Best California Online Casinos

There are many land-based gambling establishments in California, complemented with online gambling platforms available to residents of the state.

There is a lot to learn about operating in this complex landscape because new laws are constantly being passed, and the environment is constantly changing. But the fact remains that there are many gambling options to play real money games online if you know what to look for.

An Overview Of California’s Gambling Laws

Gambling laws in California are complicated, with both state and local regulations. But it is considered a criminal offense to engage in illegal gambling. Nevertheless, California’s code doesn’t specifically mention offshore online gambling, and there aren’t many regulations covering it in the state. As a result, several legal experts agree that citizens of California are free to play online games on offshore sites since there is no law directly prohibiting them from doing so.

In California, you will find gambling laws in the Penal Code 330 et seq., the Business and Professional Code 19400 et seq., and the Government Code 98001 et seq. Gambling is against the law for anyone under the age of 18. However, many casinos don’t accept anyone younger than 21 because alcohol can only be legally served to those aged 21 years old and over.

California was prohibited from banning gambling in tribal casinos by the United States Supreme Court in 1987. As a result, gambling became legal in California’s tribal casinos. Slots and other traditional games are exclusively available at these land-based venues.

The California Constitution, Article IV, Legislative, Section 19, prohibits most private lottery operations. In the Constitution, the language clarifies that card games and other casino games are not considered lotteries. It is the law in many states to consider lotteries to include card games and casino-type games, but not in California.

California Online Gambling

Online gambling sites such as sportsbooks, poker rooms, and other forms of online gambling sites registered within the state of California are illegal. However, you can gamble on offshore sites without restriction. If you want to gamble online with sites registered within CA, some options are available to you, such as betting on horse races, fantasy sports games, sweepstakes online casinos, and poker. Licensed land-based casinos are available in CA, and gambling there is legal.

California Online Casinos

As of yet, online casinos haven’t been legalized in California. However, there are still other options, including land-based, offshore, and social casinos. 

Offshore Licensed Casinos

When licensed by a legitimate gambling jurisdiction, offshore online casinos are legal. You can often find licenses at the bottom of the main page on a website; you can also find them in the terms and conditions or section of the customer service pages.

Major jurisdictions that license online casino sites include the Malta Gaming Authority, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Costa Rican Gaming Commission, and Curacao Gaming Control Board.

Social Casinos

A social casino game is a gambling-style game that is free to play and accessible through social networks. There are several distinct differences between social casino games and real-money gambling. In a social casino, players do not wager real money but instead play with virtual credits. They take advantage of social networking sites or interact with them. 

The outcomes are not always determined randomly but are rather determined by algorithmic designs that tend to increase player participation and satisfaction.You can play social casino games at home on a desktop or laptop or on the go on a smartphone or tablet.

The Land-Based Casinos

California is also one of the US leaders when it comes to land-based casinos. Regulations do limit some gaming options, but card rooms are permitted. A cardroom can offer table games like blackjack and poker.

The major difference between a card room and a casino is that the house doesn’t act as a bank, it’s the players who do that. The card room doesn’t have any stake in a game’s outcome by this method. There are about 66 card rooms in California, and the largest ones offer 300 tables or more.

The Best Online Casinos In California – What to Look For

When selecting the best online California casinos, you must consider many factors. The following section will outline some of the criteria you need to consider when choosing your online casino in California.

A Wide Selection Of Games

When looking at online casinos, the first thing to consider is the range of games. But it means more than just how many games they have; make sure they provide a wide selection of games, everything from slots to video poker, including blackjack and much more. A good online casino should offer a large selection of games for players to try out if they’re looking for the full casino experience.

Software

Your online gaming experience is greatly affected by the software behind it. Therefore, you need to find an online casino with reputable software. As a leading online casino software supplier, Real Time Gaming is among the best. The company is considered one of the top software providers in the online casino industry. Eight out of the top ten online casinos in California use the online casino games produced by this company. Several other renowned providers, such as Betsoft or Nucleus Gaming, Evolution Gaming, and NetEnt, are also very common in California casinos. 

Bet Limits

On most online casinos, you have a minimum and a maximum bet per round of play at a table or a single spin of the slot machine. Most online casinos in California have just a $1 minimum, however, the maximum varies from platform to platform. It can go as high as $5000. Online casinos with high roller tables may have higher betting limits. The minimum and maximum bets at these tables are usually higher because there are higher stakes overall.

Tables For VIPs

VIPs are entitled to the rewards programs based on customer loyalty.  VIP members enjoy exclusive promotions and high-stakes tables as well as special gifts.

Compatibility With Devices

The popularity of playing casino games on mobile devices is growing, and that is why most online casinos have released mobile applications for iOS and Android. The most popular casino apps usually provide you with the same selection of games as the casino’s desktop platform. But on a smaller screen, the experience might be different. Make sure the casino you choose offers mobile-friendly games and a smooth mobile app experience.

Security And Safety

Most top online casinos ensure their members have fair access to their sites. That is why they use random number generators (RNG), which are regulated and accredited by one of the major jurisdictions that license online casino sites. Annual audits are performed to ensure that all online games and offers are up to date. You can usually find this information in the Terms & Conditions of a site or by contacting customer service.

Furthermore, players must register to the site before they can play any games, and to register they will have to submit an ID and banking information. To ensure the security of this information, websites should employ encryption layers, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

Bonuses

When you are a new player at California casinos, you are usually offered a welcome bonus, along with ongoing promotions that ensure you’ll keep playing for as long as possible. You can earn a lot of money from these bonuses and promotions. Below, we’ll discuss welcome bonuses in more detail. So make sure when choosing the best California online casino, consider these bonuses.

Matching Deposit Bonuses

In California, deposit match bonuses are among the most common types of welcome bonus. You can expect the casino to match or even exceed your first deposit when you open an account.

Bonuses For Free Spins

Many online casinos also offer free spins on certain slot games. The idea of a free spin is similar to a free bet. They allow you to wager on all the lines available on the slot machine, hoping to win. The free spins no deposit bonus is available at several California casinos at no cost to you.

No Deposit Bonuses

These offers are yours just for signing up with an online casino. They are free of charge, no deposit necessary. Because you don’t have to spend any money to get these bonuses, they are truly risk-free. You can play the no deposit bonuses at the casinos, but you’re free to go elsewhere if you don’t want to stay with them.

Terms And Conditions For The Welcome Bonus

They can be attractive, but some conditions are associated with welcome bonuses. Before accepting any bonus offer, it is important to understand the terms. The wagering requirement is the most important condition to understand. The wagering requirement is often several times the bonus amounts for you to withdraw the bonus.

For example, the wagering requirement can be 35X. Therefore, if you deposit $1,000 and are given $2,600 as a bonus, you’ll need to wager $91,000 before you can withdraw the fund.

Remember that many bonuses have a time limit attached to them. Depending on the bonus, you may have to wager the entire bonus within 30 days or meet your wagering condition over six months. Pay close attention to the time limits associated with any bonus offer.

Payment Methods

Another key element to consider when deciding on the best online casino in California is the payment method. It is easy to overlook online casino payments when making a decision, but in reality, they are also very important. 

You have to deposit and withdraw money from the casino account, so you’ll need an efficient and reliable method to do that. We define a reliable casino payment method as one that is easy to use, fast, and secure. A payment mistake can negatively impact the whole gaming experience.

Most casinos take credit and debit cards as payment methods for deposit or withdrawal, including cryptocurrencies. Mostly Bitcoin, including Litecoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, etc.

Electronic wallets such as PayPal are another option for payment. Online gambling has become increasingly popular due to its popularity,  or as they are sometimes referred to as digital wallets. A major reason for its popularity is that its advantages greatly exceed its disadvantages. eWallets store information such as credit card numbers and bank account numbers securely for use in an online service. Before you use your e-wallet to play at your favorite online casino, you load money into it through a bank transfer or credit card.

Make sure to check payment times, as well. In most cases, casinos will payout in just a few business days after you request a withdrawal. However, some online casinos may take as long as two weeks. There are a number of fast withdrawal casinos that promise you the quickest possible payouts on your winnings.

Conclusion

In California, online gambling has not yet been opened up to all operators. There are, however, a few other options to consider, which include offshore casinos and social casinos. Online casinos are still available to players. You can register and make deposits. The problem is wagering on online casinos registered within the state lines of California is illegal and may result in penalties.

California is where players and gamblers can find the most favorable conditions. It is estimated that residents of California are spending $400 million on offshore online casinos and sportsbooks each year. A significant portion of the US gambling market, even though the state does not regulate online gambling.