Best Online Gambling Sites California

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Updated:

23 Dec 2024

11 min read

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Online gambling is yet to be legalized in California, including online sportsbooks, online casino games, and online poker. Until it is, online gamblers must look elsewhere, meaning that their only options are social and sweepstakes casinos. Users who want to play their favorite table games, casino games, or online slot machines can do so at their own leisure at the increasingly popular social casinos until the state makes online gambling legal.

The Best California Casino Sites

California, United States

1

Best Casino

9.2
Bonus
1.75 million WOW Coins + 35 FREE Sweepstake Coins
- Number of games:
  1200+
- Min. deposit:
  $9.99
Read review
Benefits
- Over 1200+ slots games
- Exclusive “Star” VIP system, email SC draws, referral programs, and chat promos
- Bingo and Live Casino
- Daily login bonuses
- Redemption available
Overview
- Website
- Established 2021
- Min deposit $0.49
Rating
9.2 / 10
Safety & Security
10/10
User experience
9/10
Games & Software
10/10
Customer Support
9/10
Bonuses & promotions
10/10
Players experience
9/10
Payment options
9/10
Payout speed
8/10
Mobile Compatibility
9/10
Casino Reputation
9/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
2

Highly Recommended

8.8
Bonus
1 Million GC + 2.5 FREE SC
- Payout speed:
  2-3 days
- Number of games:
  650+
Read review
Benefits
- Impressive sign up bonus
- Regular hourly tournaments with SC prizes
- Games updated monthly with new drops
Overview
- Website
- Established 2024
- Min deposit no
Rating
8.8 / 10
Safety & Security
10/10
User experience
9/10
Games & Software
9/10
Customer Support
9/10
Bonuses & promotions
9/10
Players experience
9/10
Payment options
8/10
Payout speed
8/10
Mobile Compatibility
8/10
Casino Reputation
9/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
3

Recommended

8.7
Bonus
No deposit 125 000 Coins +400 000 Coins & 1000 Entries
- Payout speed:
  2-3 days
- Min. deposit:
  $4.99
- Number of games:
  150+
Read review
Benefits
- High-quality games by top developers
- Mobile app available
- Excellent bonuses and promotions
- User-friendly interface and mobile app
Overview
- Website
- Established 2022
- Min deposit $4.99
- No Deposit Bonus 125 000 Coins
Rating
8.7 / 10
Safety & Security
10/10
User experience
9/10
Games & Software
7/10
Customer Support
10/10
Bonuses & promotions
9/10
Players experience
9/10
Payment options
8/10
Payout speed
9/10
Mobile Compatibility
8/10
Casino Reputation
8/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
4

Top Bonuses

8.4
Bonus
No deposit 125 000 Coins +400 000 FC & 1000 CC for deposit over $19.99
- Payout speed:
  1-3 days
- Number of games:
  100+
Overview
- Website
- Established 2024
- Min deposit $6.99
- No Deposit Bonus 125 000 Coins
Rating
8.4 / 10
Safety & Security
10/10
User experience
8/10
Games & Software
8/10
Customer Support
9/10
Bonuses & promotions
9/10
Players experience
8/10
Payment options
8/10
Payout speed
8/10
Mobile Compatibility
8/10
Casino Reputation
8/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
5

Recommended

8.5
Bonus
No deposit 100 000 Coins +400 000 GC & free 1000 SC
- Payout speed:
  2-3 days
- Min. deposit:
  $1.99
- Number of games:
  140+
Read review
Benefits
- High-quality selection of games
- Daily bonuses and tournaments available
- User-friendly website design
- 24/7 live chat feature and a friendly customer support team
- Amazing 10-tier VIP club, with benefits like 20% of your played coins return
Overview
- Website
- Established 2021
- Min deposit $1.99
- No Deposit Bonus No deposit 100 000 Coins
Rating
8.5 / 10
Safety & Security
10/10
User experience
9/10
Games & Software
9/10
Customer Support
10/10
Bonuses & promotions
8/10
Players experience
8/10
Payment options
8/10
Payout speed
8/10
Mobile Compatibility
7/10
Casino Reputation
8/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
6

Best Games Choice

8.3
Bonus
Up to 1,000 Gems and Get 50% Extra Gems
- Payout speed:
  2-3 days
- Number of games:
  700+
Read review
Benefits
- Massive selection of slots from top providers
- Unique currency system with Gems and Shards
- Good customer support options, including live chat
- Simple and easy-to-navigate interface
Overview
- Website
- Established 2023
- Min deposit $4.99
Rating
8.3 / 10
Safety & Security
10/10
User experience
8/10
Games & Software
8/10
Customer Support
9/10
Bonuses & promotions
8/10
Players experience
8/10
Payment options
8/10
Payout speed
8/10
Mobile Compatibility
8/10
Casino Reputation
8/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
7

7
Bonus
10,000 Gold Coins + 5 Sweepstakes Coins

Read review
Benefits
- Unique game types include scratchers and arcade games
- Use of cryptocurrency for banking
- Good amount of bonuses
- Expansive VIP Rewards
Overview
- Website
- Established 2023
- Min deposit $9,99
- No Deposit Bonus 10 Free Spins
Rating
7 / 10
Safety & Security
9/10
User experience
8/10
Games & Software
7/10
Customer Support
6/10
Bonuses & promotions
7/10
Players experience
6/10
Payment options
6/10
Payout speed
7/10
Mobile Compatibility
7/10
Casino Reputation
7/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
8

6.9
Bonus
100,000 GC + 10 SC

Read review
Benefits
- More than 700 slot games from reputable providers
- Site-specific progressives
- Free gold coins on registration
- Daily and weekly reload bonuses
- Exclusive VIP program
Overview
- Website
- Established 2023
- Min deposit $0.99
Rating
6.9 / 10
Safety & Security
8/10
User experience
7/10
Games & Software
7/10
Customer Support
7/10
Bonuses & promotions
8/10
Players experience
7/10
Payment options
6/10
Payout speed
6/10
Mobile Compatibility
6/10
Casino Reputation
7/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
9

7
Bonus
150,000 GC + 6 FREE Sweeps Coins

Read review
Benefits
- All-in-one social sportsbook and casino
- 24/7 customer support service
- Fast redemptions
- Amazing bonuses for new and existing players
- Over 40 progressive slots with SC jackpots
Overview
- Website
- Established 2023
Rating
7 / 10
Safety & Security
8/10
User experience
8/10
Games & Software
6/10
Customer Support
7/10
Bonuses & promotions
7/10
Players experience
7/10
Payment options
6/10
Payout speed
7/10
Mobile Compatibility
6/10
Casino Reputation
8/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
10

6.9
Bonus
5S Coins + 100K Gold Coins

Read review
Benefits
- Intuitive, user-focused interface
- 24/7 customer support
- Opportunity to redeem real money prizes
Overview
- Website
- Established 2023
Rating
6.9 / 10
Safety & Security
10/10
User experience
6/10
Games & Software
5/10
Customer Support
8/10
Bonuses & promotions
7/10
Players experience
6/10
Payment options
8/10
Payout speed
6/10
Mobile Compatibility
6/10
Casino Reputation
7/10
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply

The Best California Casino Sites
Reviews of Our Choice of the Best Online Gambling Sites CA
California Online Gambling Laws
Online Casino Gambling in California
FAQ

Reviews of Our Choice of the Best Online Gambling Sites CA

Our dedicated team has assembled an exclusive list of the top platforms available to Californian players. These sweepstakes and social casinos excel in offering a wide variety of games, lucrative bonus offers, secure payment methods, and exceptional customer support. Discover the ultimate online gaming experiences tailored for players in California today.

Read review

WOW Vegas

9.2

WOWVegas is much more than a social casino. It’s one of the few social casinos with backing by a celebrity, and for good reason. Launched in 2021, this sweepstakes casino has grown a wide following thanks to its plethora of slot games, prizes, payment methods, and more. Now, our team brings you everything you need to know about this platform, from WOWVegas casino reviews to the best games and more to explore!

Website
Bonus 1.75 million WOW Coins + 35 FREE Sweepstake Coins
Established 2021
Games 1200+
Legal in States All except WA, NV, MI, ID
Live Dealer No

Pros

Over 1200+ slots games
Exclusive “Star” VIP system, email SC draws, referral programs, and chat promos
Bingo and Live Casino
Daily login bonuses
Redemption available

Cons

Jackpots are only available in WOW Coins
No dedicated mobile app available at this time

Read review

Spree Casino

8.8

Website
Bonus 1,000,000 Free GC + 2.5 SC
Established 2024
Games 800+
Live Dealer yes

Pros

More than 1,280 games from 21 top-tier providers
Massive SC referrals and leaderboard tournaments
Mobile-first interface with beginner-friendly navigation
Live dealer tables by Iconic21 (formerly Beterlive)
Dedicated help center with 24/7 support

Cons

No live chat support
Limited banking options (credit and debit cards only)

Read review

NoLimitCoins

8.5

Small but mighty, NolimitCoins casino is quickly becoming one of the most reputable, fun, and simple social casino platforms on the market. It’s easy to find a slot that satisfies your need for a Vegas-style game, purchase gold coin packages to extend the fun, and win daily bonuses! Find out more about this new sweepstakes casino in our NolimitCoins review.

Website
Bonus 400 000 Gold Coins & free 1000 Super Coins
Established 2021
Games 350+
Legal in States All except WA, NV, ID
Live Dealer No

Pros

High-quality selection of games
Daily bonuses and tournaments available
User-friendly website design
24/7 live chat feature and a friendly customer support team
Amazing 10-tier VIP club, with benefits like 20% of your played coins return

Cons

Limited game selection compared to other online casinos
No mobile app
Limited depositing options
No table or live dealer games

Read review

Funrize Casino

8.7

Funrize Casino is as good as it gets for players looking for a simple, easy-to-use, and fun platform to play casino-style games. Most Funrize casino reviews only give an overview of this site, but we’ve gone in-depth and played games for ourselves, signed up for an account, and interacted with their customer support team to get a better picture of how this sweepstakes casino works. Find out what we’ve learned in this Funrize Casino review.

Website
Bonus 400 000 Coins + 1000 Entries
Established 2022
Games 400+
Legal in States All except WA, ID, WY, MI
Live Dealer No

Pros

Diverse game selection with over 130 titles
Excellent customer service through live chat and social media channels like Twitter and Facebook
Mobile app available
Excellent bonuses and promotions

Cons

Limited software developers
Payment methods limited compared to other online casinos
Limited game selection for table games and live dealer options

Read review

Sportzino

Sportzino Casino is one of those sites that make players come back for more with a superb sign-up package worth up to 150,000 GC and 6SC, an immense library of online slots, and a full social betting solution. With tons of different ways of earning SC through referrals and a unique VIP club, it sure seems like a perfect fit for every player. See what Lucky Gambler experts have to say about it in the upcoming review.

Website
Bonus 150,000 GC + 6 FREE Sweeps Coins
Established 2023
Games 295
Legal in States Aall US states except ID, WA, GA, MI
Live Dealer No

Pros

All-in-one social sportsbook and casino
24/7 customer support service
Fast redemptions
Amazing bonuses for new and existing players
Over 40 progressive slots with SC jackpots

Cons

The only available support channel is via website tickets
Demanding verification procedure for reward redemptions

California Online Gambling Laws

Currently, the only types of gambling permitted in California are tribal casinos, the lottery, Indian bingo, pari-mutuel horse race wagering, and charitable forms such as raffles.

California does not permit real money online gambling, meaning that it is only legal for players to play at a social casino site. Such sites are predominantly for playing for fun, however, some of them award their users in the form of Sweepstakes Coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes and gifts.

Social casinos are also popular for people who want to play online slots and other casino-style games, with some of them offering generous bonuses to their players.

Recently, bills have been introduced to legalize online gambling in California, with some gaining attention from the state’s lawmakers. Back in the state’s November 2022 ballot, residents of California voted against two propositions that would legalize sports betting online.

Retail sports betting is not legal at this time. For now, the legalization of sports betting in California is put on hold until at least 2024.

How does California Regulate Gambling?

While online gambling in California is prohibited, there are still legal forms of gambling:

tribal casinos
pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing
the California lottery
cardrooms
and gaming for non-profit organizations

The California Gambling Control Commission works in collaboration with the Bureau of Gambling Control in order to regulate the Golden State’s gambling industry. The California Horse Racing Board is in charge of regulating pari-mutuel wagering for horses. These authorities will also regulate online gambling when it is legalized in California.

Once online gambling in California becomes legal, players can assure their safety and security if they upkeep responsible gambling efforts and choose legal casino sites that are licensed and regulated by the California Gambling Control Commission.

Legal online casinos will offer responsible gambling facilities to Californians, and all gaming sites will undergo thorough checks by the CGCC to ensure the security and integrity of the site and its players.

Californian Land Based Casinos

There are 85 land-based casinos across Northern and Southern California, with the state being the largest in Indian gaming. The 85 California Indian gaming casinos are owned by 73 of the state’s 109 tribes, these are otherwise known as tribal casinos.

Some of the best California casinos include Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, Viejas Casino & Resort, and the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa. All are tribal casinos meaning no casino in California is operated by MGM Resorts International, which primarily operates casinos in Las Vegas.

Online Casino Gambling in California

There are a multitude of reasons that make it challenging to predict the future of online casinos in California. The Golden State’s tribal casinos, poker room operators, and lawmakers have varying agendas making it difficult to reach a consensus. And going off recent attempts, gambling legislation does not tend to gain much traction.

However, the future of online sports betting looks a little more optimistic than the outlook for gambling legislation. Online sports betting has seen an overwhelming growth in popularity after the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court legalized sports betting.

For the best online casino-style games in California, players look to social casinos due to online gambling in California is yet to be made legal. The best online casino for Californians is WOW Vegas, which offers gamers the opportunity to play slots online, blackjack, promotional sweepstakes, and deposit bonuses.

Other social casinos in California also offer a generous deposit bonus, and casino games such as slot machines, and table games.

Online Poker

California has a long history as one of America’s most popular poker states, but it does not offer legal online poker for real money. Lawmakers in California have tried to legalize online poker, but unsuccessfully. Currently, the only online poker available for Californians are social and sweepstake casinos that offer pai gow poker and other social casino games.

Daily Fantasy Sports

The state of California does not regulate daily fantasy sports, however, it is tolerated in the Golden State. The state law does not address fantasy sports directly within its legislation, with all the top DFS brands operating in California accepting customers aged 18 and over.

Sports Betting

Retail sports betting is not currently legal in the state of California, nor is online sports betting. Two propositions to legalize sports betting were rejected in the November ballots of 2022. Should an agreement be reached during 2023 to legalize online sports betting, then the earliest it could be implemented would be 2024.

Online Horse Betting

Since 1933, wagering on horses has been legal in the state of California and is regulated by the California Horse Racing Board. Due to its popularity, California is also one of only a few states to offer legal online horse betting. Players must be the legal gambling age of 18 and older to participate.

Lottery

The California State Lottery was first approved back in 1984, allowing Californians to participate in Powerball Games and the Mega Millions. Additionally, there are draw games and scratch cards available, regulated by the Lottery Commission. Players must be aged 18 and above to take part in any of the state’s lottery games.

States with legal online gambling

FAQ

What is the legal gambling age in California?

The legal gambling age is 18 for bingo, state lottery, and pari-mutuel horse wagering. Wagering at a casino is legal from 18, however, casinos restrict any persons below the age of 21 from entering.

Who regulates gambling in California?

Legal land-based casinos in California are legal in tribal casinos on Indian reservations. The California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) ensures each tribe remains compliant with the tribe-state compact. The California Lottery Commission and the California Horse Racing Board regulate lotteries and pari-mutuel wagering respectively.

Are online casinos legal in California?

Real money sites are yet to be legalized, however, social and sweepstakes casinos are a popular alternative in the state of California. Gamers are invited to play online slot machines and table games, without depositing a dime.

Can I win real money at California online casinos?

While real money gambling sites are not yet permitted in California, some social casinos do allow players to win cash prizes. Some sites use ‘Sweepstake’ coins that can also be redeemed to win real money prizes.

Are gambling winnings taxable in California?

The state of California taxes all gambling winnings. Gambling winnings could bump a player up to a higher tax bracket, which would increase the amount of state tax owed. All profit below $5,000 is subject to a flat tax rate of 24%. Anything above $5,000, or any gambling winnings over 300x the original wager must be reported on a W4 tax withholding form.

Is it necessary for me to reside in California to play on online gambling sites once they become operational?

Should a California online casino become legal, residents of the Golden State will be able to participate in online casino gambling on legal and licensed websites. A player living outside of California must adhere to their state laws.

Written by Jeremy Olson

Jeremy Olson runs team of writers and creates the overall content strategy. With years of experience in the gambling industry, Jeremy has honed his skills not only as a writer but also as a strategic thinker, making long-term content plans that align with the website’s goals.

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