California is the biggest state in the United States of America by sheer population size. Over 40 million people call the state home, and to many, it’s one of the more progressive and tolerant states in the country, so why is it that online gambling still seems to be a tricky issue for its citizens? It’s certainly a divisive issue across the entire US as some states have relaxed their laws to allow gambling of all kinds, but the internet has also allowed offshore companies to exploit loopholes without any real consequence. It’s also worth noting that legalizing gambling was put to the voters in 2022 in Cali, and it was rejected, so that suggests there is still some work to do when it comes to changing any laws or attitudes. We take a current look at how things stand for those in California and what the current state of play is when it comes to potential changes in the future.

Legality Online Poker in California

The short answer here is that, no, online poker is not legal in the state of California. It is prohibited by Section 330 of the California Penal Code, where it stipulates: “Every person who plays or bets at or against any of those prohibited games is guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be punishable by a fine not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment.” While there will be a sizeable number of people who don’t like the rule and may even feel that it’s archaic, it’s also the rule of law in the state, and breaching it comes with consequences.

Could the law change in California?

The possibility of regulating and legalizing online poker in California has been discussed in the local courts before, but not for a long time now. Since the initial discussions, it’s definitely taken a back seat in state government importance. Optimists originally said that online poker could be legal in California in 2024, but since have said 2025 is more likely. Could it get pushed back even further, and are they up against it when you consider that if you’re from California, you can play safely and legally at the sites found here? A Californian-based assemblyman, Adam Gray, was at the forefront of some bills that tried to overturn the law back in 2014, 2015, and even a year later with a separate bill. Unfortunately, none of these got to a vote.

Using Virtual Currencies to Circumvent the Law

Right, so you know the above law…it only applies to real-world currencies, apparently. Therefore, some companies have found a way to skirt around the issue. Such companies operate what is referred to as: ‘social and sweepstakes online poker.’ This is where users gamble in virtual currencies, which can only be found on the site (not crypto). This is a lot like the Japanese gambling setup, where players are allowed to gamble for the in-house currency and then convert it for a prize at a different building. Global Poker is a good example of this, as users gamble in their virtual currency; and then cash them in and redeem prizes, including real-world cash. Other examples include Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and House of Fun. Again, it’s not quite the real thing, but for those who want to play for some kind of real-money stake; this might be as close as it gets for now.

Go Offline and Play Poker in Person

While online poker is not legal in California, poker at live casinos and cardrooms is completely legal. It has some of the biggest gambling venues in the country. The Commerce Casino and Hotel has over 200 poker tables! As such, many poker tours, like the World Series of Poker, often hold multiple events in California every year. On top of that, playing with real people adds a social element to the game that’s missing when you play online; so it’s better for your mental well-being, too! This is down to the state having a rich history with poker; and gambling dating back to the Gold Rush era back in the 1800s. Poker was then outlawed, then re-introduced, and eventually to its current status. Hopefully, when (and if) online poker is allowed in California, it won’t have such a turbulent ride. If you don’t like real-world poker and interacting with other players, then disregard this whole stanza completely.

Just go to Nevada to play Poker

California shares a state border with Nevada. What’s in Nevada? Las Vegas. As the gambling capital of the world, there’s a bountiful amount of options to play poker both in-person and online. In theory, Californian citizens could simply make it a parking lot in a California-Nevada border town; and play online poker, as it is completely legal and regulated in the neighbouring state. Of course, the same people could drive a little further and experience everything that Vegas has to offer; although that would be expensive, and it’s not exactly convenient if you’re a regular player who just wants to play a few hands after work or when you’re relaxing at the weekend.

How about using Offshore Casinos?

Well, in theory, you can access offshore casinos from California. Even if your internet service provider has blocked them with enough work; like using a VPN, you can get on them. Should you do so? You certainly can, but it’s far from advisable; and it’s easy to run into issues if the online poker company figures out what your real location is; especially when it comes to them paying out (or not, as the case may be). The law, as listed above, is worded to target individuals who bet. Therefore, if you do access and gamble on offshore casinos, you could be broaching an entanglement with local law enforcement. Also, if something goes wrong in these casinos, as they don’t operate within the US structure; there is very little your local resources can do to help you.