Best California Online Poker Sites
Updated: 2025
California is known for having one of the largest casino industries in the country. There are a huge number of land-based casinos offering poker rooms and games. In recent years, more residents in CA have been looking at ways to play real money poker online. Today, our team of gambling experts is going to explain how you can find the best real money California poker sites currently operating.
Don’t want to read all about this? No problem. Here are some of the top poker sites in California that are up and running at the moment. Look at them right now and see what you can find!
| Rank | Gambling Site | Deposit Bonus | Get Started | |
| #1 |
|
250% Up To 6,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #2 |
|
VIP Program + 250 free spins | Visit Site | |
| #3 |
|
250% Up To 5,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #4 |
|
225% Up To 8,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #5 |
|
100% Up To 3,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #6 |
|
200% Up To 5,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #7 |
|
100% Up To 3,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #8 |
|
60% Up To 1,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #9 |
|
240% Up To 2,500 USD | Visit Site | |
| #10 |
|
100% Up To 1,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #11 |
|
200% Up To 5,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #12 |
|
280% Up To 14,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #13 |
|
100% Up To 500 USD | Visit Site | |
| #14 |
|
100% Up To 1,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #15 |
|
100% Up To 8,000 USD | Visit Site | |
As many of you already know, there are a lot of great poker sites available in California right now. Some of you may have a hard time deciding which one to join. We're here to help by giving you a few steps to help you find a safe and fun poker site.
It can be a little difficult to find information about the legality of these sites. Later on in this page, we'll dive into the legal situation surrounding online poker play in California.
There are some great ways to play poker in California. That includes online poker options!
Here’s How to Find Great California Poker Sites
As we've said before, California is home to a huge number of great poker sites. In fact, most of the ones operating here today are safe. But unfortunately, some have gained a reputation for being a little shady.
It's important to be able to tell the difference. There are a few features that only the best California poker sites offer. Below are some steps you can take to make sure the site you join is safe.
Compare Reviews From Trusted Sources
One of the best ways to learn about CA poker sites is to read in-depth reviews about them. There are reviews for just about every single online poker site. A good review will tell you about a site's payment options and available games.
You can check out our gambling site reviews page today. We'll be the first to let you know if a site is worth playing through or not. It's always a good idea to read up on these California poker sites before you decide to join them.
Spend Time Looking at Different Payment Systems
Nothing is more important than your safety when gambling on the Internet. It's very important to only play at sites that protect your money. Make sure you spend some time looking at the payment options available at a few different poker sites in California.
The best poker sites allow deposits using debit and credit cards. In general, online poker sites only allow withdrawals using Bitcoin. The most important thing is to find sites that will always allow you to collect your winnings.
Make Sure the Games You Want to Play Are Available
As most players know, there are many different forms of poker. Some people like one type of poker and others like another. All of the California poker sites are known for offering different ways to play poker.
This may seem obvious, but you should always make sure that the site you are interested in playing at offers the poker games you want to play. This should be easy to find out. Most Internet poker sites list their games directly on the site's homepage.
Look for Promotions and Bonuses
Promotions have helped many California poker sites grow over the years. Essentially, these are online casino bonuses that help add money to your account. We think it's a good idea to check out all the different promotions offered by different sites.
Some of these can seriously increase the amount of money you have to play with. Others can actually make it harder to collect your winnings. Spend a few minutes looking at the promotions that various California real money poker sites are offering right now.
Why Poker Sites in California Are Becoming More Popular
It's become very clear that the online gambling industry is growing rapidly every year. More and more people are realizing how fun and easy it is to gamble online. This is especially true for online poker games.
There was a time when poker games could be played freely online. Eventually, the government passed laws that made it difficult for poker sites to operate in the country. Despite this, the industry continues to grow every month.
One of the main reasons people play poker online is the convenience that these sites offer. There are a huge number of land based casinos that have poker rooms in CA. Not everyone wants to make the drive to one of these places just to place a few bets.
California poker sites allow you to play from anywhere in the state with an Internet connection. Most also offer robust mobile gaming platforms that allow you to play using a phone. The convenience of these sites is attractive to players throughout the state.
The sheer number of poker games has also contributed to the rapid growth of this industry. Many who are new to this form of gambling are amazed to see how many different games are available online. Some California poker sites are known for offering more games than others.
There are a number of different reasons why online poker is becoming increasingly popular. It's a fun option, and more and more people are starting to see the value in it. Check out some of the sites we recommend at the top of this page and see for yourself why the industry is booming right now.
List of Land-Based Real Money Poker Rooms in California
California, like many other states in the country, allows Native American casinos to operate. Today, there are a large number of these in the state, most of which offer real money poker games. Below are the names and locations of the top 10 land-based poker rooms in the state of California.
- Viejas Casino Resort: Alpine
- Pala Casino Resort and Spa: Pala
- Win-River Resort and Casino: Redding
- Pechanga Resort and Casino: Temecula
- Cache Creek Casino Resort: Brooks
- San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino: Highland
- Thunder Valley Casino: Lincoln
- Morongo Casino Resort and Spa: Cabazon
- Red Hawk Casino: Placerville
- Barona Resort and Casino: Lakeside
All of the above poker rooms are fantastic. They all offer great poker play options and some host tournaments for hefty jackpot prizes. If you're in one of the cities above, be sure to check out the local casino!
Legality of Poker Sites in California
California is known as a liberal state. In many ways, this liberal attitude is applied to the gaming industry. There are many real money casinos throughout the state of California, most of which contribute valuable revenue to the local economy.
The laws regarding real money online poker sites in California are a bit ambiguous. That's a shame, because there have been several attempts to start regulating the state's Internet poker industry. Unfortunately, none of them have made it through the House and Senate.
Currently, there are no state laws that specifically prohibit online poker play in California. However, there are laws that prohibit residents of the state from operating poker sites. For this reason, all of the poker sites here are based in other countries.
SB 678, a bill introduced in California in 2013, would have officially legalized and regulated online poker. It was ultimately killed due to lobbying from the state's Native American tribes, who feared that these sites would take away from their revenue.
The main point to keep in mind is that there are no laws in the state that even mention online gambling. And because of the lack of specific legislation, most believe it's allowed.
Will I Get in Trouble for Playing at Poker Sites in California?
It's highly unlikely. California is a gambling friendly state and there are no laws that prohibit you from playing at California poker sites. As long as you don't operate your own poker site here, you'll probably be fine.
Here’s How to Stay Safe Playing at California Online Poker Sites
The US online poker industry is relatively new. These poker sites have only been operating for a couple of decades and many are just beginning to understand how the industry works. For this reason, some have concerns about security when they first start playing online poker.
The great thing is that almost all online poker sites in California are completely safe. Those that aren't are usually blacklisted. Below are just a few simple tips to help ensure that your online poker experience is nothing but fun.
Make Sure to Join a Reputable Poker Site
As long as you do this, there's a very good chance you'll never have any problems. However, joining a bad site can be disastrous. Always research the California real money poker sites you're interested in before you decide to join.
Don’t Get Carried Away With Your Betting
Sometimes gamblers are their own worst enemies. It can be easy to bet too much too fast, and many end up losing more money than they bargained for. We recommend that you keep track of how much you are betting and make sure that you are managing your poker bankroll properly. If you find that things are getting out of hand, take a break.
Utilize Customer Support When Necessary
Our team believes that a good customer support system is one of the most important features of a gaming site. With that in mind, you should always use this feature if you have a problem. The best California poker sites are always available to answer your questions.
Understand How All Promotions Work
Promotions are a great way to increase the amount of money you have to play with. However, sometimes they can make it very difficult to collect your money. It's very important that you understand how all promotions work before you use them. If you don't, you may end up with some trouble.
Stick to the Games That You Understand
One of the best ways to avoid losing large amounts of money is to play games you actually understand. As most people already know, there are a huge number of different variations of poker available today. Only playing the games you understand will improve your chances of winning.
If you keep these five tips in mind, there's a good chance you'll never run into any problems while playing at poker sites in California.
FAQ About Online Poker Gambling in California
Will Lawmakers Ever Choose to Regulate CA Online Poker Sites?
It's unclear. Over the past decade, many different bills have been introduced to legalize and regulate Internet poker. None have been passed. It seems likely that this will change in the next few years.
How Much Real Money Can I Win Playing at Poker Sites in California?
It all depends on you and your playing style. Some people are able to win huge amounts of money every month. Your chances of winning will increase if you play the games you know and understand.
What Are the Best Online Poker Sites in California?
Many seem to have their own opinions on this. For now, our team highly recommends both Bovada and Ignition Poker. These sites are secure and offer some great poker games for all of their members.
Is Online Poker Easier Than Land-Based Poker Gambling?
It's hard to say. Some pros claim that it's a different experience because you can't read the players in person. In reality, however, the odds are exactly the same. In terms of convenience, online poker sites are much easier.
Why Should I Play at California Poker Sites?
The choice to play online poker for money in California is always yours! If you like to play poker, but don't like to make the trip to a local land-based casino, these poker sites are probably the best option for you. Check out a few of them and you'll see why they're so popular.
Conclusion on Real Money California Poker Sites
California is a great state to be a poker fan in. Right now there are a huge number of fantastic online poker play options available here. In time, these sites may be regulated and taxed by the state.
Laws affecting the online poker industry can change very quickly. Feel free to follow our gambling news page for updates on the legal situation as it changes. We'll let you know when state regulations regarding online poker rooms are updated.
Feel free to contact our team with any additional questions. Good luck with your real money poker bets!
