California Online Slots
- California online slots Slots would no doubt be the crown jewel of the Golden State’s online casino market. After all, internet-based slots rule every other regulated casino gaming market. New Jersey provides an example of what to expect.
- Online casinos are your best bet if you want a ton of game variety. You will find casino staples such as video slot machines and numerous table and card games on our list of California casinos online. That’s not all you’re getting. Our casinos also have exciting live casino games that allow you to play against a real dealer.
With a population of nearly 40 million, the largest in the United States,
it’s no surprise that California has a massive gambling fanbase. Land-based
gaming laws here are a little stricter than states such as Nevada, yet
California’s online gambling market continues to grow. Today, our team of
experts is looking at some of the very best California casino sites currently
operating.
As is the case in most states, there are currently no regulations that cover online casinos in the state of California. That means that just about every gaming company that serves in the United States is accessible by players in California. The online gambling market is a gray market, but there are a number of land-based casinos in the state. California online casinos allow you to make bets from anywhere with an internet connection. Many of these online casinos even let you play on-the-go using a smartphone! There’s nothing better than playing your favorite games, anytime you want. California casino sites are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It shouldn’t come as a major surprise to find that some of the best online
casinos in the world are available here. To make things a little easier for new
players, we’re listing five of our favorite casino sites in California directly
below!
Rank | Gambling Site | Deposit Bonus | Get Started | |
#1 | 280% Up To $14,000 | Visit Site | ||
#2 | Super Slots | 300% Up To $6,000 | Visit Site | |
#3 | 225% Up To $12,250 | Visit Site | ||
#4 | Vegas Casino Online | 100% Up To $11,000 | Visit Site | |
#5 | 250% Up To $5,000 | Visit Site |
Largest Southern California Slots Casinos In California. Here are the two largest Southern California slots casinos: Pechanga Resort Casino. This is the largest of all California casinos, totaling 188,000 ft.² of gaming space and 4,500 slot machines, along with tons of table games and other entertainment activities and venues.
We’re going to be breaking down some of the most important features that
California online casinos should always provide. Finally, we’ll be going over the
current laws and restrictions over internet casino gambling in this state.
There’s a lot of information to unpack!
California Casino Sites: What Should I Be Looking For?
With so many amazing options to choose from, it can be a little difficult
finding where to play casino games in California. Allow us to help you out! Our
analysts have looked through hundreds of different sites over the years.
We have come up with a unique system to determine whether a CA casino site is
worth playing at or not. There are a few simple things that every online casino
should provide. Below are the four most important features that all casino sites
in California should offer.
Safe and Simple Payment System
There’s nothing more important than safety when betting online. The first and
most important feature you should always look into is the website’s cashier
system. If the online casino you’re looking at doesn’t provide you with a
range of quick and secure payment options, we don’t recommend signing up.
Finding information on different websites’ payment options should be easy.
One quick way is to head over to our list of
online casino reviews. In
each of these reviews, we dive deep into the different payment options of every
website.
Another easy option is to simply check out these websites for yourself! At
the top of this page are the top-five California casino sites that we recommend.
You can head over to these sites today and look at their cashier systems
straight from the source. All reputable California online casinos will clearly list the
accepted payment methods.
We recommend playing at sites that allow deposits to be made using both debit
and credit cards. Withdrawal options differ from site to site. The majority of
California casinos online only allow payouts to be made using Bitcoin.
Fortunately, this is one of the best withdrawal methods available today.
Don’t be worried if you aren’t familiar with how Bitcoin works. Many CA
casino sites will easily walk you through each payout. Some sites such as
Bovada even provide
entire pages that explain how you can use Bitcoin to collect your winnings.
Spend some time looking at a few different sites’ payment options and choose one
that’s safe and easy.
Great Functionality and Design
The design and functionality of the CA casino website you choose to play at
will affect your entire gambling experience. A site could provide hundreds of
games with an amazing cashier system, yet if it crashes or makes if difficult to
actually place bets, it’s probably not worth playing at. For this reason, it’s
important to always look for great overall functionality and design.
This is another easy thing to look into. All legit US casino sites in
California will allow you to scroll through them before you’ve decided to sign
up. You can check out the various aspects of these sites to decide if it offers
a design you enjoy. Some sites even allow you to place some sample bets!
Everyone has a different design preference. Perhaps you’ll want to play at a
website that features hundreds of games and different bonus offers directly on
the homepage. It’s also possible that you prefer simple websites that make it
extremely easy to find the games you want to play.
The most important thing when you playat California online casinos is to find a design that fits your needs. There are
many different online casinos in CA right now, and you’re sure to find one that
offers the functionality you’re looking for. Check out the sites that we’re
recommending at the top of this page!
Casino Games That You Want to Play
This may seem completely obvious. Unfortunately, many players new to online
casino gaming sign up to a website, only to find that it doesn’t actually offer
the games they want to play! Don’t let this happen to you!
Always check through a few different California casino sites and look at
which games are provided. Do you love slots? Find a website offering hundreds of
slot games from the top software providers. Are you a blackjack fan? Make sure
to sign up to a website providing a wide range of different table gaming
options.
It’s also a good idea to see if any unique gaming features are provided. Some
sites, including the ones we recommend, offer fun features such as live dealer
games. These games make it feel as if you’re actually playing games inside a
land-based casino.
It’s incredible how many casino games are available online. Different sites
often provide their members with different gaming options. Spend some time
finding a website that offers the games you want to play.
Helpful Customer Support System
The last feature you will want to find in California online casinos is a
helpful customer support system. If you have any questions during your gambling
experience, it’s important to know that the site you play through will help you
out. More often than not, the better a website’s customer service, the better
the entire site actually is.
Good websites will usually provide a live chat feature. This form of customer
support allows you to speak with a website representative instantly over chat.
It’s a very useful tool to have your questions answered.
Other California online casinos will let you speak with employees over the phone.
This is another great customer service feature you should look for. Don’t settle
with a site that only allows email support. This can often take weeks to answer
any questions you need answers for.
There’s a very good chance you will never even have to utilize these site’s
customer support systems. If, however, you have any issues that come up with
making bets or collecting payments, it’s important to know you have a site that
will help you. Never disregard the importance of customer service!
California Online Casinos Are Growing in Popularity
Many people in California are realizing how great online casino gambling can
really be. There was a time when only a few casino sites operated in this state.
Today, players here have access to some of the best gaming companies in the
world.
We’ve asked many Californians why they choose to gamble online, rather than
inside of a local casino. There are two factors that continue to pop up. Below
are the two most common reasons that are contributing to the rise in California
casino sites right now.
Convenience of Making Bets From Home
California is a big state. There are over 160 land-based tribal casinos
operating here, many of which provide players with a wide range of different
gambling options. Even with the many brick-and-mortar gaming options, many
people here prefer the ability to simply make bets from home.
California online casinos allow you to make bets from anywhere with an
internet connection. Many of these online casinos even let you play on-the-go
using a smartphone! There’s nothing better than playing your favorite games,
anytime you want.
California casino sites are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You
will never have to worry about whether or not the games you want to play are
available. If you enjoy placing bets on your own time without the need to drive
miles to a casino, online gaming is probably for you.
Wide Range of Different Gaming Options
Another reason why so many people love casino websites is the massive amount
of different games offered every single day. The top CA casino sites provide
literally thousands of different gaming options to members. You can find just
about every slot and table game through these websites.
Generally speaking, California casinos online will always offer more games than even the
biggest land-based casinos. As we just mentioned, these games are available
24/7. You’ll never have to worry about making the trip to a casino, only to find
that the game you wanted to play is not available.
Some casino sites in California will focus more on certain games than others.
One website may provide hundreds of different slots, while others focus
primarily on their table gaming options. Check out a few different websites to
see just how many different games are available online right now.
Is Online Casino Gambling in California Actually Allowed?
California is well-known for its liberal laws. Strangely, officials here have
been somewhat reluctant to begin opening up the online gambling industry. At the
moment, only tribal casinos are legal throughout the state.
Lawmakers in California passed Proposition 1A in the year 2000. This allowed
tribal casinos to offer traditional casino games such as slots and blackjack. In
2014, bills AB 2991 and SB 1366 were presented. If passed, these will allow for
the regulation of online poker throughout the state.
There have been no steps taken to begin regulating the online casino industry
in California. Fortunately, there are no laws that specifically prohibit
individuals from playing through California casino sites. The legality may lie
in somewhat of a gray area, yet most agree this market is completely open.
It’s extremely unlikely. As we just mentioned, there is nothing in
the state’s criminal code that specifically bans playing California online casinos.
We have not come across a single case of any individuals facing legal trouble
for playing casino games online here.
How Do I Stay Safe Playing Online Casino Games in CA?
Online casino gambling in the US is generally very safe. Word spreads quickly
in the internet gaming industry, and any websites caught withholding payment
from members or charging unusual fees will be called out. For that reason,
casino sites in California work hard to always provide their members with
safety.
Oftentimes, the best way to stay safe online is by monitoring your own
gambling activities. Our experts are listing five of the best tips that will
help to keep you perfectly safe while playing internet casino games in
California.
Play Through Reputable Websites
The easiest way to protect yourself is to only play through
legit US casino websites
that have solid reputations. And all the safe California casino sites will take
steps to protect your gambling experience. Head back up to the top of this page
to see the California online casinos that we highly recommend.
Track How Much You Are Gambling
One of the best things about casino sites in California is that they are just
so fun! Unfortunately, this can lead to some gamblers betting more than they
should. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, always keep track of how much
money you are actually wagering.
Only Bet on Games That You Understand
Many players who are new to online casino gaming will jump right into games
before they even know the rules. We don’t recommend this. It’s always a good
idea to only play games that you understand. It will significantly lower your
chances of losing.
Read the Details of Every Promotion Before You Use Them
Promotions, in case you are unaware, are simply bonus offers that different
casino sites in California will offer to their members. These can be a fantastic
way to boost the amount of money into your betting account. Occasionally, they
can also make it difficult to actually withdraw your winnings. Make sure that
you read the terms and conditions of every promotion before you decide to
utilize them.
Always Be Willing to Reach out to Customer Service
A good customer support system is hugely important when you play online casinos games in California. We
highly recommend reaching out to customer service representatives if you ever
need to. It’s the easiest way to always have your questions answered.
California Online Casinos FAQ
What Are the Most Important Features of California Casino Sites?
Casino sites are better now than ever before. When it comes to where to play casino games in California, we highly recommend making sure
that any website you plan to join provides safe payment options, a great design,
the games that you want to play, and a helpful customer support system.
Are Casino Sites in California More Popular Than Land-Based Casinos?
The popularity of California online casinos is growing rapidly. California
has a particularly large online casino fanbase. Most people state that the
convenience of betting from home and the wide range of different betting odds
are what push them to gamble online.
Do Casino Sites in CA Offer Online Poker Games?
For the most part, yes. Many online casino companies recognize that poker is
extremely popular throughout the state. These California casino sites will often
provide different poker gaming options to their members.
Certain lawmakers in California are pushing to regulate the online poker
industry. Until this happens, poker fans will need to play through the various
casino sites currently available. Many of these websites put on major poker
tournaments offering huge payouts.
How Can I Stay Safe Playing Online Casino Games Here?
Casino sites in CA are safer now than ever before. The best ways to protect
yourself while casino gaming is to only play through reputable sites, track how
much you’re betting, bet on games that you understand, read the details of every
promotion offer, and always reach out to customer support if you need it.
Conclusion
California has one of the biggest gambling markets in the world. Strangely,
lawmakers here have not taken any steps to begin regulating this industry. Laws
surrounding online gambling are always changing.
To stay up-to-date on internet gambling laws in California, make sure to
follow our industry news page. Don’t forget to check out the top California casino sites that we’ve recommending at the top of this page. Good
luck making your bets.
Out of all states, California enjoys the most potential for regulated online casino gaming. The state houses the largest population at almost 40 million residents and boasts the largest economy at $3 trillion in gross state product.
The problem, though, is that California hasn’t legalized online casinos. The only legislative efforts it has put forth involve online poker.
The state is missing out on a goldmine of tax dollars from online gaming. Meanwhile, several other states are already capitalizing on the opportunity by offering residents and visitors legal gaming sites.
Regulated online casinos in California will likely take advantage of the opportunity in the future.
Here, we’ll cover what types of games online CA casinos would offer. But first, let’s discuss the current gaming market and why past legislative efforts have failed.
California-based businesses aren’t allowed to operate casino sites because of the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, or UIGEA. This law prohibits all US companies from knowingly accepting payments related to bets or wagers placed over the internet.
Sweepstakes casinos for real cash prizes in California
California Online Slots
Fortunately, Californians aren’t completely out of options for playing casino games online. One solution is to use sweeps cash casinos – like Chumba Casino andLuckyland Slots, which run on virtual currencies while simultaneously providing their customers with an opportunity to win real money prizes.
The model is simple: players need to purchase virtual currency bundles to play the games. Each of those bundles comes with a promotional set of sweepstakes tickets, which can also be used to play the games. The catch is that you can win more of them if you put them at risk. Every ticket that has been played at least once can be used to redeem real money prizes, i.e., cash out.
Legally, what makes this model work is the fact that virtual currency is the purchasable product, and the sweepstakes tickets are handed out for free as promotional gifts. Because sweepstakes-based promotions are legal in California and virtual currency holds no intrinsic value and can even be transferred outside the casino site, California residents are free to play on such platforms without violating Section 330.
California Online Casino fact sheet:
State-sanctioned sites: | No. UIGEA still in effect. |
Offshore casino sites: | Illegal |
Social sites: | Legal |
Sweepstakes sites: | Legal |
Online casino bill: | No. All efforts were focused on poker. |
The current legal status of California online gambling
The Golden State hasn’t regulated gaming sites yet. As a result, California doesn’t offer any legal online casinos.
Operating an internet-based casino in this state is illegal. No law directly addresses gambling at an unregulated gaming site.
However, penal code 330a, which discusses illegal gambling, could be applied to playing through a smartphone, tablet or PC:
“(…) any slot or card machine, contrivance, appliance or mechanical device, upon the result of action of which money or other valuable thing is staked or hazarded (…) is guilty of a misdemeanor.”
Assuming California regulates online gambling, the state constitution would likely include new excerpts that clear up the legality issue.
California fails to legalize online gaming
California Online Slots
Several other states have already legalized online casinos.
However, California was one of the firststates to consider internet-based gaming. The initial online poker bill was proposed in 2008.
Had this bill passed, California would’ve been four years ahead of any other state in legalizing online gaming. The 2008 legislation failed, though, like many other efforts throughout the past decade.
We mentioned that California’s size sets it up to be a lucrative online casino market. However, it also creates difficulties in passing legislation.
Licensed card rooms, tribes and racetracks all serve the state’s gambling needs. Each of these entities has its take on how a regulated online poker market should work.
The tribes, which earn billions annually from their casinos, are especially dragging their feet. They’re not interested in sharing revenue with card rooms and racetracks, nor do they want to upset the status quo.
Card rooms and horsetracks, on the other hand, won’t cede online poker to tribal casinos. They want to share in any revenue generated by poker sites.
This impasse spells doom, not only for online poker rooms, but also for online casinos. If the tribes are worried about poker upsetting their status as market leaders, they’re probably even more against casino sites.
Sweepstakes online casino – Chumba Casino
Chumba Casino was one of the first sweepstakes sites that appeared on the US market in 2018. Players who purchase virtual currency from Chumba are awarded sweepstakes tickets at a 1:1 rate, which is also maintained when you redeem them for cash. The site also runs a promotion that allows you to receive ten tickets for purchasing your first $5 bundle.
Chumba Casino software is 100% browser-based, which makes it compatible with most modern computers and mobile devices. Its game library is relatively small, composed of 42 video slots (including four progressive jackpot games), one video poker game, and one blackjack game, but all the available titles were designed in-house and cannot be accessed via any other site.
While Chumba games tend to be based on slots designed by well-established developers, they’re far from being cheap knock-offs. Their production value is top-notch, and the gameplay is smooth and satisfying.
What’s more, Chumba’s blackjack is arguably one of the most newbie-friendly table games on the market at the moment as it comes with a Show Odds feature that allows you to check the odds of winning your hand if you opt to stand instead of hitting.
There is also a new sweeps based casino launched in 2019, Lucky Land Slots is now available for California residents.
California Online Slot
Social casino sites
Section 330 applies exclusively to real money games, which means that California residents are free to play on social casino sites such as Slotomania, Zynga, or Big Fish. While those sites are entertaining, we recommend playing on MyVegas, which is a social platform operated by MGM, a company that also owns the MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino located in Nevada.
The loyalty points accumulated by playing on MyVegas can be exchanged for comps at MGM Grand, which include free meals, retail items, and free hotel stays.
Can we look forward to legal CA online casinos?
No online gambling legislation has been introduced since 2017. The lack of a recent bill means that online gaming is currently a non-issue.
However, we shouldn’t take this as a sign that online poker or casino games will never be legal. A lot can happen within the next five to 10 years.
California gaming interests may see that other states, e.g., NewJersey and Pennsylvania, are earning lots of revenue from online casinos. All sides involved should then be more motivated to reach an agreement.
Of course, any gambling bill must pass the state legislature by a two-thirds majority vote. This rule only adds pessimism to internet-based casinos ever becoming a reality.
Politicians could be more willing to listen as they continue missing out on more tax dollars. This scenario, combined with more states regulating online gambling, might change the current sentiment in California.
What online casino gambling could we expect in California?
The Golden State seems a way off from passing the long-discussed online poker legislation, let alone regulating casino games. However, legal online casinos are within the realm of possibility in California.
Here’s speculation on what CA gaming sites would feature.
California online slots
Slots would no doubt be the crown jewel of the Golden State’s online casino market. After all, internet-based slots rule every other regulated casino gaming market.
New Jersey provides an example of what to expect. Most of their operators feature hundreds of online slots, compared to dozens of table games.
California online casinos would likely be supplied by the same slots developers that cover the Garden State: Bally, High5, NetEnt, NextGen and WMS are some of the most popular software providers in New Jersey.
Table games
The slots selection dwarfs tablegames at most online casinos. However, these games are still popular in regulated markets.
Blackjack is always a favorite at gaming sites. New Jersey features plenty of blackjack variations.
These variants range from micro-limit games (10 cents per hand) to side bets like Crazy 7s and MegaMatch. The house edges are relatively low, with one single-deck version featuring just a 0.26% house advantage.
Baccarat, craps, Let It Ride, pai gow poker, roulette and Texas Hold ’em bonus poker are some of the other available games.
Video poker
You can look forward to cheap video poker at CA online casinos in the future. Some regulated games feature a 5 cent denomination, versus the 25 cent denomination at land-based casinos.
Unfortunately, the return-to-player (RTP) percentage isn’t anything to deserve excitement. Jacks or Better (99.54% RTP) is the only high-paying game available in legal markets now.
Several land-based California casinos offer a JokerPoker variation that delivers 99.92% RTP with perfect strategy. That said, you shouldn’t expect to be wowed by CA online video poker.
Live dealer gaming
Live dealer casinos feature real dealers and tables. They stream an authentic, land-based gambling experience straight to your smartphone or PC.
Live dealer games that are available in other states include baccarat, blackjack, casino hold ’em and roulette.
Live casinos are relatively new in regulated markets and will likely grow in the coming years.
Virtual sports
Virtual sports see you wager on 3D sporting events and horse races. For example, you might bet on a virtual tennis match between two generic players.
After placing your wager, you get to watch the 3D match play out. Results are determined by a random number generator (RNG), which takes historical sports data into account when determining the winning and losing bets.
Real California Online Slots
How easy would it be to play at California online casinos?
Another hypothetical worth discussing is playing at CA gaming sites. California casinos would probably feature a similar playing process as the rest of the industry.
If you haven’t played at regulated sites, though, you may have questions about this process. Below, you can see the main aspects to consider with signing up and playing at CA casinos in the future.
PC vs. mobile California casinos
Your experience should not dramatically change when moving from PC to mobile casinos, and vice versa. However, the two gaming types have their nuances.
A mobile site either requires you to download an app or play via your internet browser. The former involves installing the app on your phone or tablet.
Regulated gaming sites don’t offer downloadable software for PC or Mac players. You automatically play through your browser with a desktop or laptop computer.
Account registration vs. no registration
You need to register for an account at any casino where you wish to deposit money. However, registration isn’t necessary if you want to play for free.
Some sites allow you to play before registering and becoming a member. All you need to do is choose the desired game and load it in your browser.
Other online casinos force you to register before playing free games. Luckily, this process only takes a few moments.
You need to supply the casino with simple information before submitting your account for approval. This includes basic details such as your name, address, email, gender and date of birth.
Making a deposit
Before joining an online casino, look at the bankingsection to ensure the site offers both a deposit and withdrawal option you can use.
If California ever legalizes online gaming, banking options won’t be in short supply. Many financial intermediaries will likely serve this market, including Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, Visa and Mastercard.
Take advantage of California online casino bonuses
Internet-based casinos in states with legal online gaming offer excellent bonuses. California can expect the same if it regulates the activity.
These offers are favorable in both size and terms and conditions (T&Cs). Deposit bonuses can be worth as much as a 100% match on your first deposit of up to $1,500.
T&Cs are much lighter than what you can find in many other markets. Typically, you only need to wager your bonus 20x at regulated casinos, versus the 40x gaming industry standard.
Legal gaming sites exist in a highly competitive environment. They’re willing to offer generous bonus deals to entice new players.
California would be no different in this regard. Casinos in the Golden State might feature even better deals thanks to the massive online casino gambling market.
What’s in store for the future?
The UIGEA includes an exception permitting the states to explicitly legalize online gambling, which is why it doesn’t apply to licensed gambling sites operating in Nevada, New Jersey, or Delaware. California lawmakers haven’t made a serious attempt at legalizing online casino games as all their efforts have been concentrated on internet poker.
This prohibition was tested in the court by one of the casino-operating Native Californian tribes, the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel. The tribe launched a small bingo platform called Desert Rose Bingo to test the waters before expanding its online operations to poker.
Desert Rose Bingo servers were located on reservation land, and the tribe argued that it had the right to offer its services over the internet under the compact signed with the state. Had the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel succeeded, it could have paved the way for Native American casinos.
Unfortunately, the site was quickly subpoenaed, and in 2018, the tribe lost the legal battle to keep this project afloat in the Ninth District Court of Appeals. The judge noted that while the argument pertaining to the tribe’s jurisdiction over gambling on tribal land had merit, the act of making a bet took place elsewhere and thus constituted a violation of UIGEA.
If a bingo site powered by servers located on Native American land could be shut down by the California courts, then there’s no hope for any California-based business, tribal or non-tribal, to launch a casino site without an explicit legalization bill being put on the books.