete in online poker tournaments, Ignition has one of the best poker sites for daily tournaments and single poker games. No matter how a player chooses to play at California online poker sites, there are deposit bonuses for new players that can be redeemed for up to $1,500 through crypto. Players can receive secure deposits and same-day payouts through cryptocurrency, with Bitcoin being the recommended transactional method at the best poker sites for California players.
Benefits of Online California Poker:
Best Online DFS In California
DraftKings is the best option for all California residents for participating in daily fantasy football and has been one of the most popular and secure sites for many years. Whether riding with the big playmakers like George Kittle or finding a cheaper player before the game kicks off, DraftKings can be used everywhere in California for daily competitions. The app can be used on any mobile device and deposits can be made through credit cards, PayPal, bank transfers, and more.
Benefits of California Online DFS:
Best Online Bingo Site In California
Bingo has always been a popular way to lean into gambling and Bovada has made it easy for online gambling California beginners to dip their toes with a wide variety of bingo games. The CA online casino has all the different bingo games under the “Specialty Games” tab and offers just as many potential winnings as the slot machines or table games on the site. California online bingo sites let you deposit with Bitcoin, credit cards, bank transfers, and more, and give big bingo bonuses in the USA through any of those deposit options from their mobile device.
Benefits of California Online Bingo:
Best California Online Lottery Site
With a diverse selection of online lottery games in California, BetOnline can help all CA residents enjoy the excitement of scratch-off tickets. While the state lottery does offer in-person scratch-off tickets, residents must go to a retail store or join one of the best USA lottery sites. With BetOnline being that site, players can deposit with their credit cards or cryptocurrency and play online scratch-off games from their mobile devices through the online casino at the secure gambling site. BetOnline offers same-day Bitcoin payouts for all online lottery winnings.
Benefits of California Online Lottery:
Best Online Horse Racing Site In California
From quarter horse to thoroughbred, Bovada has odds for all of the best local horse racing events in California. The Racebook at Bovada offers different online horse racing odds, including wagers for the horses to win or place during a specific event. The online Cali racebook also offers future odds on the biggest racing events across the country, with the Triple Crown being the most commonly wagered on horse events at Bovada. There are bonuses that can be redeemed for betting on horses at Bovada, with crypto deposits having the highest bonus credit available.
Benefits of California Online Horse Racing:
Best California Online Slot Site
Slots LV has one of the widest selections of online slots in California that players can spin anytime during the day or night. Slots LV accepts California players on iPhones, Androids, or any other mobile devices. Californians can use credit cards, cryptocurrency, bank transfers, and other methods for instant deposits. Before spinning one of the hundreds of slots on Slots LV, new players can sign up for one of the best online slots bonuses in the US that can be redeemed for up to $3,750 through three separate Bitcoin transactions.
Benefits of California Online Slots:
Is It Legal To Use Bovada In California?
Yes, Bovada is the best legal gambling site in California. Bovada has accepted California residents since it was opened in 2011, with players consistently choosing Bovada for all their online gambling needs ever since. The two most popular sections at Bovada in California are the sportsbook and casino, although the live dealer, racebook, and poker sections are all widely popular as well. Every section of Bovada is legal in California, with players not having to worry about any backlash due to the offshore nature of the gambling site that allows it to operate as a foreign business throughout the United States.
Mobile Gambling In California
Whether it is on an iPhone, Android, tablet, or another smart device, there are many different mobile gambling sites for California residents. Players will find that each of these sites does not require any download or real nuance, as the main gambling sites that CA players use (Bovada, Ignition, and BetOnline) all offer mobile-compatible versions of their websites on any internet browser. This means no geolocation downloads or wasted storage space on your phone. Mobile gambling sites go with this browser-based setup on phones and tablets because it means everyone can play, not just people with iPhones, iPads, Galaxies, or other big-name devices. The mobile gambling sites that accept Californians via a browser can get more players and offer a better product than any of the gambling mobile apps that may be promoted in CA. It is also important to note that many mobile gambling apps in California that take players are actually scams and may claim to be associated with Bovada or BetOnline, but players should stay away as those apps are not affiliated with the USA mobile gambling sites.
Mobile Sports Betting Apps
Mobile sports betting is available through the same casino accounts that members use to gamble on other things. While they are not necessarily applications, they are still cellphone compatible making them a mobile platform for sports betting. California currently does not have any sportsbook operations of their own. If and when they decide to regulate sports betting, they could choose to make state-affiliated mobile sports betting apps. Doing so could create a ton of revenue from the market for the economy of the Golden State. After all, California is full of some of the best teams in pro sports, who wouldn’t want to wager on that? Enter sports betting revenue profits.
Mobile Casino Apps
Mobile casino apps in California are sometimes available with offshore casino websites but not typically seen. However, if there is no application to download anything that doesn’t mean that gambling cannot be done with the use of mobile devices. Each internet casino is compatible with cellphones so that users may access and play using their casino’s mobile-friendly site. Everything that can be done on a desktop computer is condensed into a version that will fit in the palm of your hand so that gambling can take place at any time from anywhere. Its convenience personified for any person that loves to play.
Free Gambling Sites In California
Free gambling sites in California offer the same wide range of casino games, sports betting odds, and racebook bets that real money gambling sites do, just without the risk. Free online gambling sites in the US are a great learning tool for players in two different ways. First, there is no money on the line so it is a great way to learn a new game with zero consequences. Secondly, free gambling is a great way to learn about the chosen casino, sportsbook, or racebook. You can see if the gambling site’s interface and speed are to your liking before transitioning to real money.
Real Money Online Gambling Sites In California
Real money gambling sites in California are available to all residents, with players able to bet with credit cards, cryptocurrency, and more. Players will find the best real money US gambling sites to be national brands like Bovada that offer many different casino games, sports betting odds, and even slots in California. These big-name gambling sites in CA have earned their trustworthy reputations, which has to be the single most important characteristic of real money gambling sites. Almost all California gambling sites vary on the exact transaction methods that they accept and payout with, but players will find that there is at least one real money site for gambling that has their preferred transaction methods.
How To Gamble With Real Money Online In California
Gambling sites in California make the sign-up process very easy to complete, with the steps to deposit after sign-up equally quick. Effectively, Californians should be able to sign-up, deposit, and start gambling in the time that it takes for one drive-through order at In-and-Out to be completed. The steps to gamble with real money in California are detailed below through our experience at Bovada, with the process similar at other gambling sites as well. The sign-up and depositing steps will be separated, with notable information included in subsections.
Sign Up Steps At CA Gambling Sites
- Go to your gambling site (Here is a link to Bovada to follow along)
- Click the “Join” button either in the top corner or by toggling through the player account button in the top right corner
- You will be required to enter: Your name (First/Last), Address, Phone Number, and Email Address
- Other necessary information that depends on the site includes a driver’s license photo or your social security number to verify your identity
- Either click “Complete” or “Sign Up” to finish the sign-up process
Depositing At CA Gambling Sites
- Select the “deposit” button that is the top right corner of the screen
- Choose your deposit method
- Deposit Methods at Bovada include Crypto (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more), Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express), and Player Transfers
- Cryptocurrency is recommended because of its fast and free transactions
- Crypto can be bought at cryptocurrency exchanges, with Coin Base recommended
- Enter the information required for your chosen deposit method
- Select the bonus you would like to receive (This step must be completed before submitting the deposit)
- Click “Deposit” and start gambling!
Is Online Gambling Legal In California?
The California gambling sites on this page have practically operated in the Golden State since the times when Alcatraz was a long-term tourist destination for notorious travelers like Al Capone, Robert Stroud, and Machine Gun Kelly. Luckily for residents of California, online CA gambling sites do not have any of the legal issues that those criminals did, as gambling in California online is legal provided it is done at internationally based sites. The gambling platforms on this page that have been highlighted are all based internationally and legal for online gambling in California on the basis that they are foreign businesses that are legally allowed to operate in the US based on federal law.
Online Gambling Laws In California
Online gambling laws in California dictate that no online or in-person sportsbooks may be based in the state. For bettors, that means they can legally gamble in California provided it is at an offshore or international gambling site. These international gambling sites are legal in CA because they are governed federally by laws that allow foreign online businesses to accept US customers. If legal gambling in California is ever regulated at the state level, then players will have the option to join in on the new sites or stick with the sites that they had been gambling at for decades prior.
Legal Gambling Age In California
The legal gambling age in California is 18 to join legal online casinos, betting sites, and other gambling categories. That 18-year-old minimum is one of the youngest gambling ages in the US. The legal gambling age in CA also changes depending on what players are looking to get in on, with that young gambling age rising for some types of gambling in California.
- Lottery: 18
- Parimutuel: 18
- Casinos: 18-21
- Bingo: 18
- Online Poker: 18
- DFS: 21
- Sports Betting: 18-21
Where Are California Gambling Sites Regulated
California gambling sites are regulated offshore because the state does not offer any of their own. Every offshore gaming operator that is licensed to doing business has to adhere to a number of rules and regulations set by the country where they are licensed.
Many offshore casinos are based in Costa Rica, the UK, and Canada. Each has its own rules in place to safely and properly allow its services to be used by the people of California and all over the world. When looking to sign up for a gambling site, it’s always rule number one to make sure that the operator is licensed and regulated before even thinking of signing up. Every gambling business on our USAOnlineGambling network qualifies as one of the best and safest sites to use as we know firsthand having used them ourselves.
Who Can Play At California Online Gambling Sites
Anyone can play at online gambling sites in California, as all of the platforms on this page accept residents from CA who are at least 18 years old. The websites that online gambling California players can use are offshore sites that accept gamblers nationwide as well as people from all over the world. Some internet casinos are not allowed in a few states and unless Californians are visiting those particular states depending on the casino, they should be able to play and access their accounts throughout the country with ease.
Taxes On Gambling Winnings In California
Taxes on gambling winnings in California are set at 24%. This is for winnings over $600 either through offshore casinos or playing the California State Lottery. The state does this for federal taxes and does not have a state tax set on gambling winnings. It is up to the gambler to report their winnings when filing taxes to avoid any issues in the future.
Gambling Revenue In California
Officially, there is no gambling revenue in the state of California. This is because the Golden State has not yet regulated gambling statewide. Without local markets, there is no revenue to be had from the many gamblers that reside in California who engage in the activity. It’s all a loss in profits that the state endures until they make gambling regulation a reality. The frustrating part is that they know there’s profit in it - California does have the California State Lottery that brings in billions of dollars in revenue for schools statewide on an annual basis. At some point, they’ll come around to online gambling and sports betting.
Future Of California Online Gambling
For California online gambling to become regulated, residents of CA would have to vote in a proposition on their ballots. Doing so has proven more difficult and less necessary than many players may have originally felt. For one, the online gambling sites in California that this page highlights are legal and do not require any state-wide vote. Secondly, interested parties in legal CA online gambling often split votes. In 2022, there were two on the ballot, but neither passed, likely because they were competing with each other. In 2023, look for Propositions modeled after both CA Prop 26 and CA Prop 27. Here are the key details of the California gambling laws that failed in 2022.