Is gambling allowed in California?

California had a real opportunity to make progress on sports betting. In 2022, the November ballot included two proposals, Proposition 26 and Proposition 27. Both aimed to kickstart regulated sports gambling in the state, but neither secured enough support to advance the issue. This was the closest California has come in recent years to establishing a unified sports gambling framework. In 2025, DraftKings and FanDuel tried to revive the issue, proposing to work with tribal operators and arguing that regulated sports betting could ensure guaranteed minimum annual payments to each of the state’s 109 federally recognized tribes. This essentially summarizes the situation regarding sports gambling in California, with no efforts expected in 2026 to change the status quo. Tribes have a significant interest in maintaining the status quo, as they exclusively operate land-based casinos. Any potential sports betting legislation would require their approval before proceeding. Given the number of tribes, it is unlikely they would agree to a model allowing DraftKings and FanDuel to enter the state and partner with individual tribes.

California has not warmed up to iGaming, and there's no sign that this will change anytime soon. The state remains skeptical of regulated online gambling involving games of chance. Given the significant influence of tribal casinos, it's unlikely that California will alter its regulatory stance on iGaming in the near future. While sports betting seems poised to become a reality in California, with a target set for the November 2028 ballot, online casinos appear unlikely to gain traction. Tribal casinos not only provide substantial revenue for their communities and the state economy, but also support 184,701 jobs statewide, contributing an estimated $34.6 billion annually to California's economic impact, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA).

While major activities like iGaming and sports betting are prohibited in California, there are still plenty of gambling opportunities to explore. Residents can enjoy a range of options, including daily fantasy sports, horse racing betting, the California Lottery, and prediction markets. The state recently banned online sweepstakes casinos, arguing that these platforms exploited mock currency to bypass gambling laws and offer real-money casino experiences. In 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 831 into law, effectively prohibiting sweepstakes-style gambling. Additionally, cardrooms have faced scrutiny. On June 30, Judge Richard Darwin overturned new regulations proposed by the California Bureau of Gambling Control, which aimed to heavily restrict player-banked blackjack-style games in cardrooms. This decision followed a preliminary injunction issued on May 21, 2026, after a complaint by the California Gaming Association, California Cardroom Alliance, and Communities for California Cardrooms. Cardrooms remain a contentious issue, with tribes openly opposing them and pushing for legal changes to shut down the sector entirely.

Certainly, you can play poker for real money in California. You have two options to do so. First, you can visit a tribal casino with a cardroom where you can enjoy popular games like Omaha and Texas Hold’em. Alternatively, you could explore one of the approximately 88 cardrooms across the state that operate on a player-based model. Poker is a beloved pastime in the Golden State, and the state could see significant benefits from legalizing online poker.

Prediction markets aren't currently facing opposition in California, and the state appears to support the notion that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission should regulate the sector. Still, as more states question the legality of sports event contracts—criticized for resembling traditional sports betting—California might reconsider its stance. For now, though, the state has shown no signs of intervening in this area.

California's gambling industry ranks among the largest in the nation, supporting a vast network of tribal casinos. Even though sports betting is largely bypassed, these tribal operations have significant economic impact across the state, providing over 184,000 jobs. While gambling laws in California are relatively restrictive, they still permit a variety of regulated activities like the lottery, land-based casinos, and a form of sports betting through prediction markets. However, the gambling scene in California is set to evolve in the coming years.