The best online casinos in California 2024


Our top recommended California online casinos

Disclaimer: We have noticed you are visiting this page from outside of the relevant state, you may not be able to access the partners on display

Rank Casino Bonus Offer Main points Play Online
#1 Top Rated Casino
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  • Extensive library of slot games
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • Widely available in the US
2
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  • Accepting US players
  • Over 300 slot games
  • 24/7 Customer Support
3
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  • Offers a range of sweeps games
  • Great variety of slots from Pragmatic Play, Evoplay and more
  • Daily bonuses, rewards and promos for coins

California casinos to avoid

We rate and review every California online casino on our shortlist. If a site isn't up to scratch, we'll add it to our list of casinos to avoid. These are the latest real money online casinos to avoid in California.

The best online casinos in California

The online sports betting landscape may be changing soon, but there’s still a way to go with online casino gambling. Although online real money gambling in California isn’t legal, there are plenty of social and sweepstake casinos you can play at for free. Designed to replicate the online casino experience, these free-to-play sites offer hundreds of world-class slots. Find our top picks below:

WOW Vegas

WOW Vegas

WOW Vegas is a big name in social gaming. This California online casino has over 330 unique slot games to play, most of which come from top developers like Pragmatic Play and Betsoft. Players love WOW Vegas for its impressive range of promotions for new and existing players alike. When it comes to social online gambling in California, it's hard to beat Wow Vegas.

Read our full WOW Vegas casino review.

Pulsz Casino

Pulsz Casino

Pulsz offers over 300 Vegas-style games completely free to CA bettors, including slots and jackpots from industry-leading providers. As well as boasting a generous 367k free Gold Coins and 32.3 Sweeps Coins welcome bonus, this social casino is one of the few places you can enjoy poker and roulette in the Golden State.

Read our full Pulsz casino review.

High 5 Casino

High 5 Casino

You’ll soon see why High 5 Casino is one of California’s most popular sweepstake casinos, with its efficient customer support center, flexible banking options, and exciting daily rewards. High 5 uses its own currency system, comprising Game Coins (GCs), Sweeps Coins (SCs), and Diamonds. You can exchange SCs for real-life prizes and rewards. Golden State players can also access High 5’s intuitive mobile capabilities and native app.

Read our full High 5 review.

McLuck

McLuck

If you’re looking for fun and free entertainment in the Golden State, McLuck Sweepstakes Casino has your back. Californian players are invited to enjoy hundreds of vibrant slots, Unlimited Play and Exclusive GC (Gold Coin) Games, and tons of awesome promotions from the native McLuck Casino mobile app. You can accumulate even more Gold Coins by logging in daily and participating in Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter promos.

Read our full McLuck casino review.

Stake Casino

Stake Casino

California residents interested in cryptocurrency can purchase coins on the Stake sweepstake casino using their preferred crypto platform. Since 2017, Stake has been providing its crypto-exclusive social casino to customers in the US. You can also play a collection of casino-style games only available on this social casino. Winning slots and other games allow you to collect Stake Cash prizes.

Read our full Stake Casino review.

Fortune Coins

Fortune Coins

Progressive jackpots are enormous in the US, as you play with the knowledge that any spin could trigger a huge jackpot. Fortune Coins does one better and applies a six- or seven-figure virtual jackpot to every one of its online slots! Register a new account and use your 20m Gold Coins welcome bonus to set the reels spinning on a variety of slots, keno, and table games. If this massive bonus doesn’t satisfy your appetite, you can buy more Gold Coins using a range of secure deposit options.

Read our full Fortune Coins casino review.

BetRivers.net

BetRivers.net

BetRivers.Net is another 'play for fun' site that offers over 200 free online casino games. This California online casino offers both slots and table games from top developers like NetEnt and Red Tiger. Players like the site for its authentic casino-like gaming experience and that all games are fully optimized for mobile play.

Read our full BetRivers.Net casino review.

Gambino Slots

Gambino Slots

Gambino Slots is one of the best slot casinos in California, offering an awesome registration bonus of 100,000 free coins and 200 free spins. You can wager your virtual currency on various exciting slots and claim a daily spin on the Bonus Wheel. The casino even offers an exclusive VIP program for its top wagerers and compatible iOS and Android apps for gambling on the go.

Read our full Gambino Slots casino review.

Luckybird.io

Luckybird.io

California players interested in cryptocurrency can purchase virtual currency, play exclusive slots games and win crypto-shaped prizes at LuckyBird.io. There are plenty of other opportunities to pick up free coins, like the daily login bonus, the faucet feature, treasure chests, and the lucrative LuckyBird VIP program. Sign up today to grab your free virtual currency welcome offer right now.

Read our full LuckyBird.io Casino review.

Golden Hearts Games

Golden Hearts Games

Golden Hearts Games has a one-of-a-kind model where players donate to their favorite charities to claim free game coins. No other social casino has this feature, allowing you to make a difference as you play casino games. While the list of slots is small, every game is exclusive and comes with a prize pot of $2,500. What Golden Hearts is really about is its selection of online bingo games, with around 4-5 games every hour.

Read our full Golden Heart Games review.

California online casino match

Find your perfect California online casino

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Slots
Slots
Roulette
Roulette
Blackjack
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Baccarat
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Sic Bo
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Pai Gow
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Keno
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Craps
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Bingo
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Video Poker
Video Poker

What the best California casinos offer you

Deciding on which casinos to recommend to you is a rigorous process. We assess how a range of casinos perform against our review criteria for things like bonus amounts, security and fairness, and payment options. If we think a casino makes the cut, we add it to our list of the best online casinos California. Here’s a breakdown of how the overall ratings are calculated.

How we rate casinos

Online gambling in California

While online gambling is currently not legal in California there is tons of momentum building in the Golden State. With two motions to legalize sports betting on California’s November 2022 ballot, CA bettors may be able to wager on sports much sooner than they think.

Proposition 26, backed by local tribal casinos, would only allow retail sports betting to launch. However, Proposition 27 would legalize online sports betting in California. With legal and regulated sports wagering on the cards for Golden State bettors, there is hope that online casinos may also launch in California. Until then, you can enjoy immersive land-based casino gambling in one of the state’s 65 tribal casinos.

⭐ Retail casinos
Yes
🔞 Legal gambling age in CA
18
🏆 Top casino brands in CA
WOW Vegas, Pulsz, Stake, Gambino Slots
✅ Online slots
Yes

Online gambling’s legal status in California

Gambling online for real money is not yet legal in California, including online casinos, online poker, and online sportsbooks. There is hope that sports betting may be legalized when Proposition 26 and 27 are put before state voters. However, these propositions do not include online casino gambling, so Golden State bettors will need to wait a little longer before they can stake real money on casino games. Luckily, you can still play legally at social and sweepstakes online casinos.

The gambling age in California

The official California gambling age is 18 for pari-mutuel horse wagering, the state lottery, and bingo games. However, while you can legally wager at a casino from 18 onwards, many casinos ban anyone under 21 from entering the premises. All legal casino wagering in the state takes place in tribal casinos on Indian reservations, and each casino is regulated by the tribe. As such, each tribe has the authority to raise the minimum age limit of its casino(s).

Are there taxes on gambling winnings in California?

Excluding the California Lottery, all gambling winnings are taxable in the Golden State. All earnings under $5,000 are subject to a flat 24% tax. You’ll need to report anything above this threshold or any winnings over 300x your original bet on a W4 tax withholding form. You’ll need to register your winnings on an IRS Form 1040 and any itemized losses.

How are online casinos regulated in California?

Online gambling is not yet legal in California. The only place you can legally wager real money on casino games is at land-based tribal venues, where gaming is regulated by the tribe itself. The only online gambling sites available to Californian bettors are free social and sweepstakes casinos. Unlike real online casinos, free sites don’t require a state-approved license to operate in the US. To guarantee safety, these casinos are regulated by customer protection groups and external testing agencies like eCOGRA.

Sports betting and online casinos in the US

Find the latest online gambling legislation updates for your state below.

Key

Legal
Pending
Sweepstakes & Social casino

Key

Legal
Pending
Sweepstakes & Social casino

Which online casino games are available in California?

Whether you prefer spinning the reels or bluffing your hand, you can find a great variety of free casino games at social casinos in California.

Slots

Slots

Immersive graphics and innovative features make online slot machines one of the most entertaining casino games around. Game developers are constantly releasing new slots in a variety of themes, so there are thousands to choose from. You can select your game based on its variance and RTP (Return to Player) percentage, making them one of the most versatile games for players of all budgets.

Blackjack

Blackjack

Blackjack has the highest RTP percentage of any casino game (aside from craps), which makes it hugely popular among US bettors. The premise is simple: beat the dealer to 21 without going bust. Its simple rules, high RTP, and wide betting limits make it a staple of California casinos.

Roulette

Roulette

The ultimate game of chance, roulette is available at almost every online casino in the US. Many tribal casinos offer ‘California Roulette’ as a legal option, which uses a deck of cards instead of a ball and wheel. If you’d rather play the classic game, you can do so at social casino sites, as they are not regulated by the California Gambling Control Commission.

Poker

Poker

Being the birthplace of the casino classic Texas Hold’em, it’s hardly surprising that online poker has quickly grown into one of the most popular casino games in the US. However, playing online poker in California is not yet legal. Until it is, you can practice your poker face at free-to-play California online poker sites like the WSOP social poker casino.

Video poker

Video poker

What happens when you combine the decision-making skill of online poker with the fast-paced randomness of slot machines? You get video poker. Plenty of social casinos offer video poker games, which are a great beginner-friendly alternative to online poker.

Live dealer games

Live dealer games

While not as common as free-to-play slots, some social casino sites offer free live casino games. These games are streamed live in HD from studios worldwide and help recreate the atmosphere of a brick-and-mortar casino from the comfort of your own home.

Online sports betting

Online sports betting

All eyes are on California as two CA sports betting bills make their way to the ballot. If either one succeeds, Golden State bettors will be able to wager on the Lakers, the Dodgers, the Giants, and the 49ers by as early as 2023. Whether it’s retail or mobile betting that passes the vote, bettors will be able to wager on a wide variety of markets and bet types.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily Fantasy Sports

While the Californian government doesn’t regulate Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) sites, they aren’t explicitly banned or illegal. Bettors in the state can therefore access all of the top DFS sites available online, including FanDuel and DraftKings.

State lotteries & bingo

State lotteries & bingo

The state lottery is one of the few legal betting options in California. Available to anyone over the age of 18, you can only buy lottery tickets in person at official lottery retailers. While the Golden State is known for having some of the highest tax rates in the US, any winnings generated from the state lottery are tax-free.

Getting the best online casino bonuses

Bonuses are a fantastic way to boost your gameplay. While some land-based casinos offer small promotions and token bonuses, online casinos - including social sites - offer massive welcome packages to attract new players. California casinos typically offer a range of bonuses for new and existing players, and we’ve detailed the most popular variations below.

Sign-up bonuses

As the name suggests, this type of bonus rewards new players for creating an account. Since online gambling is an oversaturated market, you’ll find a sign-up bonus at almost any online casino. These bonuses typically come as deposit bonuses or, less commonly, as no deposit bonuses.

Deposit bonus

The most common form of sign-up bonus, deposit bonuses are rewards you receive when making a deposit to the site. Many online casinos offer deposit match bonuses, where the casino will match a certain percentage of your deposit in bonus cash. Alternatively, other sites provide ‘reload’ bonuses, where returning players can earn free spins and other prizes for funding their existing accounts.

No deposit bonus

In direct opposition to the above, no deposit bonuses don’t require a deposit. Instead, the casino will give you a reward just for registering a new account. They are typically much lower in value than deposit bonuses and could have stricter wagering conditions. However, they’re definitely worth claiming when you find them.

Local casinos in California

Despite its lack of online gambling options, California has plenty of land-based options. We’ve selected our top picks from the 70 brick-and-mortar Indian casinos for you below:

Deposits and withdrawals for online gambling

You’ll be able to find most popular US deposit options when you gamble at an online casino in California. Since you can’t win real money at a social casino, there won’t be any withdrawal methods to choose from. However, when California online casino real money gambling becomes legal, you’ll be able to use a range of swift and secure payment methods to withdraw your winnings. Below is a list of the top payment options:

  • Credit/debit cards
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Skrill
  • Trustly

Gambling responsibly in California

It’s essential to maintain healthy online gambling habits. If you or anyone you know is suffering from gambling addiction, you can contact the following resources for help. You can also check out our dedicated responsible gambling information page.

Problem Gambling Helpline - 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)

Office of Problem Gambling - provides valuable treatment and prevention programs in California

California Health and Human Services Agency - responsible for health and addiction services in the state

National Council on Problem Gambling California - offers additional resources and statistics relevant to California residents

Online casino California FAQs

Can I play at online casinos in California?

Yes, you can play at social and sweepstakes casinos in California. Real money sites are not yet legal, but you can play a range of casino games at any of the social sites highlighted on this page. As long as you are over the age of 18, you can play online slots and table games free of charge.

What types of online gambling are legal in California?

At the time of writing, the only forms of gambling available in California are land-based tribal casinos, pari-mutuel horse race wagering, the state lottery, Indian bingo halls, and charitable gaming (such as raffles). It is anticipated that sports betting will soon be available in the state, though whether this will involve either retail or mobile betting is yet to be decided.

Who regulates online gambling and casinos in California?

Land-based casino gambling is regulated by the individual tribe that operates the casino, but the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) ensures each tribe complies with the tribe-state compact. Meanwhile, the California Horse Racing Board regulates all pari-mutuel wagering, and the California Lottery Commission regulates the state lottery.

Can I legally play online poker within California?

Unfortunately, California online poker is not legal yet. However, many states are beginning to legalize online poker, so it’s possible to expect it to launch in California at some point. That being said, you can play free poker at social sites like the WSOP.

What’s the legal gambling age in California?

The legal gambling age in California is 18. While this does include land-based casinos, each tribe is at liberty to raise the minimum gambling age to whatever they see fit. The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, for example, raised the minimum age from 18 to 21 at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Palm Springs to match the legal drinking age.

Can I win real money at online casinos in California?

Yes, some sweepstakes casinos allow you to win real money prizes. Some online casinos use 'Sweepstakes' coins as a currency that can be redeemed for real money awards and prizes. This is the only way to claim a real money prize in California.

What is the number one online casino in California?

The number one California online casino is McLuck. Head to our shortlist above to find more online casinos in California.

Adam Ryan

Adam Ryan

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Senior Content Editor

A writer and editor with a penchant for games and strategy, Adam Ryan has been with the Casino.org team for eight years now. Having written for and edited numerous iGaming brands in his career, he’s something of a content sage when it comes to our iGaming copy in the US.