Where Can California Play Online Poker

In the competitive world of professional poker, the player with the most experience often takes home the most money, and California online poker is no exception. California is home to 5 of the top 20 earners in professional poker currently and players like these have often accredited most of their experience to playing online poker on licensed offshore sites while from their home state of California.
The minimum age to play online Internet poker in the state of California would be 21. Players must be located within the State of California in order to start gambling on real money poker websites. Betting companies that violate federal law would not be permitted to set up poker gambling and casino operations.
California Online Poker Laws. California has a long list of laws that relate to gambling, but none specifically mention online gambling. Certainly there are many places where it is definitely legal to play live games of poker in California. The state regulates dozens of card rooms, and many tribal casinos in California also host live poker games.
May 18, 2019 Here’s the latest on California online poker. Sweepstakes Online Poker Offered in California. You can play online poker in California and win real cash prizes via Global Poker’s online poker site.

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This is a guide for online poker players in the America who want to know where they can play online poker and when they might be able to play in their home states. For states where online poker is legal, this is a guide for US online poker room reviews, poker sites available in your area, deposit bonuses, and online poker announcements.

With that said, online poker happens to be pretty popular as well, thanks to the fact that there are a number of sites that California residents can visit. These sites operate around the world, and Californians can play without the fear of breaking the law.

US online poker laws seem to be changing monthly since government attorneys announced that the Wire Act cannot be used to prohibit states from allowing online poker. Online poker rooms and online gambling sites are clamoring for state licenses, and the US online gambling landscape is going through a major change.

For a select few Americans, online poker is here already. Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware are leading the United States into the billion-dollar-a-year industry, and many more states are looking to get into the game in the very near future.

By the end of 2015, as many as a dozen states could allow their residents to play on legal online poker sites. That number may be higher if a federal bill, the Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013, is approved in 2014. But since the odds of that happening are less than hitting a one-outer on the river, all the online poker news concerning legislation is coming from individual states.

American online poker laws are about to go through drastic revision, and US online poker sites will pop up as the laws change. Laws are changing fast, and this guide promises to remain up to date on all possible movements concerning online poker legislation.

A brief overview of each state’s stance on online poker is below, but click through for a full update on the state’s online poker laws, and gambling laws in the state in general.

Alabama

Alabama doesn’t even have a state lottery. It’s home to some of the most morally strict policymakers in the country, so poker is not coming anytime soon. Read more ..

Alaska

Online poker legislation remains frigid in the great white north, but the game has a few fans who are elected officials, and although lawmakers resisted expanding almost any type of gambling in here, online poker has a chance. Read more ..

Arizona

Despite a thriving Indian casino industry — or more like because of it — lawmakers are being cautious with online poker. Also, the governor is a tough opponent of any type of gambling expansion, poker included. Read more ..

Arkansas

Online poker legislation may be far off, but unlike some of its neighboring states, online poker may come to Arkansas with a federal push. Read more ..

California

Online poker will come to California maybe as soon as 2014. A crowded industry split into three factions may delay action on online poker bills already submitted. Read more ..

Colorado

With a steady and strong push from its significant casino industry, online poker legislation is most likely forthcoming in Colorado sometime in 2015. The state is already studying the effects online poker would have. Read more ..

Connecticut

As its neighboring states start to allow their residents access to online poker sites, look for Connecticut to follow suit. As such a small state, it’s a prime candidate to contract with other states for shared player pools. Read more ..

Delaware

As of October 2013, online poker is completely legal, regulated, and live in Delaware. Read more ..

Florida

Two powerful casino forces — the racinos and Indian tribes — face off against a conservative state government intent on preventing gambling expansion. The governor has won the first round. Read more ..

Georgia

The official view toward poker here is as rigid as a Georgia pine. Poker is gambling, and gambling is bad in Georgia. Read more ..

Hawaii

Although one of the few states without any form of legalized gambling, Hawaii is rumored to be looking to get into the online-poker game. Read more ..

Idaho

Completely in the middle ground, there is no pending online poker legislation in Idaho. A grassroots effort would help here. Read more ..

Illinois

Turning stone casino oneida new york. Online poker is being talked about by state officials. look for an online poker bill sometime in 2015. Read more ..

Indiana

With a conservative governor and minor casino industry, it’s going to take a political campaign by its online poker players to move online poker forward. Read more ..

Iowa

Since 2011, certain lawmakers have pushed for online poker legalization. Now with states going live, watch for Iowa to join the game in 2014 or 2015. Read more ..

Kansas

A significant political shift is necessary for online poker to even be considered in the Sunflower State. Read more ..

Kentucky

Now that the powerful horseracing industry has wedged itself into the multi-state casino industry, watch for online poker legislation to move fast once more states go live. Read more ..

Louisiana

An online poker debate should come to Louisiana in 2014, with significant movement in 2015. Online poker does face some opposition here. Read more ..

Maine

Brand new to the casino game, and with such a pretty face, Maine would make a lovely interstate online poker partner. However, it remains a wallflower. Read more ..

Maryland

With a healthy paranoia that it is missing out on the online poker industry, lawmakers began to push for it in 2013. Look for another push in 2014 and beyond. Read more ..

Massachusetts

Cautiously optimistic is how online poker players in Beantown should feel. Online poker won’t come there as quickly as it should, but it’s likely coming at some point. Read more ..

Michigan

A large casino industry will fuel the push toward online poker. State lawmakers seem to be wary, though. Read more ..

Minnesota

With a strong casino industry, it would seem Minnesota would be further along with online poker legalization than it is. It may catch up soon. Read more ..

Mississippi

An online-gambling bill failed to make it out of committee in 2013, but a multi-billion dollar casino industry will have a say. Read more ..

Missouri

Another state with a significant casino industry, but with no real movement toward online poker or gambling legalization. It will join the game sooner rather than later. Read more ..

Montana

Poker is considered gambling here, and online gambling was outlawed in the state in 2005. With no pending legislation, it may be awhile. Read more ..

Nebraska

Poker-playing multi-billionaire hedge-fund manager Warren Buffett lives here and he hates the thought of online gambling. Poker is sadly included in his categorization. Read more ..

Nevada

Online poker is legal in Nevada, and several rooms are live for real-money play. Read more ..

New Hampshire

For such a small state, New Hampshire has more online poker players per capita than anyone else. Still, there’s no pending legislation. Read more ..

New Jersey

Online poker and gambling is legal in New Jersey. Online poker will be available in November 2013. Read more ..

New Mexico

New Mexico's 20 Indian casinos will have a say in the legislation of online poker here. Tribes have threatened to stop payments to the state if it legalizes online gambling. Read more ..

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New York

New York may very well be the fourth state to legalize online poker in 2014. It has the support of the governor, as well as many lawmakers. Read more ..

North Carolina

No real online poker push is coming from North Carolina. Check back once other states start to go live. Read more ..

North Dakota

This was once the first state to try to legalize online poker in 2005; the feds put an end to that. Online poker legalization is on the backburner. Read more ..

Ohio

A state late to the casino game, online poker legalization has a real chance in 2015 or 2016, particularly if Pennsylvania beats Ohio to the market. Read more ..

Oklahoma

This state allows tribes to operate online poker rooms, with one major caveat: They can only do business with people living in other countries. What a rub. Oklahomans will have online poker sooner rather than later. Read more ..

Oregon

Once California begins to offer online poker, watch for Oregon’s Indian casinos to begin applying pressure to lawmakers. They have shown to be a savvy lobbying group. Read more ..

Pennsylvania

With one scrapped bill that would have legalized online poker and gambling, be sure another will come in 2014. Although facing resistance in committee, online poker should be here by 2016. Read more ..

Rhode Island

A prime candidate to partner with Delaware. Industry insiders say a contract is in the works. Read more ..

South Carolina

The online-poker industry faces major resistance here. Any talks of gambling expansion are immediately quashed. Read more ..

South Dakota

Online poker isn’t on the lips of any lawmakers here. But with a strong Indian casino industry, look for that to change in 2014. Read more ..

Tennessee

A strong religious base makes it difficult to move online poker legislation anywhere. Like, harder than shoving a mule through keyhole. Read more ..

Texas

Home of the congressman behind the Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013, several bills that affect poker, online and otherwise, currently reside in committees. Texas looks like it wants to finally acknowledge the game. Read more ..

Utah

Online poker players in Utah at least have Nevada just over the border. Other than that, Utah is a desert for online poker players. Read more ..

Vermont

The tiny state may be game to contract with Delaware, New Jersey, and/or Nevada and allow its residents access to online poker sites. Once more states allow online poker, watch for Vermont to follow. Read more ..

Virginia

Online poker players must hope for political change statewide in order to eventually access online poker sites. It has a law on the books that outlaws Internet gambling. Read more ..

Washington, D.C.

Online poker was set to come to its citizens in 2013, but politics played its part and it was delayed. Online poker will definitely come to D.C. eventually. Read more ..

Washington

The only state that criminalizes the online poker player, a grassroots movement stemming from that law is growing. Plus, Indian casinos are now in favor of legalization. Read more ..

West Virginia

State officials are most likely looking to contract with other states, probably Delaware. It may happen as soon as 2014. Read more ..

Wisconsin

The Indian casinos have yet to show their hand as to where they stand on online poker. There is no legislative chatter concerning online poker rooms. Read more ..

Wyoming

Lawmakers here are resistant to any form or gambling expansion, including online poker. If recent history is correct, online poker has a tough fight here. Read more ..

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A real-money online poker site for Californians “will be flipping the switch on for real money sometime between the 26th and 28th,” according to Santa Ysabel Gaming Commission Chairman Dave Vialpando.

Vialpando told Card Player that the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel’s free-play online poker product will have real-money offerings for those who are residents of California and 18 years of age or older. You must also be physically within the borders of the Golden State to play.

The tribe’s intentions were announced last month, though it wasn’t exactly clear about a launch date.

Card Player had the chance to ask Vialpando about the tribe’s bold move into the online space despite California not having legalized online poker.

Brian Pempus: Can you talk about the process of deciding to go through with this despite no online poker bill in California passing yet?

Dave Vialpando: Yeah, there is none that will be passing. I actually read a statement from [Assemblyman] Jones-Sawyer that they will be re-introducing a bill for California in December. It doesn’t really affect our plans. Our authority to offer class II gaming from our reservation is not prohibited by any statute. In fact, we believe it is covered by IGRA. We have been fully cooperative with all the government agencies that have asked us questions, in fact with anyone who has asked us questions. Most of our regulations are public documents, so it’s pretty much full disclosure for us. We did form an alliance with the California Council on Problem Gambling and we have just put the finishing touches on what we think is a model responsible gambling program for internet gaming providers. We will be rolling that out shortly. We are moving full speed ahead.

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BP: Why didn’t other tribes in California try this before? Why do you think you are the first?

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DV: Well, I wouldn’t even try to speak for other tribes, but what I have heard is that some tribes are reluctant to do online gaming not because they fear the government but because they worry about the adverse effect it could have on their brick-and-mortar enterprises. So folks, some of the smaller tribes, are perfectly satisfied with the revenues being generated from their land-based casinos, and they have no intention to enter online gaming. They don’t see it as a viable business opportunity for their particular tribe. Of course there are the tribes that would just defer to the state to come up with the regulatory framework and structure. It has taken us more than two years of planning. As the Chairman of the Santa Ysabel Gaming Commission my concern is to cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s on the regulatory side. It has been very labor intensive. Some tribes will want the state to create that framework and then they will fill in the blanks for their particular property. There are several reasons tribes have decided not to enter online gaming at this time.

BP: What exactly will be available for players at the real-money launch?

DV: It is an operation question. We have limited offerings right now because we want to make sure everything checks out reliability wise from beta testing. It will be a slow roll-out. We will be adding new features and tournaments, and promotions as we move down the road and gain experience. The product we have right now is absolutely solid. We are very confident with it. As soon as we develop that customer loyalty we are going to be looking to expand—all within the confines of what is permitted by law. We have no intention, in fact it is stated on the Gaming Commission website, of offering any class III gaming. So, we won’t have any slots or house-banked games. Nothing like that, if until the state of California licenses those kinds of games. We are actually for state [legalization of online poker]. After two years of developing our enterprise, we have some knowledge to share with the state. One of the reasons we built the responsible gambling program that we did was to offer that to the state if and when it legalizes online gaming. It could be a model adopted by others. To answer your question directly: What you see now in the free-play version is what you will see when we flip the switch on for real-money. It will only be available to California residents, who are 18 years or older, and who are located within California [at the time of play].

BP: Are there plans to eventually offer games to people in other countries?

DV: Anything is possible within the confines of what is permitted by law and what the tribe decides is a smart business decision. Our immediate plans right now are to do the best we can in the enterprise that we spent the last two years developing…I would imagine the federal government would have something to say about [this] if the activity expanded beyond the bounds of the state.

BP: Do you anticipate other tribes in California, or across the U.S., following you into the real-money online poker business?