California: online casino, sweepstakes and sports betting law
Sweepstakes casinos are outlawed in California. Since 1 January 2026, Penal Code 337o has barred online sweepstakes games that run on two currencies and pay cash prizes, while free games with no cash prizes fall outside it. Real-money online casinos aren't available either, because the state constitution rules out Nevada-style casinos and keeps slots on tribal land. Bookmaking is a crime under Penal Code 337a and no law licenses sportsbooks, so there is no legal sports betting.
CAยทPage updated 19 Oct 2026
Real-money online casino
Not legal
Not legal. Article IV, Section 19(e) of the California Constitution bars the Legislature from allowing Nevada- or New Jersey-style casinos and requires it to outlaw them. Under Section 19(f), slot machines, lottery games, and banking and percentage card games may run only on tribal land, under compacts the Governor negotiates and the Legislature ratifies.
- California Constitution, Article IV, Section 19 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, primary source)
Last checked 19 Oct 2026
Sweepstakes casinos
Banned
Banned since 1 Jan 2026. AB 831 (Chapter 623, Statutes of 2025) added Penal Code 337o, which makes it a crime to run or provide online sweepstakes games that use two currencies and pays out cash or its equivalent. Banks, media affiliates, payment processors, content suppliers and platforms that knowingly help such a game also break the law. A violation is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of $1,000 to $25,000, up to a year in county jail, or both.
Effective 1 Jan 2026
- AB 831 bill text (leginfo; blocks automated fetch) (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, primary source)
Last checked 18 Oct 2026
Online sports betting
Not legal
Not legal. Under Penal Code 337a, bookmaking, pool selling and keeping a room or stand to take bets on contests are crimes, except as Section 336.9 allows. We found no California law that licenses sports betting, online or in person.
- California Penal Code 337a (pool selling, bookmaking and betting) (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, primary source)
- California Constitution, Article IV, Section 19 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, primary source)
Last checked 19 Oct 2026
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the sources and the state regulator before you play. You must be 21 or over to play real-money casino games. See our responsible gambling page.
New slots seen in California
No sightings logged for California. We track casino lobbies only in states where real-money online casino is live. See the new slots calendar for every release, or try the free demos.