While the state legislature has not formally legalized online poker in California, bettors continue to wager with offshore operators. Offshore brands aren’t prohibited in CA, and there’s a huge range of licensed sites that you can access.
But what are the best poker sites in California? Our poker experts have analyzed your options and made some recommendations, based on factors such as welcome offers, tournament availability, and rakeback.
List of the Best Online Poker Sites in California
We’ll explore each of the leading California poker sites in depth later. However, let’s start with a brief look at California’s top online poker sites.
Brand | Key Feature |
---|---|
CoinPoker | CA’s Best Online Poker Site with 33% Rakeback |
BetOnline | Tournament Money Builders Create Low Buy-ins for Players |
Bovada | Compete for Weekly Prizes Totaling $2 million |
Ignition | A $3,000 Welcome Bonus for Crypto Users |
ACR | Offers Flexible Rakeback and On-Demand Tournaments |
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Popular
- Freerolls
- Satellites
- Rakeback
- Mobile app
- Anonymous tables
- High traffic
100% match deposit bonus of up to $1,000
Is Online Poker Legal in California?
The technical answer is, no. However, while the state has yet to legalize the practice or create a regulated marketplace formally, no laws prohibit you from frequenting offshore sites to play online poker.
So, as a CA resident, you can safely start playing online poker at any of the sites listed above. These operators are all fully licensed by trusted offshore regulators, such as Curaçao eGaming or the Panama Gaming Authority. When choosing your preferred offshore site, you should always ensure that it holds a reputable license.
Regulations and Laws for Poker in California
While there was a rush to legalize online poker in CA between 2015 and 2017, enthusiasm has waned. This has much to do with the unresolved conflicts involving tribal casinos, revenue-sharing rules, and the different card rooms involved in online poker legislation talks.
Some online poker bills also include a so-called and disputed “bad actor” clause. This would prohibit sites like PokerStars from receiving a license following the fallout from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.
Currently, there are no formal plans to legalize poker in California. The state has yet to legalize sports betting and online gambling, so legal online poker in California may have to wait. But here’s a look at a few previous bills that were considered despite their failure to move the needle.
When Will California Regulate Online Poker?
After bill AB 1677 failed to gather momentum, no further legislative attempts were made. The appetite for California online poker has certainly dwindled in recent years, while the most recent legislative session in CA passed without any further bills being proposed.
The deep divide between PokerStars and the Pechanga coalitions remains more problematic than ever. This will have to be bridged if there is any chance of online poker being legalized in CA in the future, with the legislative session in 2025 not expected to see any major moves.
Top 5 CA Online Poker Sites Reviewed
We will now delve a little deeper into the best online poker sites in California. While California’s legislation continues to battle for state-regulated online poker, we recommend a few offshore poker sites for players looking to play online poker in the Golden State.
1. CoinPoker – CA’s Best Online Poker Site with 33% Rakeback
CoinPoker is California’s best poker site, offering a diverse range of Texas Hold ‘em, pot-limit Omaha, and 5-card pot-limit Omaha variations. The site’s no-limit Texas Hold ‘em game also holds the record for the biggest-ever online poker pot, which stands at a staggering $7.75 million.
The site’s rakeback offer peaks at 33%, but you must hold at least 50% of the payable rake in CoinPoker’s native CHP to cash in. We also like the packed tournament schedule here, which also includes a large number of Big Stacks and Free Buy events. Then there’s the ‘CSOP’ tournament, which guarantees a minimum prize of $1 million.
CoinPoker Key Feature | Our Rating |
---|---|
Access up to 33% rakeback when wagering with CHP | 9/10 |
2. BetOnline – Tournament Money Builders Create Low Buy-ins for Players
One of the standout features at BetOnline is the site’s Tournament Money Builders. These competitive tournaments feature low buy-ins (ranging from $1.10 to $22). These tournaments also unlock minimum guaranteed prizes, with some pots peaking above $430. Most tournaments here follow Texas Hold’em and Omaha formats.
You can also access Progressive Bounty tournaments, with the $10,000 GTD 6-Max PKO unlocking a guaranteed minimum prize of $10,000. In terms of cash games, you play No Limit Hold ’em for between $0.05 to $5 on average, while faster-paced ‘Boost’ cash games are also available to NLHE and PLO players.
BetOnline Key Feature | Our Rating |
---|---|
Play low buy-in tournament money builders with guaranteed minimums | 8.5/10 |
3. Bovada – Compete for Weekly Prizes Totaling $2 million
While Bovada has a smaller collection of cash games and tournaments than CoinPoker and BetOnline, there’s still plenty of competitive action here. The site’s Turbo tournaments feature competitive buy-in and minimum payouts of $10,000, for example, while Bovada offers a total of $2 million in weekly prizes across all its poker verticals.
When it comes to cash games, this poker room features various iterations of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo. Some fixed-limit games even enable you to stake up to $60, which will appeal to high-rollers. Although there’s no formal rakeback offer here, the site boasts impressive player traffic and variable bet limits.
Bovada Key Feature | Our Rating |
---|---|
Weekly $2 million prize pool across a range low and high buy-in tournaments | 8.5/10 |
4. Ignition – A $3,000 Welcome Bonus for Crypto Users
Ignition Poker is an excellent choice for crypto users, thanks to the site’s welcome offer. If you deposit using one of the site’s accepted tokens, you can qualify for a $3,000 welcome package and a $2,500 weekly poker freeroll. When crediting your new account with fiat currency, the welcome package is just $2,000.
Ignition also operates a so-called Zone Poker feature. This includes accessible cash games with guaranteed minimum payouts. There’s a large selection of Jackpot Sit and Go tournaments too, which feature buy-ins ranging from $0.50 to $100. You can also qualify for a weekly 200K guaranteed tournament, through various satellite events.
Ignition Key Feature | Our Rating |
---|---|
Crypto users can access up to $3,000 in welcome bonuses and promos | 8.5/10 |
5. ACR – Offers Flexible Rakeback and On-Demand Tournaments
ACR offers you tremendous flexibility when it comes to rakeback offers. For example, a flat 27% rate of Rakeback is ideal for casual players, while there’s an Elite Benefits program that enables sharks and high-rollers to access rakeback above 50% depending on the amount that they bet.
There’s an impressive selection of on-demand tournaments at ACR too, while the site’s “Rebuy” events enable you to recoup lost chips and stake amounts during competitive play. We also like the selection of 5-Card Omaha Hi/Lo cash games here, which feature average buy-ins of between $0.02 and $200.
ACR Key Feature | Our Rating |
---|---|
Access a minimum and flexible cashback rate of 27% with the VIP program | 8.5/10 |
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Poker Rooms Reviewed5
Key Criteria300+
Research Hours10+
In-House WritersOnline Poker Tournaments in California
You can play online poker in California in numerous formats, competitive tournaments are among the most popular options, including the following examples.
MTTs see multiple tables in play simultaneously, while these events are renowned for offering competitive buy-ins and large payouts.
A so-called “Satellite” tournament is an event that doesn’t offer a direct cash prize or payout to participants. Instead, winners are rewarded with entry into a large or more expensive poker tournament, either online or offline at a brick-and-mortar establishment. This enables casual players to access high-stakes tournaments without committing to a huge buy-in.
With ‘Sit and Go’ tournaments, you’ll see one table in play, while events will only commence once a predetermined number of players have registered. Typically, Sit and Go tournaments are based on Texas Hold’Em or Pot-Limit Omaha iterations, while they may deploy turbo or hyper-turbo gameplay.
Knockout tournaments use common poker iterations and often deploy the same gameplay rules and regular competition. However, you’ll earn a cash prize each time you knock a player out of the tournament. This enables you to bank cash prizes without winning a tournament outright, while this format may also be referred to as a ‘progressive bounty’.
Poker Software Used at Online Poker Sites in California
Poker Room | Poker Game Provider/s | Games Provided |
---|---|---|
CoinPoker | Proprietary | Texas Hold ‘em, Pot Limit Omaha, 5-Card Pot Limit Omaha |
BetOnline | Chico Network | No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha 5, Omaha 6, Boost Cash Games |
Bovada | PaiWangLuo Network | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, No-Limit Hold’em, NLHE,PLO |
Ignition | PaiWangLuo Network | No Limit Texas Hold em, Pot Limit Omaha, PLO, |
ACR | Winning Poker Network | No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha/Hi-Lo, 5-Card Omaha Hi/Lo, Blitz Games |
How to Sign Up and Play Online Poker in California
To play online poker in California, you’ll first need to select a viable offshore site and sign up for an account. Here’s a step-by-step guide to registering with your chosen operator!
Visit the Homepage
First, visit the URL of your chosen site and hit the ‘Signup’ or ‘ Register’ button. When registering with CoinPoker, this is located in the top right-hand corner of the homepage.Confirm Your Email Address, Nickname, and Password
Next, provide a verifiable email and unique ‘nickname’. You’ll also have to set your password to help secure your new account.Verify Your Email
A verification email will then be sent to the address provided. Hit the link to verify, and when successful, you’ll be transferred to a new screen.Verify Your Mobile Number
You’ll also be asked to verify your mobile number at this stage. Be sure to select the right country code before confirming. The code should arrive via SMS in less than a minute.Hit the Tables!
At this stage, your account will be verified and you can hit the tables. Just remember to deposit funds into your account and opt into a welcome bonus as and when required.
Sign up To Claim 150% Deposit Bonus Up To $2,000
- The main CSOP tournament series guarantees $1,000,000 in prize money
- Low and high-stakes tables are always available, 33% Rakeback
- No KYC process, decentralized blockchain poker
Top 3 Land-Based Poker Rooms in California
In addition to California poker online, you can also access a few brick-and-mortar rooms in the state. Here’s a summary of the top three and what helps to set them apart!
Compare Bonuses at California’s Online Poker Rooms
As you can see from our reviews, our recommended online poker rooms in California each offer their bespoke welcome bonuses. Here’s an at-a-glance comparison of what’s being offered by the best CA sites and the relevant terms and conditions.
Online Casino | Bonus | Minimum Deposit | Crypto accepted? | Bonus expiry | Rollover (exclude if not relevant to poker) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CoinPoker | 150% up to $2000 | $10 | Yes | 14 days | 2x the bonus value |
BetOnline | 100% up to $1000 | $50 | Yes | 30 day | $5 released for every $50 earned in rake |
Bovada | 100% up to $500 using code PWB500 | $10 | Yes | Yes | $5 released for every 150 rewards points earned |
Ignition | 150% up to $1500 | $10 | Yes | 30 days | N/A |
ACR | 100% up to $2000 | $25 | Yes | 60 days | $1 released for every 27.5 Award Points earned |
Best Poker Games in California
There are also several different online poker games and variations available at offshore sites. Some of these are more popular than others, of course, including the following:
- No Limit Texas Hold’em: The single most popular online poker game, this features two hole cards and five community cards (which are dealt face up in three increments). Here, players can raise any amount over the minimum up to all the chips in possession.
- Omaha: Omaha also features five community cards, and you must combine three of these with two hole cards (you’re initially dealt four of these). This game is more popular among casual players and is widely available online.
- Pot Limit Omaha: This version of Omaha features a maximum bet, which is the total sum of the chips in the pot. As a result, it’s usually inexpensive to buy into a game and wager, but it can become expensive to sustain gameplay over time.
- Omaha Hi-Lo: Also known as Omaha 8 or Omaha Eight or Better, this is a split pot game in which the high hand wins half of the pot. It’s the best ‘low’ hand that claims the other half, and once again, four hole cards are initially dealt to players.
- Seven Card Stud: This is a poker game that’s played with two down cards and one up card. These are dealt before the first round of betting, while three further up cards are drawn before subsequent rounds. After the final card is dealt, there’s one final betting round before the best five-card hand claims the pot!
- Five-Card Draw: Although this game is slightly less common, five-card draw is a poker variant that’s simple and aimed at casual players. Each player is initially dealt five cards, while you can discard up to three cards (or four if your final card is an ace or ‘wild’). They can then claim new cards from the deck and continue betting until a winner is declared.
Poker Variations Available at Online Poker Sites in California
California online poker unlocks several different game and tournament formats, as outlined above. Here’s a summary of where you can find the most popular online poker variants in California and where you can find them!
Poker Room | No Limit Texas Hold, em | Omaha | Pot Limit Omaha | Omaha Hi-Lo | Seven Card Stud | Five Card Draw |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CoinPoker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
BetOnline | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Bovada | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Ignition | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
ACR | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Payment Options for California Online Poker Sites
Similarly, you can access a broad range of banking methods at our offshore poker rooms. Most of these sites offer a combination of crypto and fiat payment options, but what should you expect from each one?
Crypto Payments
We’ll start with cryptocurrencies, which dominate the payment options at offshore poker rooms. These are built upon decentralized and transparent blockchains, and they offer total anonymity and often instant payouts. While Bitcoin and Ethereum remain the most popular and widely used tokens, other options include second and third-gen alternatives like Litecoin, Ripple, Tether, USDT, Dogecoin, and Dash.
Pros
- Offers encrypted and completely anonymous transactions
- Fast and often instant payouts
- A wide and diverse selection of tokens is available
Cons
- Cryptocurrencies are volatile
- They’re not universally accepted at all poker rooms
Traditional Payments
Traditional fiat payments are among the most secure used by offshore poker rooms. They include debit and credit card payments (through providers like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express), while they benefit from SSL encryption when transferring funds online. They’re also widely accepted at online poker sites and boast significantly higher levels of trust when compared to crypto tokens.
Pros
- Process payments via secure bank transfers
- Leverage trusted payment methods like debit and credit cards
- You can access fiat payments at virtually all poker rooms
Cons
- Payout times are much slower with fiat methods
- You may incur transaction and withdrawal charges
Ewallets
E-wallets include popular banking methods such as PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Astropay. They essentially describe digital or electronic wallets that are encrypted and often use multi-factor authentication for an additional layer of security. E-wallets are also convenient and unlock relatively quick payouts, while they can also be linked directly to one or more bank accounts.
Pros
- Quick payouts, often within 24 hours
- They’re highly convenient and can connect to multiple bank accounts
- Offer additional security and multi-factor authentication
Cons
- Skrill and Neteller may not be eligible to receive welcome offers
- Ewallet transactions may also incur nominal transaction charges
Online Poker in the U.S
Final Thoughts
It’s perfectly safe to wager at our recommended sites for online poker in California, as each is licensed by a reputable offshore regulator. However, our pick as the best online poker room in California is CoinPoker, which offers some of the biggest pots in the marketplace.
This is especially true when playing the site’s No-limit Texas Hold ‘em and the many other poker games offered by CoinPoker. You can also access rakeback of up to 33% on cash games and competitive tournaments, while free buy events deliver impressive cash payouts. It also has its proprietary software, which contributes to a unique and varied online poker experience.
Simply put, CoinPoker has everything and more if you’re looking to play poker online.
Sign up To Claim 150% Deposit Bonus Up To $2,000
- The main CSOP tournament series guarantees $1,000,000 in prize money
- Low and high-stakes tables are always available, 33% Rakeback
- No KYC process, decentralized blockchain poker
Responsible Gambling
Regardless of your chosen poker room or preferred format, it’s always important that you wager responsibly and within your means. However, it’s easy to lose track of your activity and start to chase losses over time, which can lead to instances of problem gambling.
If you do notice the first signs of gambling compulsively, we’d refer you to our responsible gambling guide. The National Problem Gambling Helpline also offers practical assistance and is available 24/7, while more localized support options are listed below.
- National Problem Gambling Helpline
- California Council on Problem Gambling
- Office of Problem Gambling