Online Gambling Laws in California

Legal Status of Gambling in California

Online gambling is broadly illegal in California. The state has never established a legal framework for online casino games, poker, or sports betting. The only narrow exception is advance-deposit wagering on horse racing.

The sweepstakes casino ban under AB 831 closed a gray area in which some operators believed they could legally offer casino-style games through a dual-currency model. The horse racing ADW carve-out is narrow and does not signal a broader appetite for online gambling expansion.

Implications for Online Gamblers

If you’re a California player looking to gamble online, your legal options are extremely limited. Beyond advance-deposit wagering on horse racing, there’s no regulated online gambling market. Some players turn to offshore casino sites and sportsbooks that accept California residents, but these operators exist outside California’s regulatory framework.

That means you’re gambling without consumer protections, dispute resolution, or oversight that come with licensed operators. 

Our experts have tested dozens of offshore sites, such as BetOnline, and while some are trustworthy, others have serious issues with withdrawal speeds, bonus terms, and customer support. If you choose this route, do your homework and stick with established brands with a track record of paying players and licenses from offshore gambling entities, such as Malta, Panama, or Curaçao. 

Historical Overview of Gambling Law in California

California’s gambling history is dominated by tribal gaming, which operates under state-negotiated compacts and represents the largest segment of the state’s gambling economy. Unlike many states where legislatures drive gambling expansion, California relies heavily on ballot measures, giving voters direct control but creating high barriers to change. Tribal interests have consistently shaped gambling policy, often opposing measures that would introduce commercial competition.

Despite being one of the most lucrative potential markets in the country, California has repeatedly failed to legalize online gambling. The 2022 election saw two competing sports betting ballot measures, one for in-person tribal betting and one for online betting. Voters rejected both. 

This defeat pushed any realistic legalization timeline to 2028 at the earliest. Meanwhile, the state legislature passed AB 831 to ban online sweepstakes casinos that had operated in a legal gray area.

Timeline of Key Developments

• Pre-2022: California establishes a land-based gambling framework built around tribal casinos under state compacts, licensed cardrooms, horse racing tracks, and a state lottery.
• 2022: California voters rejected two competing ballot measures: Proposition 26 (in-person tribal sports betting) and Proposition 27 (online sports betting), leaving sports betting fully illegal.
• 2022 (Post-Election): Because both ballot measures were defeated, sports betting legalization became ineligible to return to the California ballot until 2028.
• 2025: The California legislature passed Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831), targeting online sweepstakes casinos that used a dual-currency model.
• October 2025: Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 831 into law, criminalizing dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos and expanding liability to vendors who support such operations.
• January 1, 2026: AB 831 took effect, prompting multiple sweepstakes casino brands, including High 5 Casino and Pulsz, to exit the California market.

Key Legislation

California has a strong relationship with the state’s tribal gaming community, and many of its gaming laws protect those relationships. Here’s a look. 

Current Status of Gambling in California

As of early 2026, California’s gambling landscape is defined by strict restrictions on online gambling and active regulatory enforcement. AB 831 is now in effect, and the dual-currency sweepstakes casino ban has forced multiple operators, such as High 5 Casino and Pulsz, to exit the California market.

Online sports betting remains fully illegal, and the next realistic opportunity for a legalization ballot measure is not expected until 2028. The decisive rejection of both Proposition 26 and Proposition 27 in 2022 demonstrated that California voters and stakeholders remain deeply divided on expanding gambling options.

Proposed cardroom regulations from California gambling regulators in 2025 would eliminate Blackjack and restrict player-dealer card games at licensed physical cardrooms. While this is a land-based development, it signals that state regulators are actively reviewing and tightening gambling rules across multiple sectors.

Tribal gaming groups largely supported AB 831, viewing sweepstakes casinos as unlicensed competition that undermined their compact-based operations. Some smaller tribes expressed reservations about the law’s scope. This tribal political dynamic is crucial for understanding how future online gambling legislation might be shaped. Tribal interests have historically been decisive in California gambling politics, and any path to legalization will likely require their support or neutrality.

The California Gambling Control Commission has confirmed it has never issued an online casino license, and no legal framework exists for such licensing. 

Conclusion

Land-based gambling is legal and well-established in California through tribal casinos, licensed cardrooms, horse racing tracks, and the state lottery. However, online casino games and sports betting remain fully illegal, with no licensing framework or regulatory pathway for operators. AB 831 closed the sweepstakes casino gray area as of January 1, 2026, further restricting online gambling options. The only legal form of online wagering is advance-deposit wagering on horse racing under tight regulation.

Meaningful online gambling legalization, particularly for sports betting, is unlikely before 2028 at the earliest, given the defeat of the 2022 ballot measures and timeline restrictions on returning those questions to voters.

References

References

• California Gambling Control Commission
• California Gambling Control Commission — 2025 Gambling Legislation
• California Digital Democracy — AB 831 Bill Text
• SPUR Voter Guide — Proposition 27
  
• Tribal Business News — AB 831 Legislative Coverage
• MLive — California Sweepstakes Casino Ban Update
• Hometown Station — AB 831 Coverage
• California Gaming Law — 2025 Developments