California’s size, economy, and longtime love of games make it one of the most-watched states in the U.S. when it comes to gambling. You can find tribal casinos, cardrooms, and charitable games across the state. But when it comes to online casinos, real-money games playable from a phone or computer, the Golden State stands apart from many of its neighbors.
As of 2026, California does not allow real-money online casino gambling under state law, and recent changes have even tightened the landscape around sweepstakes-style gaming.
That means residents and visitors are limited to in-person gaming at regulated land-based venues and to very specific online alternatives. Understanding the law helps Californians make informed choices and avoid legal confusion.
Under California law, real-money online casino gambling remains prohibited. The California Gambling Control Commission, the state agency that oversees gaming regulation, does not have the authority to license or regulate online casino operators, and it has made clear it has never issued such a license.
Multiple legal guides confirm that Californians cannot legally play online slots, table games, or other real-money online casino games from within the state. In contrast to states like New Jersey or Pennsylvania, which have established regulated online casino markets, California has not enacted a framework allowing real-money iGaming.
On top of that, a law passed in late 2025 banned online sweepstakes casinos, the dual-currency sites that previously operated in legal gray areas by offering virtual currencies and promotional prizes, if they simulate a casino experience. This effectively ends many online sweepstakes casino options that residents may have used before.
In short, Californians currently lack any path to licensed real-money online casino play under state law.
Unlike some states that have embraced online gambling to generate tax revenue and expand regulated gaming, California has been resistant. Voters rejected major online betting proposals in 2022, including Proposition 27, which sought to authorize online sports betting platforms operated by gaming tribes. This initiative was defeated by a large margin, leaving the state without a clear mandate to expand legal betting.
Earlier efforts, such as Proposition 26, which would have expanded tribal gaming to include more games and sports wagering, also failed. Part of the resistance comes from the complex relationship between tribal gaming compacts, cardroom interests, and state leadership.
California tribes operate hundreds of land-based casinos under compacts with the state. These agreements grant exclusivity in exchange for revenue sharing and regulatory oversight. There has been concern that authorizing online casino gaming could disrupt that balance unless done in partnership with tribal interests.
For now, the Legislature and voters have not approved changes that would authorize licensed online casinos.
While online casinos remain off limits, Californians do have legal gaming options:
These legal options are bound by state regulation. Tribal casinos and cardrooms are overseen by state agencies in conjunction with tribal authorities and must follow rigorous rules governing fairness, security, and responsible gaming.
Online sports betting, another form of remote gambling, is also illegal in California. Multiple ballot initiatives in recent years aimed to legalize sports betting, but Californians voted against them. Daily fantasy sports, often treated separately in other states, have also been declared illegal under certain interpretations of existing wagering laws.
Without voter approval or legislative action creating a licensing structure, online sports betting and online casino gaming remain off limits.
After the 2025 ban on sweepstakes casinos, platforms that offered slot and table-style games under a dual-currency model are now prohibited in the state, effective January 1, 2026. That means many previously available online gaming apps or websites that operated under sweepstakes exemptions can no longer legally offer prize-redemption play in California.
Free-to-play social casino games, where there is no opportunity to win money or prize value, may still be accessible. These games use virtual currency strictly for entertainment and are not considered gambling if no redeemable reward is involved.
Some Californians choose to play at online casinos licensed in other countries, “offshore” operators. They may accept players from states without legal iGaming markets. These platforms hold licenses from jurisdictions like Curaçao or Malta.
While offshore casinos may operate legally under foreign jurisdictions, they are not legal or regulated in California. The state’s gambling laws still prohibit wagering money on games of chance. Participation in these sites may also expose players to risks:
From a California regulatory standpoint, these sites are not authorized or overseen by state gaming agencies. That means they do not offer the same consumer protections as state-regulated markets in places like New Jersey or Michigan.
However, many offshore platforms have operated for years under foreign licenses and accept players from states without regulated online casino frameworks. Players who explore these options typically look for:
Because these sites are outside California’s regulatory umbrella, due diligence becomes especially important. Players are responsible for understanding both the legal landscape and the operational standards of any platform they use.
Any form of gambling, especially online, carries risk. In states without regulated online play, like California, players should understand the legal boundaries and risk profile of each option.
Responsible play means:
Responsible practice also includes self-monitoring and using tools offered by land-based casinos or state-supported programs to manage risk.
Online gambling laws evolve slowly and often require voter action or legislative consensus. While Proposition 27 and other efforts have failed, stakeholders, including industry groups, operators, and tribal leaders, continue discussions about frameworks that could one day bring legal online betting to California.
Some proposals aim to link online gaming with tribal compacts or share revenue with the state. But without clear legislation or voter approval, real-money online casinos remain off the legal table in California.
Keeping an eye on ballot measures, legislative sessions, and agreements between tribes and the state helps Californians understand when, or if, legal online gambling might arrive.
California does not currently allow real-money online casino games or sports betting. Recent legislation has even outlawed sweepstakes casino models that once offered a workaround. The only legal forms of gambling are brick-and-mortar tribal casinos, licensed cardrooms, state lotteries, and pari-mutuel wagering.
Online players in California must be aware of these legal realities before engaging in real-money gaming. Staying informed about regulatory developments helps residents make decisions grounded in law rather than assumptions.