In the year since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for every state to legalize sports betting, a regional divide has opened as states decide whether to expand their gambling options. California has a number of horse racing tracks, and you can bet on horse racing legally in CA and on many horse betting apps and sites. California AB 2683 was the latest California online poker bill introduced. Now that the bill has failed, what happens in 2019? Best online bahis in california Sport betting app freispiele. Canlı bahis night background. Biggest bahis firms uk. Betting ibiza blackjack. Best Mobil Bahis site sign up offers. Olg sport bet app.

California boasts one of the richest horse-racing histories in the US.

Authority over horse racing-related matters, including breeding, tax revenues, and pari-mutuel betting, was given to the California Horse Racing Board. General regulations on controlled games, such as poker or Pai Gow, don’t apply to horse race betting as per California Penal Code Section 337j.

The Golden State’s first racetrack was built in Pleasanton (suburban San Francisco) in 1858.

Since then, California has become one of the focal points of American horse racing. It features the world-famous Santa Anita Park, which hosts major annual events like the Santa Anita Handicap and Santa Anita Derby.

The state also houses other notable tracks, including Golden Gate Fields and Del Mar Fairgrounds. Californians enjoy a wide range of live horse racing options and plenty of chances to bet on the action.

The minimum age for pari-mutuel betting in California is 18.

California horse race betting fact sheet

Is horse race betting legal in California?

California legalized pari-mutuel betting in 1933. Common in horse racing, pari-mutuel wagering places all bets into a pool, and the track takes vigorish (aka juice) as a fee for running the races.

Horse tracks, such as the one in Pleasanton, already existed in California when pari-mutuel betting was legalized. However, this legislation allowed tracks to accept legal wagers on races.

California fairs quickly jumped on this opportunity, with the San Joaquin Fair (Stockton) becoming the first track to take legal wagers in August 1933. In the same calendar year, Bay Meadows, Santa Anita, PomonaFair and Tanforan also began accepting bets.

The state has never wavered from its stance on legal horse race betting. The only time this industry was disrupted was during World War II when the tracks were needed for military purposes.

In California, most of the gambling action centers around thoroughbred racing. Harness races also run in the state, although they’ve never come close to gaining the same clout as thoroughbred events.

Horse racing has taken a popularity hit in recent years. Fewer people are attending and betting on races in America.

Despite its notable racing scene, California isn’t immune to this squeeze. Multiple tracks have closed in the new millennium, including Bay Meadows, PomonaFairplex, Solano Fair and HollywoodPark.

The Los Angeles Rams took over the Hollywood Park site as their new home, but they might’ve had to go elsewhere if horse racing were still at its peak.

These closures have led to consolidation and growth at other tracks. Los Alamitos Race Course (Cypress), for example, expanded its track and now fills in some of Pomona’s old race dates.

Golden Gate Fields (Berkeley) and Santa Anita (Arcadia) have also taken over race dates for local tracks that closed down.

California horse racing under fire

Aside from the slowly dwindling popularity, California’s racing industry is also facing backlash from animal rights activists.

A string of racehorse deaths in early 2019 caused activists to come out in full force against the industry. This period was highlighted by 22 deaths within 2.5 months at Santa Anita.

ChuckWinner, who heads the California Horse Racing Board, called this period “the biggest potential crisis that the industry has faced.” The crisis is unlikely to end any time soon.

A potential ballot referendum could outlaw horse racing and its betting industry. Such a measure would require 635,000 signatures to appear on a ballot.

The industry might be safe for now, though, because proponents would need to spend a lot of money to acquire these signatures. Nevertheless, this discussion has put California’s racing interests on notice.

Independent tracks Churchill Downs, the New York Racing Association and the Stronach Group (Santa Anita owner) formed a coalition to improve industry safety. These powerful groups hope to create enough reforms to protect the animals.

California race tracks

California grew to be one of the largest racing hubs in the United States. Those racetracks that hold extended racing meets, such as Cal Expo, Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, Los Alamitos, and Santa Anita, are now known nationwide and generate millions of dollars in annual revenue.

The remaining fairground tracks hold shorter meets in the summer and fall. These meets typically last up to two weeks. Over the years, there have been a few pushes to introduce slots and other gaming machines to California race tracks, but none of those attempts were successful.

The 2004 measure to allow for banking games and slot machines at the biggest facilities failed by83.8% statewide, which demonstrates that Californians don’t want their race tracks to turn into Delaware-style racinos.

The Golden State is home to some of the most famous racetracks in the US. Some of these tracks boast a rich history that dates back to the 1800s.

Here is a list of racetracks in California:

Big Fresno Fair Racing

• 1121 South Chance Ave., Fresno, CA 93702

The Big Fresno Fair holds live races during a nine-day stint in October. Admission to the grandstand is $5, and bets vary based on the race.

You can check the Big Fresno Fair website at the beginning of October to get exact details on the race schedule and bets.

Cal Expo

• 1600 Exposition Drive, Sacramento, CA 95815

Racing in the Sacramento area originally took place at the Sacramento State Fair. A new track was built in 1968 and is now known as the Cal Expo.

This venue offers harness racing, which is rare in California. Races run every Friday and Saturday from November to April.

Del Mar Fairgrounds

• 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club holds races at the local fairgrounds. Seating 44,000 people, this one-mile track is the second-biggest horse track in the Western US (behind Santa Anita).

Developed by BingCrosby and a group of actors in the 1930s, Del Mar’s slogan is: “Where the turf meets the surf.” The track holds live racing from July to September and reopens for a few events in November.

Golden Gate Fields

• 1100 Eastshore Hwy., Berkeley, CA 94710

Golden Gate Fields is known for its unique scenery, including views of both the San Francisco skyline and AlcatrazIsland. It’s also the only thoroughbred racetrack in Northern California.

Races generally run from December until June and from October until November. However, the schedule can vary from year to year.

Los Alamitos Race Course

• 4961 E. Katella Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720

Built as a private ranch in 1947, Los Alamitos is known for some of the biggest horse races in the state. Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity offers the largest purse in California.

This course features year-round racing, and it added more race dates after the nearby Hollywood Park became a strictly OTB facility.

Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack (Alameda County Fairgrounds)

• 2100 Valley Ave., Pleasanton, CA 94566

This racetrack was built in 1858 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. It’s the third-oldest track in the US, behind the Fair Grounds Race Course and Freehold Raceway.

Pleasanton Racetrack only runs a short racing schedule in June and July. However, the lightly used course has offered a few more events ever since Bay Meadows shut down in 2008.

Santa Anita Park

• 285 Huntington Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Santa Anita is the premier horse track in California and one of the best in all of America. It’s the biggest track in the state, seating 85,000 people.

This course hosts several prominent races, including the Breeders’ Cup, Santa Anita Handicap and Santa Anita Derby.

Off track betting in CA

OTB refers to horse race bets accepted at off-track locations, i.e., businesses that are licensed and sanctioned to take such bets.

Hollywood Park, also where the Rams play, is an off-track betting facility. While it no longer offers live races, Hollywood Park can still accept wagers on races happening elsewhere in the state.

OTB offers multiple benefits to the racing industry.

Firstly, it serves as a convenient option for gamblers who don’t live near a horse track. These racing enthusiasts can visit the closest OTB parlor instead of traveling to a distant venue.

Another benefit is that off-track locations help increase the industry’s overall revenue. OTB parlors and racetracks share in the revenue generated from off-track gambling.

Off-track betting in California is available at 27 satellite facilities, which are all located in the south and central parts of the state. Some of these simulcast venues are small and can be compared to a pub in size, while others, like the San Mateo Events Center, are large and can pack a small crowd inside.

Unfortunately, California doesn’t run any legal online betting sites. If you want to bet your money on a horse, you need to do it on-site or at a licensed off-track betting facility.

CA online horse betting

Most forms of online gambling aren’t inherently legal in the US.

At the moment, the federal government allows states to determine the legality of online bingo, casinogames and poker.

Online horse betting, in contrast, is legal in most states, including California. This activity is even exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

The UIGEA makes it illegal for gambling businesses to accept payments related to unlawful wagering. Horse racing was given an exemption to prevent legality issues with off-track and simulcast betting.

Simulcastbetting is placing wagers on races happening at different tracks across North America. Simulcast rooms feature multiple races broadcasted across several TV monitors.

California residents can engage in advance deposit wagering through several legal third-party platforms, such as TVG, TwinSpires, XpressBet, BetAmerica, WatchandWager, BbspotRacing, and NYRABets. These platforms are officially recognized by the California Horse Racing Board and are listed on its website.

In addition, individual California race tracks are permitted to offer betting services over the internet as long as they employ geolocation. For example, the Del Mar Mobile App allows users to place wagers while on-track, but this functionality is disabled elsewhere. The app is also useful off-track as its features include on-demand race replays, live odds, betting calculators, and more.

California is a poker player’s dream from a live game standpoint with some of the best (and busiest) live poker rooms and casinos in the country. Finding a nice poker room for a cash game or a tournament is usually just a short trip for most Californians.

Major tournament series like the World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker Circuit also have stops in California. Regulated online poker for real money, however, has thus far remained unattainable at a legislative level.

The next best option for online players in California right now is sweepstakes poker sites, such as Global Poker, or a short trip to play some real money online poker in Nevada at WSOP.com. Until legislators get a bill across the finish line for the governor’s signature, traditional legalized online poker remains off the table in CA.

Best California Poker Sites

Latest California online poker news

• by Anthony Cicali IIIFebruary 11, 2021
• by Sean ChaffinOctober 10, 2019

Online Poker in California

While there aren’t any traditional legal online poker sites yet, there are some options players might check out. The neighboring state of Nevada offers one of the most popular online poker sites in the US.

WSOP.com is the online home of the World Series of Poker and offers online poker in Nevada and New Jersey. The site offers cash games, tournaments, Sit & Go’s and major tournament series.

The WSOP partners with 888poker, which provides software for the poker client and mobile poker app. 888 also offers online poker in New Jersey and Delaware. WSOP.com and 888poker offer the country’s only shared liquidity market between NJ, Nevada, and Delaware.

This makes for bigger player and prize pools than at other legal online poker sites in NJ or poker sites in Pennsylvania. By 2020, the WSOP.com/888 interstate compact was seeing even bigger increases in player pools.

The WSOP even runs some of its circuit events on the platform, offering players a chance to win championship rings. A California player heading to Las Vegas, Reno, the Lake Tahoe area, Carson City, or anywhere else in Nevada has the chance to play on WSOP.com.

Sweepstakes poker is another option for players in California. These sites are licensed under sweepstakes law (similar to McDonald’s Monopoly game, for example) to offer a mix of social gaming and real money online poker. Global Poker is the largest and most trusted of these.

Sweepstakes online poker in California

Sweepstakes poker is a reasonable alternative for Californians who want to get some real money online poker hands in. Global Poker is one of the most popular sweepstakes poker sites and provides a comparable poker experience to a standard online poker site.

Global Poker offers two forms of online poker:

• You can play free games with virtual currency in the form of Gold Coins.
• You can purchase additional Gold Coins to receive an added virtual currency called Sweeps Coins, which lets you play in separate Sweeps Coin ring games, Sit & Go’s, MTTs, and regular live tournament series with major guarantees.

Any Sweeps Coins you win can then be redeemed for real cash prizes. And just like any legalized online poker site you can securely purchase Gold Coins, receive your Sweep Coins and cash them out easily online.

Beyond California, Global Poker is available to players in 49 states (excl. WA) and Canada (excl. Quebec). If you’re wondering what its company structure is, Global Poker is owned by VGW Holdings Limited, a publicly traded company incorporated in Australia. Global is also licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, so players can expect a regulated environment with a fair game and security. VGW also owns and operates two sweeps cash casinos—Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.

Global Poker offers games in Texas Hold’em, Crazy Pineapple and Omaha.

Online Poker in Nevada

Those looking to play some traditional online poker have WSOP.com Nevada as an option in Nevada. Southern California residents have a four- to five-hour drive to Las Vegas (depending on exact location and traffic). Players hitting Sin City for some fun may also want to battle it out online in popular events like the Online Super Series, which drew record numbers in March 2020.

In Northern California, a weekend trip to Lake Tahoe, Reno, or Carson City could also include some online poker. WSOP.com is available to players anywhere in Nevada.

Getting started is easy. You can create an account from anywhere and also make a deposit from anywhere as well. Sign up only takes a few minutes and you expect to provide:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email
• Username
• Password

Making a deposit is also easy and can be accomplished from anywhere. Players depositing at WSOP.com can use any of the following:

• E-check bank payments (ACH transfers)
• Visa/Mastercard
• PayNearMe, available at thousands of retail outlets

When making that deposit, expect safety and security with legal online operators. Unregulated sites may not have well-known safe deposit methods. US-facing regulated poker sites must follow strict procedures and technical specifications to make sure player information and funds are kept secure.

Operators also make use of sign-up and deposit bonuses and that goes for WSOP.com.

It’s important to note that online operators use geolocation software to determine a player’s location when attempting to play. A player must be physically located within the state to play legally and geolocation software makes sure of that.

Real Money Poker Apps in California

Playing poker on a mobile app has never been more popular. Many players like to take advantage of the convenience and user-friendly environment that real money poker apps provide.

An app can easily be downloaded on your phone or tablet. Poker apps have improved greatly in recent years and now provide easy lobby navigation, simple game play features, and the ability to play more than one event at the same time.

Most tournaments and cash games offered online can also be found on the app. Although it’s possible to play large multi-table tournaments on some apps, smaller events like Sit & Go’s are easier to play on mobile devices.

Sweepstakes site Global Poker doesn’t yet offer an app, but players can make use of its quick play feature. It’s a web-browser based system, meaning you don’t have to download any poker software.

That system also works well in a mobile environment. Mobile players at Global Poker will basically find the same experience they’d find using a laptop or desktop computer.

Real money poker apps can also be downloaded by Californians to be used when in a state that allows online poker. Those states currently include Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Geolocation software is used to confirm that players are within a legal jurisdiction. However, players can still sign up, withdraw funds, and deposit from any location.

Free Poker Online in California

Most real money poker sites offer some form of free poker making use of virtual currency. These are often in the form of mobile apps or social media games. Popular free poker offerings from major poker providers include:

• WSOP social gaming platform
• PokerStars.net (and a social gaming platform)
• WPT social gaming platform
• ClubWPT – Sweepstakes poker site of the World Poker Tour

Free poker apps are a fun way to play and practice without any real money on the line. Global Poker also offers free ring games and tournaments through its sweepstakes model. Players also have the option of using Sweeps Coins earned as well for a shot at redeeming them for real cash.

If you want to set up a private home poker game for your friends online, you can do so via the free play money platform at PokerStars.net. You can also access free-to-play poker platforms in virtually any other non-legalized states including Florida, Texas, etc.

Estimates for Traffic in California Legal Online Poker

Legal online poker in California could be a game changer for the industry. The state is the most populous in the US with 39.5 million people. With a large number of poker rooms and casinos, there would be a massive pool of online players compared to the states where legal online poker is already live. Those are:

West Virginia poker online has also been legalized but has yet to have any sites go online.

Legalization in CA could alter the online poker landscape in the US. Major operators including PokerStars, partypoker, WSOP.com, and others would be interested in moving into the state. California legalization could also spur other high-population states to get on the bandwagon as well, especially if interstate compacts are allowed. Online poker in Florida or online poker in Texas would be similarly impactful.

As of 2020 the WSOP/888poker platform among Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware was at record numbers. Average days see between 500 and 800 players. If the site launched in California, that traffic could surge and be eclipsed easily in the Golden State.

Which Casinos in California Will Have Online Poker Sites?

If CA were to offer some type of legal online poker, it’s a good bet it would mimic current laws in other states at least to some degree. In other legal states online poker brands partner with live casinos or other gaming enterprises in the state. For example, PokerStars partners with Resorts Casino in Atlantic City and Mount Airy Casino in Pennsylvania.

There is no shortage of CA casinos and card rooms that would look to get in on the action. With such a large population, the state could also probably support a few online poker sites. There are no current partnerships with a legal framework in place, but here are a few brands that might be ready to enter the online poker arena. Those might include:

Live Poker Rooms – While they may call themselves casinos many are in fact mostly card rooms. Some of those that stand out in the state include:

• Commerce Casino
• Bicycle Club
• Gardens
• Bay 101
• Hustler
• Ocean’s Eleven

and numerous others.

Tribal casinos – Along with poker rooms, there are also several tribal casinos that might be interested in online poker partnerships. A few of those might include:

• Pechanga
• Agua Caliente
• Thunder Valley
• San Manuel
• Morongo

and others. Of these, Thunder Valley, Commerce, Bicycle, Gardens, Bay 101, and Ocean’s Eleven have all hosted WPT and WSOP Circuit events. Those with a large footprint in live poker may also look to add their imprint online.

For those hoping WSOP.com could be an option in the state, that could be possible in a legal environment. WSOP owner Caesars Entertainment operates Harrah’s Resort Southern California. This Indian casino is located in Valley Center and is owned by the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians.

If operators are allowed to partner with casino properties in the state, Harrah’s and WSOP make for a natural fit.

Popular Poker Games in California Card Rooms

Poker rooms are plentiful in California and the game has a deep tradition in the state. Numerous CA players from the state have gone on to success in major tournament series and events. Most of the major poker rooms in California offer all the major games players have come to love from low buy-ins to nosebleed stakes. The most popular poker games offered include:

• Texas Hold’em (limit and no limit)
• Omaha (and Hi/Lo)
• Seven Card Stud (and Hi/Lo)
• Lowball including Razz and Deuce to Seven
• Pineapple and Crazy Pineapple

Is Online Poker Legal in California?

Currently, online poker in California is not legal. For more than 10 years, several attempts have been made by legislators to legalize it, but with no success. With so many gaming interests in the state – including horse tracks, poker rooms, and tribal casinos – satisfying all interests with an online gaming law has been a struggle.

In those attempts, these stakeholders weren’t able to reach a consensus and the bill failed to come to a vote. In 2016, Assemblyman Adam Gray took a different approach from previous efforts and introduced AB 2863 during the 2016 legislative session. He hoped to solve the issue with the debate about whether horse racetracks should get involved in the state’s online poker industry.

The CA horse racing industry would have received up to $60 million per year from online poker taxes. Additionally, 5 percent of the annual taxes would have gone to California’s Fair and Exposition Fund, which supports administering agencies, state, county, and district fairs.

The other 95% would be divided three ways. The vast majority of that (95.4%) would go toward purses for horsemen. The remaining 4.6% would be evenly divided between pensions for horsemen and employees of racetracks. The bill didn’t address licensing fees or a tax rate. Previous versions required a $15 million deposit and a 15 percent tax rate.

AB 2863 also included a bad actor clause, which would have kept out operators like PokerStars, which operated in the US after the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was put in place in 2006. Because of this, PokerStars and its coalition rallied against the bill. The 2016 legislative session came to an end without a vote on AB 2863. Since then there hasn’t been much momentum in legalizing online poker.

Currently, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are the only states that offer traditional legal online poker. West Virginia and Michigan have also legalized online gaming, including poker, but aren’t expected to offer any online poker sites until 2021.

Previously proposed legislation included the possibility of pooling players from California with players from other states such as Nevada or New Jersey, but California would first have to legalize online poker. Even if online poker was legalized, continued debate about the Wire Act might jeopardize any current efforts at interstate compacts and shared liquidity. The Department of Justice has argued that the act applies to other forms of online gaming beyond sports betting.

The gaming industry argues that the law was meant solely for sports betting. A change in that could jeopardize online lotteries, online poker, and other forms of iGaming. The Wire Act issue remained in federal court as of April 2020, but the gaming industry (led by a lawsuit by the New Hampshire lottery) had won an early round before the DOJ appealed.

Past California online poker bills

California Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer introduced AB 167 in 2015.The bill would have permitted all card clubs, tribes and racetracks to offer online poker in California.

Additionally, it would have created player penalties for giving action to unlicensed, offshore sites.This bill had the support of the PokerStars coalition, but not the Pechanga coalition.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto introduced AB 9 during the 2015 California legislative session.This bill included a “bad actor” clause and did not permit licensing of racetracks. This bill had the support of the Pechanga’s coalition, but not PokerStars’ coalition.

Finally, State Sen. Isadore Hall and Assemblyman Gray introduced SB 278 and AB 431, respectively.These were placeholder bills with no primary language about online poker.

PokerStars’ coalition

PokerStars’ coalition consists of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Commerce Casino, Hawaiian Gardens and the Bicycle Casino.

This group opposes the so-called “bad actor” clause, which would exclude any company that accepted bets after Dec. 31, 2006, in the US without proper licensing.

The reason for PokerStars’ coalition’s opposition to the clause is apparent. As a result of the provision, PokerStars would be excluded from operating in California, removing the group’s partner.

The PokerStars coalition also supports the inclusion of the state’s racetracks. The consensus is that any bill that does not include the horse racing industry will get a veto by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Pechanga coalition

There are seven tribes that oppose bad actors and the participation of racetracks in California. Those tribes are:

• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
• Barona Band of Mission Indians
• Lytton Band of Pomo Indians
• Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians
• Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians
• Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation
• Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation

Other tribal positions

Most other California tribes have remained mostly silent on the issue of racetracks or bad actors.Pala Interactive, the online gaming subsidiary of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, appears to expect the inclusion of racetracks.

Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians partnered with Caesars for its land-based casino. Hence, it seems logical that it would use WSOP.com for its interactive gaming.Rincon and Caesars both stated that they support the inclusion of PokerStars in the California online gaming market.

A Brief History of Poker in California

Poker has a deep history in California with poker dating back to its days during the Old West and American westward expansion. Poker is synonymous with the western frontier and flourished in the 19th Century during this expansion.

Miners flush with new cash during the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s hit the tables to gamble some of their new earnings. The state’s constitution in 1879 outlawed all forms of gambling but left out draw poker, which was considered a gentleman’s game. An 1891 law making gambling illegal again left out draw poker.

Legal or illegal, poker continued to flourish. Poker clubs continued into the 1900s sometimes despite even local bans on gambling. Californians historical love of poker just wouldn’t go away and Gardena became a particularly popular hotbed for several poker clubs in the 1950s.

Varying localities offered different regulations and poker rooms continued well into the 1980s and ‘90s. Poker remains extremely popular in CA and keeps alive the state’s spirit of the frontier and the favored game of the Old West.

California online poker FAQ

Why should I play only at legal online poker sites?

Should online poker ever become legal in California, players can be assured that their money and personal information are safe. In the US, legal online poker sites must adhere to strict laws and regulations. For example, the Nevada Gaming Control Board regulates online poker for the state of Nevada. WSOP.com and its partner 888poker are trusted websites with proven experience in running online gaming. Player safety and security are paramount.

WSOP.com even assures players on its website: “If you use this website to send personal data to Caesars Operating Company, Inc., your transmission will be protected by Secure Socket Layer (SSL).” SSL is a technology employed by Caesars Entertainment and other online operators that encrypts your information during transmission. Caesars further notes: “It is our policy to take all reasonable steps to ensure that your personal data is securely maintained with access limited to those who need such access to serve you.”

You won’t see anything like this at offshore, unregulated sites. They aren’t governed by any US gaming commission and don’t meet strict standards of operation like legal US sites.

Player collusion is another security issue that could impact the fairness of the game for players. To combat this, WSOP.com and other operators have software that monitors this issue and other discrepancies. This helps maintain the integrity of the game. Offshore and underground sites are not as heavily regulated as legal online poker sites. Slow payouts and loss of player funds are regular complaints of former players. Playing on legal, safe online poker sites offers numerous player protections.

Why is California behind other states in legalizing online poker?

While California was one of the first states to offer legal card clubs, its ability to move that a variety of factors hampers the industry’s move to the internet.

There are three gaming segments in California: card clubs, racetracks and tribes. All three have different opinions as to how to approach online poker, even within the groups. Because of this, there are issues with agreeing on how to move forward.

Additionally, there are conservative groups that oppose any form of gambling expansion.

How many poker players are there in CA?

That’s a difficult question to answer but a visit to any card room in the state will find plenty of players battling it out at the poker table. With a population of 39.5 million, it’s a good bet at least a few million consider themselves poker players to some degree or another.

Can you play on PokerStars in CA?

No, PokerStars is available to players in numerous countries around the world, but that doesn’t include all of the US. As of April 2020, PokerStars is only available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in the US. And these states are “fenced in” markets, meaning players in those states only play each other online – no shared liquidity markets at the moment.

Can you play on WSOP.com in CA?

No, WSOP.com is currently only available in Nevada and New Jersey, where it functions in a shared liquidity market. That also includes its software partner 888poker’s offerings in New Jersey and Delaware. This combination remains the largest legal online poker platform in the US.

New players on WSOP.com in legal states can currently claim a free no deposit bonus for opening a new poker account.

Does Commerce Casino have an online poker site?

Commerce Casino doesn’t have an online poker site. However, you can follow the casino’s news on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Here you can keep updated with the latest news and receive discounts, invitations, and special deals and promotions.

Does Bicycle Casino have an online poker site?

The Bicycle Casino doesn’t have an online poker site. However, it does boast livestream poker games with its Live at the Bike online show. The poker room remains one of the most popular in the state.

Can you play on offshore poker sites in CA?

Offshore poker sites are NOT licensed or regulated. This may make players’ information and funds vulnerable to security breaches. Players of these sites often complain about slow payouts and if the site folds altogether players may not be refunded.

A better option for California residents would be to use a platform in Nevada. Global Poker, a sweepstakes poker site, is another option and is available to players in the Golden State.

What are the main issues keeping online poker from legal online poker?

The main issues pertaining to the inclusion of racetracks and PokerStars.

Can You Bet Online In California

Will California offer legal online casino games?

All bills introduced up to this point have only proposed legalizing poker. They did not include casino games or sports betting.

Will California pool with other legal poker states?

Most California online poker bills have proposed the possibility of sharing players with other states, so it is possible that California could choose to pool players with New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware should the state move forward on legalizing internet poker.

As of 2020, however, this wasn’t just a question of a state’s choice. Until the murkiness of the Wire Act is made clear, interstate compacts remain an open question.

Other states that have recently legalized, such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, haven’t included shared liquidity in their online gaming legislation. This could be altered once legal disputes are cleared up on the issue.

How soon would California launch online poker if it passes legislation?

It would take between 12 and 18 months for California online poker to launch if approved by lawmakers.

How To Bet Online In California Reddit

Will PokerStars operate in California?

That depends on the bill that eventually passes. While some include language that would specifically exclude PokerStars, some industry experts believe that a bill excluding PokerStars can never pass in California.

How To Bet On Sports Online In California

How much tax revenue will California generate?

It is estimated that California online poker rooms would generate about $350 million a year in rake. This would translate to $35 million a year in tax revenue at a rate of 10 percent.

Additional licensing fees for sites and employees would also create taxes for the state.

Will California poker sites be available outside of California?

Legal California poker sites would only be available in states where a liquidity sharing agreement is created. Otherwise, players will be required to be in California at the time of action.