California Gambling
FAQ / Q&A -- History -- Regulation -- Land Based Casinos -- Fun Facts
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California Online Casinos & Real Money Slots
Regulation and legality of online gambling
Online gambling options in California are many, no thanks to a regulated market. This area is yet to be regulated in the Golden State and the only way for players to safely engage in gambling activities online is to at play at sites that are hosted by offshore operators. California patrons can hope to win big from the comfort of their own homes by wagering at sites that accept American bettors but are not hosted on US soil.
In recent years, Californian gamblers have begun to explore online gambling and come to realize that in the US market it is somewhat of a grey area. Much like in most other states, it is illegal to start an online gaming business and there isn’t a single local gaming site to be found. However, it is not illegal to gamble online as long as you turn to foreign websites that cater to American players.
There have been numerous attempts to regulate online gambling in California; some were aiming to outlaw online gambling, while others were trying to regulate and control the activities somehow. None have been successful, so far. The state has shown a willingness to embrace daily fantasy sports and legitimize these activities, which may be seen as a step towards the right direction - towards regulating online gaming and gambling.
California has legalized many forms of land-based gambling yet its online counterpart still remains unregulated. Since no Californian laws directly address online gambling, you can’t break the law by placing real money bets via the internet - especially if playing at sites hosted by offshore operators. At the same time, betting in an unregulated market may be risky since players aren’t protected by the local authorities.
Online Casino History
Gambling in the State of California is much more than Las Vegas-style reservation casinos, which often come to mind first when the subject is mentioned.
Horses, lottery, card clubs and poker rooms were the first forms of gambling that found a home in California even before its establishment as a state. Poker was played in saloons and was one of the main attractions and entertainment forms in 1850, the year when California became one of the US states.
Very early on, Californian legislators wrote into the brand-new state constitution that poker was a game of skill and not a game of chance. Making such a distinction official made it easy to avoid prohibition and affect all future gambling laws across the country.
Betting on horse races was unregulated until 1933, when the state legalized it with a constitutional amendment. A voter referendum was held which legalized horse race wagering, and that resulted in racing meets being held all year long at five tracks now.
Popular vote also helped create the California State Lottery in 1984, which today includes both scratchers and drawing tickets for progressive jackpots. However, if you’re interested in proper gambling in the Golden State people will probably refer you to any of the several dozen Native American casinos in the state.
The voters of California passed Proposition 1A, an amendment to the constitution, in 2000, which permitted casino-style gaming on Indian land. Ever since, the number of Native American casinos has been growing.
Land based casinos
There are two options when it comes to land-based casino entertainment in California: card rooms and Indian gaming facilities. Card rooms in California mostly focus on poker games, offering Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo Split, No Limit Texas Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, 7 Card Stud, Texas Hold'em, Mexican Poker, Omaha 8 or Better, Pot Limit Omaha Hi, 5 Card Poker, Razz, 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo, Low Ball, Pai Gow Poker, Pineapple Poker, and more.
There are over 90 licensed card rooms in the Golden State. Other than poker tables, they may offer blackjack games and other player-banked games. With player banking, the house does not pay or take the player’s bet. Instead, the house charges a service fee which ranges from $0.50 to $5 per hand, and the players play against each other.
As for Native American casino establishments, they offer slot machines and a wider variety of legalized gaming items, including poker, bingo, blackjack and, occasionally, off track betting.
The tribes negotiated individual licenses called compacts with the state after the Proposition 1A was passed in 2000. These compacts include all sorts of terms and regulations, such as tax-related details, money sharing conditions and so on. They also specify whether the given casino is allowed to offer Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 gaming machines.
There are over 60 Native American casino facilities offering card games, slot machines, and bingo, as well as their own special versions of craps and roulette which are otherwise illegal for being played with a ball and dice. Some of the more notable casino venues are San Manuel Casino with 4,700 gaming machines and 125 tables and Thunder Valley Station Casino with over 3,000 gaming machines and more than a hundred table games.
Neighbouring States: Arizona, Nevada, Oregon
How old do I need to be to play at Californian online casinos?
In absence of laws that regulate online gambling in California, you may want to adhere to the general minimum age requirement of 18 which applies to brick-and-mortar casinos that don’t serve alcohol. You’ll also find that each gaming site has Terms & Conditions in which they specify how old a customer needs to be in order to use their services.
Do Californian casinos offer live dealer games?
The legal gambling age varies across the US and most states set it at either 18 or 21. It may also differ depending on the type of bets. However, online casinos also stipulate the minimum age of players that will be allowed to register and place real money bets so it’s best to check their T&C.
Which payment methods are accepted at Californian gaming sites?
Credit cards are one of the best options for US players in general due to a wide acceptance rate and eWallets are an excellent alternative owing to speed. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are an increasingly popular option since they facilitate super-fast transfers but they’re not as widespread. Californian online casinos also support Bank Wire and Cheque though these transactions take a bit longer to get processed.
How fast will I get paid if I win at a Californian online casino?
The speed of withdrawals depends on the chosen payment option as well as the pending period which varies from one casino to another. US-friendly gaming sites often take their time processing payout requests so you may have to wait up to 3 days (sometimes more) before the payment is released. If using eWallets or cryptocurrencies, funds should arrive the same day.
• California is the birthplace of McDonald’s. The first restaurant opened in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. McDonald's is now the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants.
• California got its name from a popular Spanish novel, “Las sergas de Esplandián”, which was published in the early 16th century. The novel described a mythical island inhabited by Amazon warrior women and ruled by Queen Calafia. It was called California. When early Spanish explorers discovered the area, they thought it to be the island from the novel, thus named it California.
• Things invented in California include Barbie dolls, Apple computers, blue jeans, video arcade games and skateboards.
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