California Online Gambling
Technically speaking, legal California online gambling options are extremely limited.
Advance deposit wagering (online horse racing wagering) is the only form of online gambling that’s explicitly legal and regulated in California.
However, if we include forms of gambling that are tolerated but not necessarily legal, the list expands to include sweepstakes casinos and daily fantasy sports.
Both are excellent stand-ins for online gambling in California. Sweepstakes platforms function like legal California online casinos would aside from some minor differences. Meanwhile, fantasy pick’em contests closely mimic online sports betting in California.
Read on for a comprehensive overview of California’s online gambling laws, available legal alternatives like sweepstakes casinos, and the consumer protection resources available to residents.
California Gambling Sites
21+ and present in CA. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.
California Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited by state law |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Operates in a legal gray area under CA sweepstakes laws |
| Online Sports Betting (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited by CA Penal Code § 337a |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Contested | Nonbinding 2025 AG opinion holds all DFS contests are unlawful; major DFS platforms remain operational in CA |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (18+) | Contested | Treated the same as traditional salary cap contests (contested legality) |
| Online Lottery Sales (n/a) | Illegal | CA Lottery sells tickets in-person only; online sales banned |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Explicitly legal; CHRB licenses ADW operators |
California Online Casinos
Real-money online casinos are illegal in California.
State law and the California Constitution prohibit the operation of virtual table games and online slots for real money.
The California Gambling Control Commission explicitly warns consumers that “online gambling” sites are illegal in the state.
Legalization Outlook
The path to legal online casinos in California is blocked by significant legal and political obstacles:
- State Law and Constitution: California’s penal code broadly prohibits many forms of gambling that are not explicitly authorized. Furthermore, any expansion of casino-style gambling beyond what is already permitted would likely require a constitutional amendment approved by voters.
- Tribal Sovereignty and Compacts: California is home to a large and politically powerful tribal gaming industry. Over 60 tribes operate casinos under compacts negotiated with the state. These compacts grant tribes exclusivity over most forms of casino-style gaming. Any effort to legalize commercial online casinos would face immense opposition from tribal coalitions, who view it as a direct threat to their sovereignty and economic stability.
- Limited Legislative Support: Mixed public opinions on gambling expansion, coupled with concerns about addiction, hinder progress among members of the legislature.
Sweepstakes Casinos in California
Sweepstakes gambling sites are a close approximation to online casinos in California.
Major sweepstakes casinos like WOW Vegas, High 5 Casino, and LuckyBird.io operate under state and federal sweepstakes laws to offer casino-style games while avoiding classification as “gambling” under California law.
The core legal distinction that separates sweepstakes gambling sites from online casinos in California is the “no purchase necessary” model. Players can acquire the virtual casino redeemable for cash prizes (typically called “Sweeps Coins”) for free via methods like mail-in requests, participating in social media promotions, and daily login bonuses.
Once players have Sweeps Coins, they can use them to play casino-style games like blackjack, slots, roulette, and live dealer games for chances to win real money.
Sweepstakes Casinos Under Fire in California
Although sweepstakes casinos comply with the letter of the law in California, they operate in a legal gray area and face growing opposition.
California’s powerful tribal gaming operators view sweepstakes casinos as direct competitors that infringe on their exclusive right to offer casino-style games. Unsurprisingly, tribal operators are applying immense pressure on California lawmakers to ban sweepstakes casinos entirely.
In June 2025, tribal interests and allied lawmakers escalated their efforts by amending an existing bill, AB 831, into a comprehensive ban on sweepstakes casino in California.
Key provisions of the proposed legislation would:
- Amend the state’s Business and Professions Code and Penal Code to define and outlaw online sweepstakes games that award cash or cash-equivalent prizes.
- Target not just the operators, but also any entity that supports them, including payment processors, platform providers, and media affiliates.
- Impose misdemeanor charges for violations, with potential penalties of up to $25,000 in fines and one year in county jail.
The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) declared the bill its “top legislative priority.” CNIGA Chairman James Siva has been vocal about the perceived threat, stating, “Now is the time to take action… if we can’t come together and work on these things, we might start to see for the first time since we started this industry, we lose control of it.”
In response, the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) strongly condemned the effort. The SPGA criticized what it called “a backroom ban on promotional sweepstakes through a controversial ‘gut and amend’ maneuver hours before a legislative deadline.”
While the bill’s passage is not guaranteed, it represents the most significant threat to the sweepstakes casino model in California to date.
California Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is illegal in California.
The most recent and significant attempt to legalize online sports betting in California failed decisively in November 2022, when voters rejected two competing ballot measures:
- Proposition 26: This measure, backed by a coalition of tribal casinos, would have authorized in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and licensed racetracks. It was defeated with approximately 67% of voters opposing it.
- Proposition 27: Backed by major national online sports betting operators like DraftKings and FanDuel, this measure would have legalized online and mobile sports betting statewide. It was rejected by an overwhelming 82% of voters.
The failure of both initiatives, which were the subject of the most expensive ballot measure campaign in US history, exemplified the deep political divisions between the state’s tribes and commercial gambling operators.
Major online sportsbooks spent 2025 courting tribal leaders by pledging to back a tribally run model rather than repeat 2022’s “operator‑first” approach. However, tribal representatives state that a workable framework is “months or years away,” and consensus among 100‑plus tribes remains elusive.
Currently, there is no clear path or active legislative effort to legalize online sports betting in the near future.
California Daily Fantasy Sports
Fantasy sports apps have operated in a legal gray area in California for over a decade.
The state has no law specifically authorizing or regulating DFS, so major operators like DraftKings and FanDuel have offered traditional salary-cap contests under the interpretation that they are games of skill, not illegal games of chance.
However, the legal status of DFS faces a critical and imminent threat. In July 2025, the California Attorney General issued a nonbinding opinion declaring that fantasy sports contests constitute illegal gambling under state law.
Despite the opinion, major fantasy sports operators remain active in California, and there has been no enforcement action to date.
Fantasy Pick’em Apps in California
Fantasy pick’em apps like PrizePicks and ParlayPlay operate under the same uncertain legal status as traditional fantasy sports platforms.
Fantasy pick’em contests, where users predict athletes’ statistics (e.g., more or less than a given number), are the primary target of regulatory scrutiny nationwide due to their similarity to sports betting parlays.
The 2025 Attorney General opinion on fantasy sports singled out pick’em-style contests as “indistinguishable” from parlay wagers and therefore illegal in California. Nonetheless, all major fantasy pick’em app still serve California customers.
California Online Lottery Sales
Online lottery sales are banned in California.
The state lottery does not sell lottery tickets through its official website. Similarly, third-party courier services like Jackpocket and TheLotter are prohibited from serving California customers, and the state has actively enforced this ban by shutting down such operations when they attempted to serve California customers.
In May 2024, the Lottery issued a directive warning retailers that partnering with digital couriers would lead to contract termination. A follow‑up press release in June 2024 reiterated that courier‑facilitated tickets will not earn retailer bonuses—even if they hit a jackpot.
As a result, there is no way to buy lottery tickets online in California.
Online Horse Racing Betting in California
Online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in California.
This form of gambling, also known as advance deposit wagering (ADW), is the only type of online wagering explicitly authorized and licensed by the state.
The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) oversees all pari-mutuel wagering activities, including licensing and regulating ADW platforms. Residents who are 18 or older can legally place bets on horse races from across the country using prominent ADWs like TVG and TwinSpires.
California Gambling Regulators
Multiple agencies share responsibility for overseeing gambling activities in California:
- California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC): This five-member commission is responsible for setting gambling policy, issuing licenses for cardrooms and their employees, and ensuring compliance with the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts. It also determines suitability for tribal casino key employees and vendors.
- Bureau of Gambling Control (BGC): As part of the California Department of Justice, the BGC conducts investigations and enforces gambling laws. Its duties include performing background checks for license applicants, monitoring cardrooms for compliance, and investigating illegal gambling activities. The BGC also administers the state’s self-exclusion program.
- California Horse Racing Board (CHRB): The CHRB has jurisdiction over all pari-mutuel horse racing in the state, including the licensing and regulation of online Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) platforms.
Responsible Gambling Resources in California
California provides several resources for individuals seeking help with problem gambling, primarily coordinated through the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Problem Gambling.
A statewide self-exclusion program is available, but it has limitations. The program, managed by the Bureau of Gambling Control, allows individuals to ban themselves from all licensed cardrooms in California for one year or a lifetime. However, this program does not apply to tribal casinos, which are on sovereign land. Many tribes offer their own individual self-exclusion programs.
California Self-Exclusion Resources
- State of California Self-Exclusion Program: Administered by the Bureau of Gambling Control, this program applies to all licensed cardrooms. Information and forms are available on the Department of Justice website.
- Tribal Self-Exclusion Programs: Individuals must contact each tribal casino or gaming authority directly to enroll in their respective self-exclusion programs. The California Council on Problem Gambling provides a resource to help navigate these disparate programs.
- ADW Self-Exclusion: Licensed horse racing betting sites like TVG and TwinSpires offer their own responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion options.
California Responsible Gambling Organizations
- California Council on Problem Gambling (CalPG): A non-profit organization dedicated to assisting problem gamblers and their families through awareness, education, and treatment referrals. Website: calpg.org.
- California Problem Gambling Helpline: Provides 24/7 confidential support and referrals to treatment services. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (426-2537), or text “SUPPORT” to 53342
- Gamblers Anonymous: A twelve-step fellowship for individuals with a gambling problem. Local meeting information is available through their national hotline. California Gambling FAQ