California Gambling Laws

Last updated 11/18/2019

Gambling, whether it's horse-racing or slot machines, is regulated at the state level. In California, some -- but not all -- types of gambling are illegal. More specifically, dealing, playing, or conducting the following games is illegal:

• Faro;
• Monte;
• Roulette;
• Lansquenet;
• Rouge et noire;
• Rondo;
• Tan;
• Fan-tan;
• Seven-and-a-half;
• Twenty-one;
• Hokey-pokey; or
• Banking or percentage games played with cards or dice.

California law generally recognizes the following forms of gaming: Indian casinos, cardclubs, pari-mutuel horse wagering, charitable gaming, and the state lottery.

1. Indian Casinos - Casinos fashioned after Las Vegas casinos, or “Vegas-Style Casinos,” usually refer to casinos with banked games (poker, blackjack), bingo, and slot machines. These types of casinos are restricted to Tribal Casinos located on Indian Land.
2. Cardclubs - Cardclubs, though many call themselves “casinos,” differ from Vegas-style casinos because they make money by charging players a fee to play. Essentially, at cardclubs players are betting against one another instead of against the “house.”
3. Parimutuel Horse Wagering - Parimutuel betting, or “mutual betting,” refers to a form gambling in which players’ bets are pooled so that they are playing against one another instead of against the “house.” Once taxes and management fees are deducted, the pool is divided amongst the winners. In California, parimutuel betting is only allowed in the context of horse racing.
4. Charitable Gambling - In California, legal charitable gambling refers to games of bingo in which the proceeds go to a charity. Oftentimes the games are hosted by the charities themselves. Note that bingo is the only game permitted.
5. State Lottery - The state of California manages the California lottery and provides various games including Mega Millions and SuperLotto Plus.

The following table highlights some of the essential California laws related to gambling.

Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact a California criminal attorney or gaming attorney, or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

More Information

For more detailed information on gambling in California, you may want to take a look at the California State Library’s report on gambling. For a more general overview of gambling, check out FindLaw’s Details on State Gambling Laws article. If you find you are in need of legal representation for a gambling-related matter, you may want to consider retaining a California gaming lawyer.

Talk to a California Attorney to Discuss Your Gambling Laws Questions

The gambling laws in California can be confusing. If you're concerned about whether your gambling activity is legal, then you should talk to an experienced gaming attorney in California, who can clarify what activities are prohibited.