Casino Online California

California is lagging behind many other states in the US when it comes to legalizing online gambling. However, if you currently live in California and don’t want to drive down to one of the tribal casinos, you still have options for online gaming in the form of sweepstakes casino sites.

Basically, sweepstakes casino sites are totally legal in California even though regular online casinos are not. These sweepstakes sites offer fun casino action, allowing you to play with digital currency instead of real money. Once you’ve accumulated a certain number of Sweeps Coins, you can exchange them for cash prizes.

California currently allows sweepstakes casinos: Chumba Casino, LuckyLand, and FunzPoints. Chumba shares a parent company with Global Poker, so many of its terms and conditions and other sections of the website are identical. The best California online casinos easily adapt to the mobile environment, because a lot of people want to play casino games and make wagers on-the-go. All of the online casinos that have made our list are designed to be especially adaptable to mobile devices. Online Slots 18 And Over Casino In Northern California games come in many varieties, each with 18 And Over Casino In Northern California different jackpots and different outcome possibilities. Odds of winning smaller prizes 18 And Over Casino In Northern California are much greater than the odds of winning the top prize. California Casinos and Gambling. Short Summary: California is fairly liberal when it comes to gambling laws. In addition to allowing players do whatever they want, (including playing online) the state has legal and regulated charitable gambling, live and simulcast racing wagering, card rooms and lottery.

Below, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about sweepstakes casinos in California.

Best Online Casino Sites In California 2021

While California law is pretty anti-gambling in general, it does allow sweepstakes gaming. Online sweepstakes sites, of which two are particularly notable, can be enjoyed from anywhere within California borders. The two notable sites are Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.

Chumba Casino provides slots and table games, while LuckyLand Slots offers a good selection of slots. Both sites use Sweeps Coins and Gold Coins as currency for games. Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots are similar to Funzpoints, b spot, and Zitobox Slots which are all incredibly popular in California and throughout the rest of the US because of their excellent user interfaces and diverse game selections.

In a nutshell, sweepstakes casino sites are legal because players don’t put real money on the line. Instead, games are played with digital Sweeps or Gold Coins, which operate as digital currencies without a real-world monetary equivalent.

What Are The Bonuses At Sweepstakes Casinos In California?

Like most online casino sites, both Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots provide opening bonuses for new players to get people to try out their sites. Both sites also provide daily bonuses to encourage regular players to keep signing in. Thus, the opening bonuses here keep on giving. They aren’t one-and-done offerings only to draw in new players. Regular players also benefit.

Both sites, to start, provide daily free Gold Coins when you log in. These are automatically placed into your account balance for use with whatever games you please. However, you only get these daily free coins once per day. You can’t log in multiple times per day to claim the daily bonus repeatedly, even if you swap between different devices.

Chumba Casino offers an opening bonus of two free Sweeps Coins when you sign up for the site. Make an account, verify your information and you’ll get the free Sweeps Coins once you enter the site. Furthermore, it provides a $30 package of Gold Coins when you spend $10 on the site for Gold Coins.

LuckyLand Slots offers the same daily bonus, plus you get 10 free Sweeps Coins when you sign up. An additional 10 Sweeps Coins will be placed in your account when you spend $4.99 on other Gold Coins or merchandise.

Quick Guide To Sweepstakes Casinos In California

How Do Sweepstakes Casinos Work In California?

As mentioned, sweepstakes casinos work in California because they don’t actually require you to put any real money on the line. These games do not require that people play with anything of real-world value, so gaming with these sites is totally legal.

There are two types of digital currencies with which players can participate with the various games on Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, or other online sweepstakes sites.

The first currency is called Sweeps Coins. This is a free digital currency and players can earn more coins from participating in email challenges, signing up for free giveaways, or by getting a bonus every day just for logging in. You spend these coins at games the same way you would real money at a brick-and-mortar casino.

Gold Coins are the second digital currency. Players can purchase packages of Gold Coins and use these at the various games on any sweepstakes site. They have no exchangeable value so they are not redeemable for cash prizes. Many times, online sweepstakes sites provide players with extra Sweeps Coins when they spend money on Gold Coin packages or bundles.

How Do You Win Cash Prizes By Playing Online?

Most sweepstakes casinos work by giving you free Sweeps Coins at a proportionately smaller rate than the Gold Coins you can purchase. You cannot exchange Gold Coins for money prizes, but you can use them to play casino games.

However, players can use their Sweeps Coins and eventually win some of the online casino games. Those Sweeps Coins can later be redeemed for monetary prizes. Because players don’t get nearly as many Sweeps Coins as they can get Gold Coins, sweepstakes casinos don’t usually offer the opportunity to win big in most cases compared to other online casinos.

Still, these sites are a good alternative if you want to play online casino games but aren’t allowed to in your state because of anti-gambling legislation.

How Do You Access Sweepstakes Casino Sites In California?

In California, players must access Chumba Casino through a normal web browser, as it does not provide a mobile app. However, the website is also mobile-friendly for easy access. LuckyLand Slots is accessible through a standard desktop or mobile web browser. There’s also an app for Android.

Both sites operate 24/7 and provide browser and mobile-friendly interfaces for your device.

How Do Purchases Work At California’s Sweepstakes Casino Sites?

You are required to provide some banking information to sign up for both major sweepstakes sites, and you’re required to provide your email to get Sweeps Coins for free. Both Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots also make it incredibly easy to purchase Gold Coins.

You normally purchase Gold Coins in bundles for real-world cash values. For instance, $4.99 worth of Gold Coins could be several thousand, allowing you to play multiple games over the course of a day before needing to buy more.

What Are The Sweepstakes Casino Purchase And Redemption Options?

Sites like Chumba and LuckyLand offer two main ways to purchase Gold Coins (remember, you can’t purchase Sweeps Coins). The main version involves opening the browser website or mobile app and purchasing Gold Coins directly in packages. For instance, purchasing $30 worth of Gold Coins from Chumba will give you roughly 2 million Gold Coins to play with, plus some Sweeps Coins that you might be able to redeem for cash prizes later.

Redemption is only an option if you win with Sweeps Coins on one of the games you decide to play. In this case, both sweepstakes sites offer you the opportunity to exchange your Sweeps Coins for cash prizes. The prizes are wired to an attached bank account and should show up within three to four business days.

Alternatively, players can obtain Sweeps Coins by mailing-in to either site.

How Does Entry By Mail Work At Sweepstakes Casino Sites In California?

Practically every sweepstakes casino site offers free Sweeps Coins whenever you send in a request by mail. The sites themselves provide the mailing address and require you to include your account information and your name in certain places specified. The tradeoff is that those sites (or associated advertisers) might then send you advertising mail, but you get free Sweeps Coins out of the deal.

To receive Sweeps Coins from Chumba Casino by sending a mail-in request, use a 4″ x 6″ postcard or piece of white paper inside a #10 envelope, then address the envelope in your own handwriting to: VGW Games Limited, Chumba Casino Sweepstakes Department, PO Box #8486, Portsmouth, NH 03801

Then, all you have to do is handwrite the return address on the front of the envelope along with the words “Sweepstakes Credits”. On the enclosed paper, make sure to handwrite your full name, email address, and a statement explaining that you want to receive Sweeps Coins from Chumba.

For LuckyLand Slot, the procedure is exactly the same. Mail the postcard or envelope to: VGW LuckyLand, Inc., LuckyLand Slots Sweepstakes Department, PO Box #8486, Portsmouth, NH 03801

What Is The Difference Between Sweepstakes Casinos And Online Casino Sites

The primary difference between sweepstakes casino sites and regular online casino sites is the replacement of real-world money with digital currencies that cannot normally be exchanged for cash.

Online sweepstakes casino sites use Sweeps Coins, which can be exchanged for cash sweeps prizes. But these are so infrequently handed out compared to their main Gold Coin currency that it’s rare for players to win big on these sites.

Sweepstakes casino sites are more often used as recreational gaming activities for people who like these types of games but don’t necessarily want to put real-world cash on the line. They’re also a good gaming alternative for people who live in states like California, which make it difficult to enjoy casino activities outside of Indian casinos.

Online casino sites, in contrast, use real-world money for gambling activities. California may yet eventually legalize online gambling to the same extent as states like Pennsylvania. However, such a development is likely still quite far off.

In terms of available games, you won’t be able to find much of a difference between sweepstakes casino sites and traditional casino sites except in terms of variety. Chumba and LuckyLand Slots both have good catalogs of games. But most traditional casino sites offer more games simply by virtue of there being more real money slots and digital casino games in general.

Beyond those major differences, things are pretty similar. Sign-up processes are the same, as are the opening bonuses to attract new players.

Status Of Online Gambling In California

In California, online gambling is fairly limited, despite there being many in-person gambling activities throughout the state. At the time of this writing, it’s legal to gamble at racetracks, visit tribal casinos, enjoy legal poker card rooms, and play the lottery.

However, online gambling lags behind. To date, California does not have any legal online gambling save for horse racing and daily fantasy sports. The former is mostly because of California’s rich horse racing history while the latter is because daily fantasy sports technically counts as an activity of skill or strategy instead of chance (and thus is not considered gambling).

Sweepstakes casino and gaming sites like Chumba and LuckyLand Slots represent an excellent alternative as do sweepstakes poker sites like Global Poker.

Is It Safe To Use Sweepstakes Casinos In California?

Are Sweepstakes Sites Legal In California?

Yes. Sweepstakes sites are completely legal to use in California because they do not violate the letter of the law. They do not require that users play with real-world money, and the currency you play with does not hold any real-world value.

Both Chumba and LuckyLand, the two most popular sweepstakes sites in California, use 100 percent legal sweepstakes models to avoid incurring any fines.

Is My Information Safe On Sweepstakes Apps In California?

Yes. Both sweepstakes sites use security software and well-developed online sweepstakes platforms to ensure that player banking and financial information are not vulnerable to hacking attacks. Furthermore, both organizations are well regulated by the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC).

The CGCC oversees sites like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots. It keeps a close eye on their activities and ensures that they follow regulations to the letter. They are also available to take complaints if any user ever has a problem with either site.

What Are The Types Of Games Available At California’s Sweepstakes Casinos?

Chumba Casino

Chumba Casino currently offers over 70 titles. In comparison to LuckyLand Slots, this site provides a larger variety of online casino games, including several casino titles that you can’t find at traditional casino sites. It also includes table games.

Specifically, there are three card-based games. Blackjack and Jacks or Better video poker were its main offerings before, although it recently added roulette. The other games are all slots.

Most of the slot games have spin/plays that start with the values of 250 Gold Coins, although you can find other high-stakes slots that go up to 1 million Gold Coins or 100 Sweeps Coins per hand or spin. The highest slot games demand 50 Sweeps Coins or five million Gold Coins.

Players can find three progressive Jackpot slots at Chumba Casino, including Triple Double Fever, Reelin N Rockin, and Stampede Fury. These are potentially worth cash prize redemptions of up to $1 million if you win with Sweeps Coins instead of Gold Coins.

The biggest draw to Chumba’s online slot offerings is that the games are designed in-house, so you won’t be able to play them anywhere else. This is particularly nice for online casino enthusiasts who might eventually get bored with seeing the same online slots everywhere.

LuckyLand Slots

LuckyLand Slots is the sister site to Chumba Casino, and both websites are run by the same parent company. Despite this similarity in organization and oversight, LuckyLand provides over 30 unique slot games that you cannot find anywhere else. As a result, it’s very worthwhile to sign up for both websites since you’ll get different gaming experiences at each location.

Most of the slots use established casino themes, so the majority of the games feel familiar even if they are technically totally new. This is a positive, overall, because new players will get the hang of how games play and feel fairly quickly.

Some of the slots titles include:

• King of the Jungle
• Mayan Gold
• Pirates Bounty
• Buffalo Rush
• Dragon’s Den
• Fashion Frenzy
• Enchanted Fairy

Even better, the majority of LuckyLand’s slot games feature great 3D graphics and flashy animations. The resulting gameplay is enjoyable and interesting, even to online slot gaming veterans.

LuckyLand does provide some progressive jackpots as well for potentially huge redeemable sweeps prizes. For instance, Neon Valley is a progressive slot that can go as high as 177,000 Sweeps Coins.

In addition to the range of slot games offered here, players will also be able to enjoy some instant win and scratcher games. However, LuckyLand does not offer any video poker or table games and has not indicated any plans to provide these games in the future.

California Sweepstakes Casinos FAQ

Yes. Using Sweeps Coins, one of the two digital currencies usable on these sites, you can play slots or other types of games. When accumulate Sweeps Coins as you win games, and you can redeem these Sweeps Coins for a cash prize. You can make the exchange through the sweepstakes casino website, and the money will be wired to your bank account within a few business days.

How old do I have to be to play at sweepstakes casino sites in California?

You have to be 18-years-old to play at sweepstakes casino sites within the state. This is the age at which a person becomes a legal adult and can provide personal identifying information on their own.

Yes. Both Chumba and LuckyLand, the two most popular sweepstakes online casinos in California, offer progressive jackpots. Both of these progressive jackpots are built up using Sweeps Coins instead of real coins so that they’re eventually redeemable by a player for a cash prize. In some cases, the cash prizes can get up to over $1 million in value.

This is one of the few ways where sweepstakes casino players can win “big” compared to players of regular online casinos.

One of the other biggest sweepstakes gaming sites is Global Poker. This is the best sweepstakes poker site if your state doesn’t allow legal online gambling. It’s a very viable alternative to regular poker rooms.

There’s also FunzPoints, a new sweepstakes casino available in California. It offers slots games. “Standard FunzPoints” are used in place of Gold Coins and “Premium FunzPoints” in place of Sweeps Coins.

No. While there’s nothing explicitly forbidding live dealer games with sweepstakes casinos, you can currently only find these games at regular online casino sites that allow wagering with real money. Since California doesn’t allow these sites anyway, you also won’t find live dealer games legally accessible online in the state.

There are currently 77 slot games at Chumba Casino. It also offers three card-based table games for a total of 80 titles to choose from. Because Chumba produces its games in-house for the most part, it doesn’t come out with new slot games all that often. But the games that it does produce are generally high quality and either feature excellent graphics or are built on well-tested slot game designs and themes.

In California, online casinos, online sportsbooks, and online poker gambling are all illegal. However, a few online gaming options are still available for California players including daily fantasy sports (DFS), sweepstakes online poker, sweepstakes online casino, and horse race betting.

For now, California gamblers are limited to brick-and-mortar tribal casinos and state-licensed cardrooms. However, a coalition of California cities recently pushed forward a sports betting proposal called the “California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act,” which may appear on the November 2022 ballot. If all goes well, the Golden State could see sports betting go live sometime in 2023.

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of what currently is and isn’t legal in terms of betting in CA:

Online Sweepstakes Casino for California

Sweepstakes sites offer online casino games and online poker for cash prizes!

Sweepstakes allow players to win cash prizes by playing their favorite casino games including slots, blackjack, craps, and roulette. The unique feature with sweepstakes gaming is that you can get free-play by signing up and get additional credit with mail-in entries. You also have the option to purchase gold coins and are given free sweep credit.

Funzpoints – Another sweepstakes slots sites with 30+ online slot games.

Online Horse Race Betting In California

Normally, when people think of online betting, they think of wagering real money for a chance to win real money. Since sweepstake websites do not qualify under this definition, we thought we’d highlight a form of legal real money online gambling that’s more unique to California: horse race betting.

Brick-and-mortar horse racing in California includes four full-time tracks along the coast: Santa Anita Park, Del Mar Racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, and Los Alamitos Race Course. You can place bets on races remotely through these tracks themselves or from legal horse race betting websites.

The most popular legal horse racing sites include TVG, Xpressbet, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica. Each hosts a wide range of events that span the entire globe including races in Australia and Southeast Asia (on top of all the tracks within the United States).

These websites are popular outlets for two simple reasons: traveling to the track isn’t always feasible, and the promotions are worthwhile. The legal horse racing sites available in California offer no deposit bonuses, risk-free betting, and loyalty programs, just like a traditional sportsbook.

The bets you can place at these horse racing sites are the same as if you visited the track itself. That means you can win small amounts on micro-bets as well as enormous payouts on long-shot bets like the pick-six.

An Overview Of Online Gambling Options In California

Although California has the largest daily fantasy sports (DFS) market in the country, the state offers only limited online betting options beyond that. Here’s a rundown of each type of online betting and its legal availability for CA residents and visitors:

Online Casinos In California

Currently, online casinos are not legal in California. To play online casino games, California residents will need to travel to a nearby state that has legal online casinos. Although players in CA are still able to access online casino websites and even deposit money, placing a bet from within California state lines is against the law.

It’s unlikely that California will legalize online casinos anytime soon. Because the federal government may not interfere with state laws regarding online casino gambling, it’s up to the State of California to pass legislation, issue licenses, and regulate operators. Recent news coverage has not identified any online casino legislation in the works. If you want to play at California casinos, we suggest playing at a sweepstakes casino like Funzpoints which gives a similar experience via sweepstakes games.

Online Sports Betting In California

Unfortunately, online sportsbooks are another betting option not yet available to those located in California. Land-based sportsbooks (aside from race tracks) are not available either. The future of sports betting in California currently depends on the fate of the California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act, which could be put to vote in late 2022.

For the time being, in order to place sports bets, California residents must travel to states where sports betting is legal (like Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). Fortunately, many people in California are an easy drive from Nevada, where they can place both sports bets online and retail locations.

Online Poker In California

Currently, online poker is not legal in California. However, poker fans can somewhat relax because legislation is at least moving forward in this area.

In November 2020, a bill to legalize online poker made its way into the state legislature, but deliberations were interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Discussions are likely to commence after the crisis has been dealt with.

For the time being, poker players in California are limited to poker tables at retail casinos. But that’s okay, because Southern California is considered to be the brick-and-mortar poker capital of the world. It’s one of the few places in the country that has allowed poker since the 1930s.

That’s on top of this being one of the richest regions, inviting both international, national, and local high-rollers to some of the most sought-after seats in world poker. No wonder so many Hollywood celebrities double as professional poker players, including Tobey Maguire, Ben Affleck, and Jennifer Tilly.

Playing The California Lottery Online

The online lottery is not available in California. Lottery players in California can check online to see whether their ticket won by downloading the app and scanning the ticket’s barcode. However, neither purchase nor play options are generally available on the app.

There are infrequent exceptions to this rule. In 2019, California launched a “second chance” promotion for scratch-off tickets. After purchasing a ticket, players could log in to the California Lottery app and try their luck at another chance to win. Two people won over a million dollars, so keep your eye out for the next time they roll out a similar promotion.

But, that said, you can’t log in to the California Lottery app and buy tickets online. You have to go to a local retailer (the nearest of which is probably around the corner from your home).

On a side note, California residents should make absolutely certain to avoid offshore lottery websites (of which there are many). Imagine if you got lucky and won a million dollars. What’s to stop that site from keeping the money? They have possession of the ticket, and you have zero recourse because the website is unlicensed.

Online Bingo In California

Plenty of Bingo parlors exist across the state of California. Some even have payouts in the thousands of dollars, but most offer physical prizes.

Best Online Casino California

Real money online Bingo, on the other hand, is not legal in California. Instead, legal Bingo sites are limited to sweepstakes, which will further explain in later sections of this page

Thankfully, a simple Google search will identify all the legal Bingo events going on in your area. Chances are there’s one coming up soon nearby.

Online Horse Race Betting In California

The only traditional online betting option that’s legal in California is horse racing. You can bet on local, national, and international tracks, from races in San Diego to locations on the other side of the world.

However, many betting websites that take horse racing bets from folks in CA are illegal and unlicensed, so it’s important for you to do your due diligence before depositing.

It also might be worthwhile to note that horse racing could be nearing its finish line as a practice in California. The activist outcry against what many dub animal cruelty, particularly in a famously progressive state, could make horse racing illegal before the state legalizes online sportsbooks and casinos.

Still, even if horse racing goes the way of greyhound racing and gets outlawed in CA, betting on it online will almost certainly remain legal.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) In California

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are legal in most states because their operators have convinced legislators that DFS is skill-based rather than luck-based. As such, participation in DFS is not considered gambling. So, while online casinos, online sportsbooks, and poker sites are illegal in almost all US states, DFS is only unavailable in the following states:

• Hawaii
• Washington
• Nevada
• Idaho
• Montana
• Iowa
• Arizona
• Louisiana
• Alabama
• Delaware

In every other state as well as Washington, DC, you can legally play DFS with popular apps like DraftKings and FanDuel.

If you’re wondering how sports betting isn’t skill-based but DFS is, that’s a hotly debated topic for another time. Similarly, if you’re wondering how DFS is more skill-based than poker, no one has a good answer for you. It’s a total mystery.

A Brief History Of Online Gambling In California

Interestingly, gambling is one of the few bipartisan issues in the United States. Republican, Democrat, and Independent politicians can be for or against legalization, political party notwithstanding. This is important to mention because online gambling legislation is a political issue, and California is a historically left-leaning state.

History Of Online Gambling According To Federal US Law

The Federal Wire Act of 1961 put federal restrictions on all forms of online gambling for decades. In September 2011, the Obama administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) declared that the law only applies to sports betting. Several years later in 2018, the Trump administration’s DOJ retracted that opinion and declared that the law applies to all forms of online betting.

The question then fell into the lap of the Fifth Court of Appeals, which ruled that the law only applies to sports betting. Most recently, Trump’s DOJ filed its intent to appeal. If you’re confused, welcome to the club.

History Of Online Gambling According To California State Law

Ever since US states began legalizing online casinos and online sportsbooks, California has been slow to the punch. This isn’t due to a lack of demand. Rather, it’s due to a lack of political will. Passing new legislation requires cutting through a mountain of red tape, and the recent push toward legalized online poker in 2020 was stymied by the coronavirus pandemic.

Basically, the history of California’s online gambling is yet to be written. Online poker seems to be the most likely legalization in the near future. The growing demand for legal online sportsbooks will also likely reach a fever pitch across the US, and this won’t exclude California.

The Legality Of California’s Brick-And-Mortar Gambling

California Cardrooms

The most liberal aspect of legal gambling in California compared to other states is the cardroom. Cardrooms are retail locations that allow poker, blackjack, pai gow, and baccarat but do not permit slots or table games.

Cardrooms also serve food, drinks, and host events, which gives them the feel of a casino. However, if you like the digital games or roulette, you’ll have to travel one state over to Nevada. Furthermore, since 1995, no new cardrooms can open up. So, what currently stands is all the state is going to get. That means if one goes out of business, a new one can’t pop up.

Casinos On California Native American Reservations

Another option is to travel to Native American reservation casinos. In California alone, there are 63 different tribal casinos that span the state.

California State Lottery

You can also purchase tickets to play the California State Lottery at a wide range of retail locations. Tickets are available for purchase and cash-in only within the state borders. However, you can also play Mega Millions and PowerBall, which are both multi-state competitions open to 45 states.

Quick Facts On CA Gambling

How Many Casinos Are Located In California?

Within the California state lines, there are two different types of casinos: tribal casinos and cardrooms. Currently, you can bet at 65 full-sized tribal casinos and 89 state-licensed cardrooms. These establishments vary in size dramatically, especially when you compare small cardrooms to enormous casino resorts.

Unlike cardrooms, tribal casinos host every type of casino game, including slots, video poker, roulette and craps. That’s on top of the blackjack and poker that are offered at cardrooms.

How Has The California Casino Industry Grown?

California’s casino industry has skyrocketed in growth since the ratification of the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts in 1999. Since then, dozens of casinos have opened across the state on reservation land.

Because no new cardrooms can open as of 1995, the only way a new casino can open is if it’s tribal-run or the state passes new legislation. That means, for now, the California casino industry has, by all indications, plateaued.

Who Owns California Casinos?

Right now, 61 Native American tribes own the 64 casinos located within California state lines. The names of the casinos normally are not related to the name of the tribe.

As for the cardrooms, the ownership is even more varied, but they’re often named after the location. For example, Commerce Casino is located in Commerce, CA, while the Napa Valley Casino is located in Napa.

An Overview Of The California Lottery

“Winning the lottery” isn’t as unlikely as the term often connotates. Of course, winning huge jackpots hold incredibly small odds, and most people who play Powerball or Mega Millions every week for their whole lives never come close to winning the jackpot. But playing the lotto in California is a much different experience.

Daily 3

There are two drawings per day (every day). You can select three numbers or let the computer do it for you. One number can win you over $50, while the three numbers in order can pay out a few hundred dollars or more.

Daily 4

The same as Daily 3 except with four numbers. The prizes are also larger due to the increased difficulty of correctly guessing four in a row.

Daily Derby

This virtual horse racing game allows bettors to guess which “horse” (number) will come in first, second, and third. The results come in twice per day.

Fantasy 5

The same as Daily 3 and 4, except that the drawing is once per day, and the minimum win for the top prize is $65,000.

SuperLotto Plus

The California-only version of the MegaMillions. The drawing occurs twice per week, and the minimum top prize is $7 million.

Hot Spot

In California, lottery retailers host screens with a Keno game called Hot Spot that allows you to bet every four minutes from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day. Payouts are determined by both the price of the ticket and the amount of correctly guessed numbers.

Non-profit Casino Nights In California

According to California Gambling Law, a non-profit can use casino games to raise money in what is commonly known as a “casino night.”

However, 90 percent of gross revenue has to go to a registered charity, individual cash prizes cannot exceed $500, and total prizes can’t exceed $5,000.

You also can’t host any aspect of it online.

Are Raffles Legal In California?

Yes. However, raffles are held to similar laws as charity casino nights in that 90 percent of revenue must go toward charity. However, the Bureau of Gambling Control also allows and regulates 50/50 raffles at sporting events.

Online raffles are not legal in most cases. Even charitable online raffles are illegal if any form of marketing for the raffle is done online. You can legally advertise an in-person raffle, as well as list all the details of the raffle, such as prizes, rules, and even entry forms, which need to be printed out and completed manually.

Is An Office Pool Legal In California?

Yes. Office pools are legal in California so long as:

• It’s not done online
• No one profits off of the pool
• The total pool money doesn’t exceed $2,500

So, if you and your friends want to hold a pool for events like March Madness or do a Super Bowl board, there’s nothing stopping you if you operate within those rules.

Online Gambling In California FAQ

Is online gambling in California safe?

No. Not unless you’re betting on horse racing or participating in a state-stationed lottery promotion. Otherwise, you’re gambling at an illegal betting site.

While it’s not illegal to gamble at an offshore casino, you won’t have any recourse if you’re ripped off. Many Californians still choose to bet at unlicensed sites and receive their winnings without issue. But is it safe? Strictly speaking, it is not.

How do US online casinos know that I’m in California?

In order to ensure the user base is in compliance with local regulations, online sportsbooks and casinos require members to let them know their location. Others will use geolocation software. Otherwise, there’s no way of knowing whether the person is inside the state – or even within the country.

Allowing bets from people located outside of the state of licensing is illegal. Even those who legally reside in states where online casinos or sportsbooks are legal cannot bet if they’re outside of state lines.

Can I be a California resident but legally play at a Nevada online casino?

Yes. The second you cross the border into Nevada, you can play at any of their licensed betting websites. Many who live close to the border can feasibly drive over state lines, place their sports bets, drive home, then drive back into the state to collect their winnings.

Can CA residents bet online in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Indiana?

Yes. State residency does not matter. All that matters is that you’re located within the state lines. That means you don’t even need to be a United States citizen to legally bet at licensed online casinos.

Rivers Online Casino California

Do I have to pay California state tax on my casino winnings?

Yes. California’s standard income tax applies to any gambling winnings. The only exception is the CA Lottery, wherein the 24 percent tax (or 30 percent for non-US citizens or legal residents) is automatically withheld if the winnings exceed $600.

So, if you’re a US citizen and win $1,000 on the CA Lottery, you’d receive $760, and you would not have to pay any additional taxes.

Do I have to pay a federal tax on my casino winnings?

If your net winnings for the year exceed $5,000, then they are subject to a flat tax rate of 25 percent.

It’s important to note that “net winnings” means your winnings subtracted by your losses. If you won $10,000 but lost $5,001, you would not have to pay federal taxes for gambling.

How are California casinos different than Nevada casinos?

Tribal casinos in California are virtually the same as the casinos you’d find in Reno or Vegas. The biggest difference is the number of options. If you’re in a more rural part of California, you may be a long drive from the closest tribal casino. If you’re on the Vegas Strip, you’re a stone’s throw away from dozens of casinos.